Ovation Breadwinner Solidbody Electric

Hello; my name is Ron and I own a 1976 Breadwinner. (That almost sounds like an AA meeting.) It was made in Conneticut. As the name implies; IT'S A WINNER. As I'm sitting here looking at the helpful questions that will assist me filling the features section, I've come to a complete grinding stop. Not brain-dead; but what can I write that hasn't been written before?

Those of us who own, had owned, or played a Breadwinner or Deacon, we can attribute that this is one of those guitars we just love to sit and read others testaments about, and know exactally what they are talking about.

My Breadwinner is a special one; it's been mine since day one. My guitar instructor schooled me on the then "not-so-famous" great playing Ovation solid body guitars available. He had one in his studio in Rouseville, PA for some "tweeking" and ask me to try it out. We jammed for a Long Time (not Henry Paul Band) and my hand never cramped-up. That had been a problem; since I have been blessed with a large hand, the smaller neck widths caused terrible cramps in the palm of my hand. With the help of the wide neck on my Breadwinner, I can chord for hours. Chord-on!

I had tried out the other rhythem guitars on the market then, but nothing had the features or the sound like my Breadwinner. Since I was more interested in learning rhythem than lead, this guitar with its infinant range of sounds, it was the guitar for me. Just click and twist and you have a new sound.

The color is Ovation Brown: "spatter-coat" (like automotive trunk paint), with a brown phycho-swirl pick guard and light brown (almost tan) neck. I purchased it in Seneca, Pennsylvania with the indestructable hardshell plastic case, brown fuzzy velour lining w/two specially designed compartments and an Ovation guitar stand. The stand has a little arm to hold the guitar in the cutaway.

I don't know the in's and the out's of Ovations electronics or how they used cutting-edge technology back in the 70's, I just know that anytime/anywhere I wanted to play this guitar, it NEVER let me down!! Always in tune or so close I could play and tune it in a second, this guitar was the tuning piece of our small group, because it was always in tune, no matter what kind of torture I had put it through. Kudo's for the hardshell case!!

I have read in these reveiws that some of the "Elite Few" of Breadwinner and Deacon owners have had a problems with the shape of the guitar; balance and/or positioning it. I have always found it to be balanced wherever I have it. Some of my friends relate to the cutaway as something left after a shark attack.

OK; lets try explaining the sounds. Yeah, right. Next question.

Uh...great assembly guys. Flaws; where?

See paragraph 5 in features section. Always ready to go; DEPENDABLE!

I have had the opportunity to work with customer support. I'll give them a 5.

I have been playing for ...awhile. My gear is: 1970 VibroLux Reverb amp, a Pignose (the practice amp) I pre-amp into my VibroLux, and a Rotosphere Leslie Pedal.

made in 1973 (my one and only vintage guitar) she looks like a black bat, something like gene simmons would play. it's a well balanced comfortable guitar, pick-up switching system is weird though, middle toggle position gives you the bridge pick-up. has active boost that pushes the signal real nice when distorted. it's a dark guitar voice-wise, great for my vocal range, blends well.

the interseting thing about this guitar is they were shunned by lots of famous and non famous players alike, yet there are lots of well known players that own and love them, do a google search you'll be amazed, i saw this jackson browne doco, and his band were giving him hell, caused he loved his breadwinner so much.

i wish it had a vibrato arm (that's a tremelo for the uneducated)

it's a dark sounding guitar, no one guitar can mimick all sounds, that's why you need to own lots of them, like me.

it drives a distorted amp real well, neck has an easy feel, and i've got the action low enough with out any buzzing bees.

the 9v batteries (it takes two) lasts for ever, i've owned my breadwinner for over 12 years and have never had to replace them

the guitar has stood the test of time real well, it's built strong.
has two humbucker, and they do buck the hum, no noise here. has a chrome backing plate to cange batteries, also has a weird chrome man figure on the neck plate.

it's all good, never a problem will last forever. never had to adjust the intonation, or neck rod, i can't say that about my fender strats, they always need adjusting.

