 OVATION | | ELECTRIC | Although Ovation's solid body guitars are generally overshadowed by the fine acoustic models, they still are good playable instruments that offer a change of pace from the traditional market favorites. Ovation introduced the Electric Storm semi-hollowbody guitars in 1968, and they were available through 1973. The Electric Storm models featured bodies built in Germany, and hardware by Schaller. American-built solid bodies were presented beginning 1972, and various models survived through to 1983. Early models featured an on-board FET preamp, and are probably the first production guitars with "active electronics."
In 1984, Ovation produced the Hard Body series, which featured Korean-built necks and bodies, DiMarzio pickups and Schaller hardware. The Hard Body series was only briefly offered for a year, and can be identified by the natural wood strip bearing the Ovation name on the lower section of the four- or six-on-a-side headstocks. The 3+3 headstock looks similar to other Ovation headstocks. Model names range from GP (Guitar Paul) which had a retail price of $399, to the GS (Guitar Strat) models which ranged in price from $315 to $425. Those names seem pretty self-explanatory in regards to the models they resembled. Both solid body guitars and basses were offered. In 1988, Kaman bought the independent Hamer company, a move which brought the company back into the solid body guitar field in a competitive way. | | BREADWINNER (MODEL 1251) | | - "kidney"-shaped mahogany body, mahogany neck, 3-per-side headstock, dot fingerboard inlay, two large single coil pickups, master volume knob, master tone knob, midrange filter switch, three-way pickup selector switch, available in a textured Black, White, Tan, or Blue finish, mfg. 1972-79. |
| DEACON (MODEL 1252) | | - single cutaway body, diamond shaped position markers, master volume knob, master tone knob, midrange filter switch, three-way pickup selector switch, available in Sunburst finish, mfg. 1973-1982. |
| Deacon Deluxe | | - similar to the Deacon, except featured different hardware and pickups, mfg. 1972-1980. |
| Deacon Twelve String (Model 1253) | | - similar to the Deacon, except in 12-string configuration, mfg. 1976-1980. |
| ECLIPSE (MODEL K-1235) | | - economy model of the Electric Storm series, semi-hollow, available in Black finish only, mfg. 1971-73. |
| HURRICANE (MODEL K-1120) | | - 12-string configuration, double cutaway semi-hollow body, gold-plated hardware, two DeArmond humbucker pickups, master volume knob, two separate tone control knobs, phase switch on bass bout, pickup balance/blend switch on treble bout, available in Natural, Nutmeg, or Walnut Green finishes, mfg. late 1968-69. |
| PREACHER (MODEL 1281) | | - double cutaway mahogany body, two humbucker pickups, 24.5 in. scale, mfg. 1975-1982. |
| Preacher Deluxe (Model 1282) | | - similar to the Preacher, except features a series/parallel pickup switch and a midrange control, mfg. late 1975-78. |
| Preacher Deluxe Twelve String (Model 1283) | | - similar to the Preacher Deluxe, except in twelve-string configuration, mfg. late 1975-78. |
| THUNDERHEAD (MODEL K-1360/K-1213/K-1233) | | - double cutaway semi-hollow body, gold-plated hardware, two DeArmond humbucker pickups, master volume knob, two separate tone control knobs, phase switch on bass bout, pickup balance/blend switch on treble bout, available in Natural, Nutmeg, or Walnut Green finishes, mfg. 1968-1972. |
| Thunderhead With Vibrato (Model K-1460/K-1212/K-1234) | | - similar to the Thunderhead except with vibrato, mfg. 1968-1972. |
| TORNADO (MODEL K-1160/K-1211/K-1231) | | - similar to the Thunderhead model, except features separate volume knobs for each pickup, chrome hardware, and no phase switch, available in Red or Sunburst finishes, mfg. late 1968-1973. |
| Tornado With Vibrato (Model K-1260/K-1212/K-1232) | | - similar to the Tornado, except has vibrato, mfg. 1968-1973. |
| UK II (MODEL 1291) | | - double cutaway Urelite (Urethane) material on an aluminum frame, set-neck design, two humbucker pickups, two volume knobs, two tone knobs, series/parallel pickup switching, three-way pickup selector switch on upper bass bout, mfg. 1980-82. |
| ULTRA GP/GS | | - single cutaway (GP) or double cutaway (GS) solidbody in a variety of configurations, one, two, or three pickups, available in various finishes, mfg. 1985-late 1980s. |
| VIPER (MODEL 1271) | | - single cutaway ash body, bolt-on one-piece maple neck, maple or ebony fingerboard, two single coil pickups, 25 in. scale, master volume knob, master tone knob, three-way pickup selector switch, mfg. 1975-1983. |
| VIPER III (MODEL 1273) | | - similar to the Viper, except has three single coil pickups with different individual windings, and three on/off pickup selector switches, mfg. 1975-1983. |
| VXT | | - single cutaway hybrid acoustic/electric design, one-piece chambered Honduras mahogany body, solid spruce top, one-piece Hounduras mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, standard Ovation headstock with three-per-side tuners, Fishman Power Bridge, two Seymour Duncan '59 humbucker pickups, three knobs (pickup v, tone, pickup blend), three-way pickup switch, active electronics, chrome hardware, available in Black, Caramel Burst, Cherry Trans., or Sunburst finish, 25.25 in. scale, mfg. 2007-present. |
| VXTD Deluxe | | - similar to the VXT, except has a flame maple top, available in 59 Burst Flame or Brown Sugar Flame finish, mfg. 2008-present. |
| VXTS Standard | | - similar to the VXT, except has a poplar body and two Seymour Duncan P-90 pickups available in Black or Titanium Silver finish, mfg. 2008-present. |
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