Description
Founder Charles Kaman (1919–2011) developed the first Ovation guitar in 1965–1966. Kaman an amateur guitarist from an early age worked on helicopter design as an aerodynamic engineer at United. Eventually he founded a helicopter design company Kaman Aircraft in 1945.
In the 1960s the Kaman Corporation diversified into new markets such as entertainment and leisure. From 1966 to 2007 Ovation guitars and later on Adamas guitars were a brand of KMCMusicorp which itself was a subsidiary of Kaman Aircraft.
Ovation guitar design reflects its founder’s engineering training and development work with helicopters. Ovation guitars replaced the instrument’s conventional back and sides with composite synthetic bowls. Kaman felt there were structural weaknesses in the orthogonal joining of the sides and that a composite material could provide a smooth body. Ovation claimed the parabolic bowls dramatically reduced feedback, allowing greater amplification. Improved synthetics techniques from helicopter engineering control vibrations in the bowl.
Ovation developed a thin neck, striving for the feel of an electric guitar’s neck but with additional strength from layers of mahogany and maple reinforced by a steel truss rod in an aluminium channel.
Ovation guitars’ synthetic bowl-shaped back and early use (1971) of pre-amplifiers onboard equalization and piezo pickups were particularly attractive to live acoustic musicians who constantly battled feedback problems from the high volumes needed in live venues.
Ovations have been prominently played by some of the best — notably John McLaughlin, Glenn Campbell, and Al DiMeola, and many others. It testifies to their fundamental build quality, big tone and especially their playability.
The Ovation Standard Elite 6868 LX is a 6-string acoustic-electric guitar with a super shallow cutaway body, AAA solid spruce top, scalloped X-bracing, a rosewood fretboard and bridge, and multi-soundhole design. It also features Ovation’s GS body – a lightweight composite that reduces the overall weight of the guitar even more.
Features –
- Body Type: Super Shallow Cutaway
- Top: Solid Spruce
- Bracing: Scalloped LX
- Scale Length: 25 1/4″
- Fretboard: Bound Rosewood
- Fret Inlay: Dots / Diamonds
- Bridge: Rosewood
- Rosette: Inlaid Exotic Hardwood Epaulets
- Pickup: Original Patented Pickups
- Nutwidth: 1 11/16″
- Machines: Chrome
- Pickup System: OP-Pro
- Colour: New England Burst
Ovation’s pioneering multi-soundhole design enhances string vibration and sustain by improving soundboard efficiency. The guitar’s upper-bout soundholes are inlaid with exotic hardwoods, and a cutaway offers full access to the satin-finished, 5-piece mahogany/maple neck..
Ovation’s slim Super-Shallow bowl delivers a clear acoustic sound while providing the low-profile comfort of an electric guitar. Offering extremely durable construction, this Lyrachord composite bowl weighs 33% less than its deeper siblings. Perfectly suited for studio or stage use, guitars equipped with a Super-Shallow body retain the outstanding string-to-string balance of original Ovation designs. Plugged in, Super-Shallow models produce ample volume for any venue. With no hard edges to dig into your rib cage, this easy-to-hold body is also ideal for younger players or smaller guitarists.
Designed in collaboration with jazz guitarist Al Di Meola and acoustic rocker Melissa Etheridge, the OP-Pro combines state-of-the-art audio quality with exclusive features designed to meet the needs of professional guitarists. The easy-to-operate unit offers 3-band EQ, a preset tone enhancement circuit, a battery status light, and a chromatic tuner. The OP-Pro will please even the most discriminating player.
This particular USA made Ovation Standard Elite 6868 LX was one of the last produced in the company’s Hartford, Connecticut facility. It is in exceptional condition. There are no marks, dings or dents to speak of. The frets show virtually no wear, the truss rod works fine, the tuners are strong & accurate. Neck is straight and there’s no bellying or raising at the bridge.
This one is loud acoustically, plays well, and sounds great through an amp. The OP-Pro pickup system is one of the best Ovation ever produced, and has been delivering concert performances at the highest level for many years.
This is a fine example of a well built USA guitar in sound condition with lots of years of service left.
Comes in its original Ovation form fitted moulded case in new condition