i've been playing for 20 years, and own lots of stuff, but to just list the electric guitars i own, are as follows,


1989 330 rickenbacker
1991 350 rickenbacker
1995 ltd ed fender stratocaster usa matching headstock colour
1995 fender stratocaster usa sonic blue
2000 fender telecaster usa

my breadwinner is keeping very good company, and i'll never sell it, ever, ever, although i nearly gave it away once to a sad friend, lucky my pitty was only brief

i first became aware of the breadwinner when i was reading a guitar book, then i saw one (in for repair at a local shop) that's when i knew i had to get one.

if you don't have one, do yourself a favour and get one, but they are becoming rarer, the last one i saw for sale on ebay sold for
$1,500 usa. i know these breadwinners are going to one day become a real sought after collectible, it's already started.

Features: 9
I bought it new in 1972. A friend of mine recommended it. I think it had been in the stores just a few weeks. Tan "speckled" finish. Genuine simulated tortise shell pickguard. Active circuitry powered by 2 9-volt batteries. Dual Ovation humbuckers, mahogany body, floating Bridge, adjustable nylon bridge saddles, ebony fretboard, "Ax" body design. 24 Frets.

Came with fitted hardshell case. It has two toggle switches. One selects between the pickups. When both are on, you can select in phase or out of phase. The second toggle controls a Notch Filter.
You have to keep fressh batteries handy.

With various switch positions and active ciruitry, it can sound like a Les Paul, Strat or an accoustic. I use medium guage strings 012, .015, .018, .026w, .036w, .048w.
and tune it down a half step.

The paint on this puppy is like armor plating. Its been hit with a ballpeen hammer by a four year old without a dent or scratch. Great for playing when drunk. It's not a very pretty instrument but it wasn't meant to be.

The neck is terrific. Its not overly thick or chunky. The single cutaway allows easy access to the top frets. I used to lean it agaisnt the wall because it would stand on its own. Now, I keep it in its case because there's no stand for it.

Reliability/Durability: 10
I bought it new in 1972 when I was 20. It survived the 70's and all of my abuse. It still plays great. I've never had any problems with it and I played it constantly in the '70s.

Never had to call them.

I've been playing since 1965. I own a 1962 Gretsch Tennessean, 1972 Ovation Bread Winner, 1972 Gibson Blueridge, 1974 Takamine C136S Classical, 1976 Martin D28, 1979 Guild F-512NT 12 string. a 2002 ES-175 Natural w/Gold Trim and Harmonic Design PUPs, 1949 Fender Deluxe Tweed, '72 Pignose amp, Line6 Spider amp.

Its versatile and a pleasure to play. I'll leave this one for my son.

I wish it were made out of diamonds and gold but its not.

Nylon bridge saddles, which woked very well in this case. It had sustain, but it wasn't the type of sustain you'd get from metal bridge saddles. Hard to explain, and nothing whatsoever like a Santana sustain for sure. I have to say, it seemed the active electronics only partially worked on mine, as it was reather old when I got it. I have no idea exactly what year it was. But whatever was going on with that guitar, once you got that thing though a Marshall it could break windows.

Pickups on mine were the little minihumbuckers with 12 Fender style magnets on them. Very nice creamy sound when you didn't turn any of the knobs to the extreme positions (volume excpeted of course). Switching was strange but I got some very disting out of phase sounds happening, the likes of which I've never heard on another instrument anywhere.

Paint on my Beardwinner was sort of a charcoal grey/back textured paint type of finish, which I guess was quite common on those instruments. Not much to look at, but tuff tuff tuff! Also, the neck was exquisitiely correct feeling in my hand size wise (just an accident of course), but the textured finish gave it a nice stable feeling, unlike the glassy poly finished on Fenders of the time (circa 1980).

I fell down playing mine once and landed on the headstock with most of my (considerable) weight behind it, and not only did the guitar not crack anywhere, the finish wasn't even marred. Incredible. . .imagine an SG after an accident like that!

No experience here, but I have heard only good things about Ovation's service.

