Six String Synopsis:
The American Ovation Guitar Company, located in Hartford, Connecticut, was founded in 1965 by Charles Huron Kaman (1919‑2011, 91), an American aeronautical engineer, businessman, inventor, philanthropist and amateur guitar enthusiast. After working for Igor Sikorsky helicopters, Kaman started his own aeronautics company, Kaman Aircraft. In 1966, Kaman diversified and founded Ovation Instruments, which was later renamed the Ovation Guitar Company, commonly referred to as just Ovation.
Ovation is best known for its distinctive 6 and 12‑string steel and nylon‑string acoustic and electro‑acoustic guitars made from composite materials. Kaman engineers concluded that the most efficient shape for an acoustic guitar back is semi‑parabolic (often called roundback or bowlback) and they used aerospace technology to devise an innovative new material to enable it to be manufactured consistently. They developed a synthetic molecular structure that could be precision moulded, which they called Lyracord™. This material is not fibreglass or plastic, as it is often referred to erroneously. The first Ovation Balladeer guitars were introduced in late 1966. In 1971, Ovation added electronics to produce the very first electro‑acoustic prototype using piezo pickups and on‑board powered pre‑amps.
Ovation also produced distinctive, unconventional electric solid body guitars from 1967‑1980, such as the Breadwinner, Deacon, Preacher and Viper. The ergonomic Breadwinner led the industry in the application of active electronics, toroidal pickups and finishes. The electric models didn’t prove popular and were relatively short‑lived. Since the 1980s, Ovation has focused predominantly on acoustic/electro‑acoustic instruments. NB. American company, Eastwood Guitars has re‑issued a modern version of the Ovation Breadwinner model.
In the 1970s, a high‑end range of Adamas acoustic guitars based on the standard Ovation models but using carbon fibre materials was added to the range. A budget range, the Applause was also introduced to widen consumer appeal. In addition to the mainstay acoustics, Ovation also make other instruments such as acoustic bass guitars, ukuleles, and mandolins.
Kaman Music acquired Hamer Guitars in 1988 and Trace Elliott amplifiers in 1990. Ovation was acquired by Fender from Ovation’s parent company, KMCMusicorp in 2008. In 2014, Fender closed American production and moved manufacturing off‑shore. Another Fender subsidiary, Guild, took over production at Hartford, Connecticut. The Ovation brand became a subsidiary of Drum Workshop after being sold by Fender in 2014. Production was re‑established in Hartford, Connecticut in 2015. In 2020, the brand was sold again, this time to German company GEWA Music.
Ovation’s official website is… Ovation Guitars
Check out the Ovation’s page on Wikipedia… Wikipedia.org
Famous Ovation electric instruments include… Breadwinner, Deacon, Preacher, Viper, Tornado, Magnum
Famous Ovation acoustic/electro‑acoustic instruments include… Legend, Balladeer, Elite, Patriot, Classic, Applause, Celebrity
Some famous Ovation guitar players include… Glen Campbell, David Cassidy, Al DiMeola, Melissa Etheridge, Kaki King, Ace Frehley & Paul Stanley (KISS), Dave Lambert (The Strawbs), Steve Marriott (Faces/The Small Faces), Nikki Sixx & Vince Neil (Mötley Crue), Robert Smith (The Cure), Peter Tosh, Bjorn Ulvaeus (ABBA), Josh White
Parent Company… GEWA Music
Links to CRAVE Guitars Ovation Features:
© 2025 CRAVE Guitars – Love Vintage Guitars