Ovation 1776 Patriot

1976 Ovation Patriot, made in New Hartford, Connecticut, purchased new in 1978, for $500.00, at Sound City Music, in New Orleans. Solid spruce top, dark transluscent walnut finish, with hand painted drum and flag emblem at bottom bout of the body, and dated 1776 - 1976. Black and pearl trim around the soundhole. Deep bowl back, painted dark brown, and is bound with an ivory colored material. It has a laminated mahogany/maple neck and gold Schaller/Ovation tuning keys. Piezzo electric pickup underneath bridge saddles, one volume knob, 9-volt battery powered pre-amp. 21 fret, black ebony fingerboard, with diamond shaped mother of pearl inlays, and is also bound with an ivory colord material, with black dot fret markers inlaid in the binding. It has a walnut bridge, dark stained, with mother of pearl dot markers on each end of the bridge. The truss rod adjustment cover plate is made of mahogany, and has one diamond shaped mother of pearl inlay centered in the plate. Truly a beautiful instrument. Mine is number 0675 of 1776 made. Only 10% produced were acoustic electric so this guitar is fairly rare; although I don't believe that it is sought after by many. Adequately equipped with state of the art technology at the time it was manufactured. The guitar came in an Ovation brown plastic molded case, lined with dark brown velvet material.

This particular guitar has always had a great, warm and rich sound. The overall tone of this guitar could be described as very good. It has improved over the years in-spite of it's partial wood construction. It does not equal a Martin D-28 which is the known standard for acoustic guitars; however, it does have a very full sound that is well balanced from the first to the sixth string. Not overly bright, and not too boomey. Once this guitar is plugged in it sounds even better as long as the 9-volt battery is strong enough to power the on-board preamp. With a weak battery the guitar sounds much like Theodore Nugent's Gibson Byrdland cranked through a wall of maxed out Fender Twins. Unless you are seeking Ted's tone, go ahead spend the money on the new battery! I have used this guitar for writing and playing acoustic music since 1978, mostly a folk rock style, with an occasional jazz flavor. It is the best sounding Ovation that I have ever played.

This guitar was designed well, and has one of the finest playing necks/fingerboards of any acoustic guitar that I have ever played at any price. The frets have some wear, mainly on the first five, but the intonation has always been perfect. No buzzing with very smooth action. The finish is also a work of art and the guitar has never ever been serviced other than changing the strings, and an occasional cleaning. The gold on the tuning keys does have some wear and now exhibits some corrosion bumps. They still look good enough to leave on the guitar and will not be changed. Still, this guitar has been played on for years and has held up very well. There is one minor blemish, a small depression in the ebony fingerboard on the first fret. It was notice when the guitar was new but after the purchase. It is so minor that I would have to point it out for it to even be noticed.

Like I stated above, this guitar has been played and has passed the test of time. There is one small indention in the back radius of the neck. This blemish occurred when the guitar was leaning against a table on it's fingerboard, and slid sideways and to the floor as I walked away. It hit something pointed on the way down leaving a small indention about the size of a finishing nail's head. Not very noticable at all, and my fault for being careless. Once while tuning up before a gig, someone opened a door which hit the back of the guitar. Since the back bowl is made of Lyracord, the blow didn't even phase the guitar. It would have ruined a D-28. Dependable, almost industructable, and no backup needed - but do bring a spare battery!

Never needed any support or service. This guitar came with a limited lifetime warrenty and a certificate of ownership document, complete with red, white, and blue ribbon, and a wax seal. The text on the certificate looks like authentic calligraphy done by hand. I guess this is a collector's guitar. I don't think it will ever have any great value, it is just a great instrument for a good price. I have seen non-electric Patriots that were listed at $1000.00. A guitar is only really worth what someone is willing pay, no matter the hype or story behind the guitar. Remember that when you buy your next long lost vintage jewel. It is really only a guitar right!

Although it has served me well, I would only buy a Martin when purchasing another acoustic guitar. The person I play and write with has a D-28 and it sounds fantastic. It has also improved with time. The strings never sound dead, even when you know that they are very spent and completely worn out. The D-28 is an incredible guitar in every way. The Patriot is a very good instrument, and if you can find one, it is an exceptional value plugged or unplugged! I have recently seen a picture taken back in the 70's of Dewey Bunnell, who plays with America, on-stage with his Ovation Patriot. I wonder if he still has it? This guitar has a beautiful warm tone, very smooth action, and a rare and unique look! It is a collectable instrument for whatever it's worth. (See my user review of my Fender Deluxe Reverb II amplifier, and 97 Fender American Standard Stratocaster)

Ovation 1776-The first collector model.Made in Conn.,USA in 75-76.To cellabrate there 10 year anaversery also to commenerate 200 year bicentenial of our country.Beautiful Guitar!Has a nice heritage emblem on front,gold tuners,diamond inlays on ebony fretboard,walnut tone finish on select sitka.No electronics,pickups.Binded body and fretboard.Excellant full loud sound.Beautiful 5 piece neck.

Is full ,loud sound,excellant!A well balanced sound.

Very Nice in 27 years I had 1 slight neck adjustment.Ovation didn't hold back any quality on this Patriot.Quite fitting for its name!

I have since 1975 with no problems

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This is a real collectable guitar.Has that one of a kind personality.Only 1776 made,each is numbered and came with a neat certifacate.A real american made guitar to cellabrate the 200th year of our country and 10th year of Ovation.The collective value will only go higher & higher.