If Gibson had made it, they'd have cost three times as much and not been nearly so well finished. A completely overlooked guitar, immediately and undeservedly dismissed as an ugly duckling.

70's made, white "spackle" finish, active circuitry, dual mini-humbuckers, mahogany body, adjustable nylon bridge saddles, ebony fretboard, 'ergonomic" body design, and decent hardshell case.

I play this thru a Mesa Mark IV, and it can do ANYTHING!!! My main razor is a Ric 620, a sound all to it's own, but this thing can come within a hair of matching it. It reminds me a lot of my old SG Jr. with single P-90, both in sound and in playability. The cool thing is with a flip of the two switches, this axe will get a growl that a Paul would be jealous of! A gem of an electric that was misunderstood in it's time....listen to Badfinger tunes, they played them as I am told.

Well, if you are looking for that high gloss, mirror finish, or even a wonderfully grained wood, this thing will let you down. It has a "spackled" finish, a rough, textured, semi-dull, but TOUGH coating. It was made to be played, not admired for it's asthetic value, although I personally can find some. The neck is a pure joy, similar to an SG, but with LOW action and a rock hard heel, it will not detune with rough treatment. The only major flaw with this body design is the fact that there is no stand that I have found that will hold it. You would think they would have made or included something with it, but generally a well thought out and manufactured piece.

Built to be played and played HARD! Tough, tough case, tough sound, I LIKE IT! HOWEVER, the bridge saddles are made of nylon, probably fraagile and hard to replace, not an issue with me yet, and I hope it is not soon! Ovation apparently turned to brass saddles on their other future models, but I have read that they are string shreaders.

I have no idea, of course they are still in existence, but I doubt that they could help with a 70's cast-off.

i will not let go of this guitar. i tend to buy guitars, play them for a while, then trade or sell them for something else, but this is different. it can do a little bit of everything, and plays like dream. The look takes some getting used to, but that can be a good thing.

i have three models I have a beautiful white Bradwinner I got it from the engineering department at the ovation factory. I pestered John Budney for five years or so ever since it was hanging on their history and evolution product board upstairs. I was looking for a thunderhead bass; that is what brought me up to the factory in the first place. Eventually I was allowed to purchase the white breadwinner. It was my first ovation guitar and is my first true love as far as electric guitars are concerned. I will be buried with that darn beautiful thing. This guitar is in new condition and is the finest rythmn axe on the planet. Built like a brick s---house it has never failed me in all the 30 years I have owned it. I also have a brand new naturally finished deacon and deacon LTD. Both are brand new and have brand new brown ovation cases. These three guitars are a dream come true as they are some of the finest electric guitars ever made, and they are striking in their appearance. Once you see a breadwinner or a deacon you will never forget it. I play these guitars thru my super hot rodded JC120, and Roland Cube 30. Find me a better combination and I'll give you my guitars. Ha Ha , only kidding. If you are lucky enuf to find one; Treasure it like your best girl, and be a pain in the ass at the ovation factory and tell them, write them to start producing this monster again. Ronn Solters, P.O. Box 124 Branford CT 06405

The 1st Ovation Deacon I got was a 12 string from 74 I believe. It had changed out pickups and was in need of a setup but it was a pawnshop special and was really cool. I played it for a while then saw that they were going for big bucks on eBay so I sold it on there and got $750.00 for it. WHAT A MISTAKE !!! I missed this guitar more than words can say! I searched eBay for another 12 string for over a year and nothing popped up except six string models. After a couple years I gave up on the 12 and bought a six. Then another six. Then another six but a Breadwinner. Then finally a 12 but in cherry red. These guitars are AWESOME! The active electronics combined with the stock griddle style pickups or even with Bill Lawrence ones give SUCH incredible sounds that I'm in heaven when I perform with any of them. These are VERY underestimated guitars and when word gets out I fear I'll never get another one at a reasonable price! But I have too many now anyways.. so there ya go! The straight dope!

