1. Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number Search
2. Ovation Balladeer Serial Numbers
3. Ovation Guitars Serial Number Search

A series of tables and lists that summarise serial numbers, model codes and colors of the Ovation guitars from the beginning to the end of the 20th Century.

Years and models

Original series from 1966

Ovation: six digits series from 1971

Ovation makes it easy for a guitar owner to determine the manufacture date of his guitar. The Ovation website lists all serial numbers and their corresponding dates of manufacture with three-digit serial numbers ranging from 1966 to 1973 and six-digit serial numbers occurring from 1972 to 2013. Oh, i was hoping there was just a general location for the serial number, i guess i'm wrong? I'll see if i can get a hold of a camera. Reply Posted by 1bassleft on Wed, - 01:42. Beautiful Sunburst& Inlays Ovation Elite Series Model 1768 Up for Auction is this Ovation Elite Model 1768. Serial Number 406808. Made in 1990, and assembled in America. Offering this guitar with a newer(not new) Ovation Hard Shell Deep Bowl Case as well. This guitar is the same sound and Action that my Adamas has, Awesome and easy action.

Ovation Guitars Look Up By Serial Number Search

Adamas: from September 1977

Ovation LT-60 Prototype Number 6 2013 Natural. Vintage Advertisement Ovation Guitar 1970's. Ovation guitar and bass guitar information. Ovation solid bodies. The first solid body, the Ovation Breadwinner appeared in 1972, quickly followed by the Deacon.These guitars are easily recognizeable from their unique shape, and although not especially rare, are quickly snapped up by players and vintage guitar collectors alike.

Model numbers

The model 4 digit codes for the original models. Everything changed and became sort of messy from the Seventies, so the best way to be shure is using the Ovation Decoder.

• First digit
  • 1 – most models born before year 2000
  • 2 – contour bowl
  • 4 – Japanese Balladeers
  • 5 – parlours and some Elites
  • 6 -Standard Elites, widenecks, some Adamas
• Second digit is type of guitar:
  • 1 Acoustic roundbacks (also semi-hollowbody electrics)
  • 2 Solidbody and semi-hollowbody electrics
  • 3 Ultra acoustics
  • 4 Solidbody
  • 5 Acoustic electric cutaway Adamas and II/Elite/Ultra electric
  • 6 Acoustic electric roundbacks
  • 7 Deep
  • 8 Shallow
• Third digit denotes bowl depth on acoustic and acoustic electrics:
  • 1 Standard bowl 5 13/16″ deep
  • 2 Artist bowl 5 1/8″ deep
  • 3 Elite/Matrix electric deep bowl
  • 4 Matrix shallow bowl
  • 5 Custom Balladeer Legend Legend 12 Custom Legend 12 Anniversary
  • 6 Cutaway electric deep bowl
  • 7 Cutaway electric shallow bowl
  • 8 Adamas 6 1/16″ deep
• Fourth digit denotes model
  • 1 Balladeer
  • 2 Deluxe Balladeer
  • 3 Classic
  • 4 Josh White
  • 5 12-String
  • 6 Contemporary Folk Classic
  • 7 Glen Campbell Artist Balladeer
  • 8 Glen Campbell 12-String
  • 9 Custom Legend (from 1974)
• Color code follows hyphen after model number (but I am not quite sure for all of them):
  • 1 Sunburst
  • 2 Red
  • 4 Natural
  • 5 Black H Honeyburst
  • 6 White
  • 7 LTD Nutmeg/Anniversary Brown/Beige/Tan
  • 8 Blue
  • 9 Brown
  • B Barnwood (gray-to-black sunburst)
  • H Honey sungurst

Model Chronology

Ovation Balladeer Serial Numbers

The dates in this chronology reflect actual appearances of models, determined from price lists and the recollections of sales representatives and dealers. They may differ slightly from the first production or official introduction dates in the text.

Ovation Guitars Serial Number Search

Acoustic and Acoustic Electric

Colors