I touched on the sound already but let's make it clear. If you're into the BC Rich active electronics we'll just say this. I "was" too way back when. The Ovation Deacon Breadwinner active electronics are incredible. MUCH better than any BC Rich setup I ever owned or played thru. The Deacon/Breadwinners can easily do a strat or Les Paul sound. What's amazing is what else they're capable of and how easy they are to work on! If you want to "change a little something" it's not hard at all to get in there and fiddle around like Dr. Frankenstein at all. I really have only praise for this design, honestly.

Let's be honest.. what guitar "doesn't" need a setup when you buy it? Every guitar I buy needs to be setup for the strings I use and the feel I want. Every now and then I work on the setup on a guitar a little longer than say another one. I've never had any major problems with Deacons/Breadwinners. They're HIGH QUALITY and made to last! The bridge is the only questionable piece because sometimes they used plastics... and if they're broken pieces GOOD LUCK! But a bridge replacement really does the trick and only makes a great guitar better so GO FOR IT if you have to!

I've used these guitars exclusively live and in the studio and will always do so! They are incredibly designed and well made guitars and should be as popular as any Gibson or Fender out there! Ovation, when they made these guitars, was a force to be reckoned with! It's too bad that only the " Columbus'" out there only knew about them! (For the company anyways) Good for us people who found out about them though! Right?!

I can't believe that after all these years the people at Ovation would be able to do much in the way of helping you out in any way with these guitars. They've been out of production for so long! But I know people that have called them a few years ago and were able to buy out their new old stocks parts! GOOD JOB THERE !!! Smart !!!

Once you get a Breadwinner, or even better, a Deacon do yourself a HUGE favour! Set it up to the way you like it and PLAY the hell out of it! You won't be sorry you did. These are as good as having a vintage Les Paul or Stratocaster even! Although they feel more like a Les Paul or better yes... an SG !! If you're into SGs and Guild Brian Mays this very well might be a "natural extension" for you in your guitar collection, if you analyze it enough! These guitars are VERY cool looking and they ROCK my friendz! I might've let the cat outta the bag for all the collector's out there.. but these guitars deserve better! TELL EVERYBODY ABOUT THEM !!!

My Breadwinner is a mid seventies model. It has the pickups with chrome rectangles and brass string saddles. It is black spackle finish and has the tan protector case with purple lining. Everything else is standard to all Breadwinners - fet pre amp, Ovation/Schaller tuners, notch switch etc.

One major critisim I have is the brass saddles. I'm sure they were used to provide better sustian than the nylon saddles that were used previously. My guess is that the engineers also thought that the softer brass would transfer vibration better than the chrome or steel saddles used by most other manufacturers. The problem is that the soft brass develops burrs that will cut the strings if not regularly filed smooth.

I use my Deacon profesionally and found this to be a fairly major reliability issue. In all fairness they do produce good resonance though.

The versatility of this instrument is it's strong point. Many distinct sounds are possible with the many pick up / tone / notch switch combinations. The pre amp provides the tone knob with undiminished volume through out it's range - a great feature that was way ahead of it's time. I have a brand new custom built Carvin that has the exact same feature.

The pickups are best heard clean so the subtelties are apparent. When used with distortion (or overdrive) the guitar sounds a bit thin. Certainly not bad but there are many better guitars/pickups for that style.

The active electronics can also pick up lots of hum and other outside noise. I've never had a problem while performing live but in the recording studio it has been a problem. Using a power conditioner can help but it is best to play in an isolation booth rather than in the control room. Something to consider if you plan on using it in a home studio enviroment.

The spackle finish is very durable and can tke a lot of abuse. I've toured with my Breadwinner and while the body does have some dings that made it down to the wood it has virtually no scratches. Not even a beltbuckle mark. The matte finish still looks as good as the day it was made.

The action is good and it has a fairly thin neck and thin frets giving it a pleasant feel. It holds it's tune well and the neck has remained straight through all different climates.

The hardware is stainless and hasn't rusted despite being regularly soaked in sweat (salt water). The pickups did seperate from their bases due to the foam backing drying out and disintegratiing. This caused the pckups to fall against the strings breaking a grond wire. It was an easy repair - I re-soldered the ground wire and put new self adhesive foam backing on the pickups and re-glued them to their bases. No big deal.

I think I've pointed out most of the reliability and durability issues. As far as playing without a back up instrument - never. Unless you keep a log on battery hours and keep the brass saddles smooth it can break a string or start distorting (from battery drain) without warning. I also found it to need strap locks if it's going to be played with any amount of spirited movement. Despite these flaws I still use it because it sounds very good clean and it is comfortable to play.

I bought mine in the late seventies from the original owner so it still had the owners manual and warranty card. It had a lifetime warranty (non transferable) which I think speaks for itself. I have several Ovation acoustic/electric guitars and they all have held up so well I've never needed customer service.

I've been playing profesionally for over 20 years. I've made records for half a dozen major labels and have toured the world. I have a fairly large collection of guitars and the Breadwinner was I think the 3rd guitar I ever bought. So it has some sentimental value but I still use it because of it's good sound. If I ever lost it I would definately want another, heck I want another one anyway! I'm always looking but you don't see very many. Would I recomend this guitar? Absolutely! Depending of course on how you intend to use it (style of music, second guitar etc.) Despite it's shortcomings I still love my Breadwinner!

THE BREADWINNER IS A GREAT GUITAR. I HAVE HAD MINE SINCE 1983 AND I PAID ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FORE IT. IF YOU SIT IT ON YOUR LAP IT MIGHT SWING UP AND SLAP YOU IN THE FACE WITH THE NECK SINCE IT IS BACKHEAVY ,SO USE A STRAP. FINDING A CASE OR GUITAR STAND THAT FITS IS IMPOSSIBLE. IT IS RUGGED AND I HAVE PUT MINE THROUGH HELL. I THREW MINE AS HARD AS I COULD UP IN THE AIR OVER MY HEAD IN A FIELD AND FOUND IT SEVERAL YARDS AWAY LATER DIRTY BUT UNDAMAGED.

I THROUGH IT AGAINST THE WALL BREAKING IT'S NECK AND HAD IT REPAIRED AND HAVE BEEN NICE TO IT AND IT WORKS GREAT, GREAT TONE. ONE OF THE BEST GUITARS EVER MADE. I RATE IT AS A TEN ALL THE WAY.MINE IS WHITE AND I HAVE SEEN ROY CLARK PLAY A TWELVE STRING VERSION AND ALSO G.E. SMITH HAD ONE.WISH I HAD A FEW.24 FRETS AND A PICKUP(BETTER THAN A STRAT.)

IF YOU GO DIRECT IT CAN SOUND LIKE AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR.I USE IT FOR MELLOW STUFF AND HARD ROCK HAS A CLEAN SOUND.

I USE TO PLAY SHOWS IN SOUTH TEXAS AND I WOULD HAVE TO FLY DOWN AND WORRY ABOUT MY GUITAR GETTING TOSSED AROUND IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. SO I WOULD UNBOLT THE NECK AND PUT THE GUITAR IN MY SUITCASE DISCONNECTED AND STUFF MY CLOTHES IN MY GUITAR CASE AND I WOULD CARRY MY GUITAR ABOARD THE PLANE IN MY HAND AND WATCH THE BAGGAGE HANDLERS THROUGH THE WINDOW AS THEY GRINNED AND TOSSED MY GUITAR CASE AROUND WITH MY (SHIRTS AND SOCKS INSIDE) AFTER I GOT TO AUSTIN I WOULD REBOLT THE NECK AND IT PLAYED GREAT.

YES TO ALL QUESTIONS,IT'S A GREAT LIVE GUITAR,NICE FINISH AND DEPENDABLE.

Please excuse any spelling/gramatical errors - I'm typing fast and can't be bothered to proof read :-)

I've decided to do this review because the amount of misinformation found in the other Breadwinner reviews. I really have no intention of giving numbers for the various ratings... I feel number system is utterly useless anyway (just go look at the all 10 reviews for Squier Strats and Kramer Strikers and you'll know why). Anyway, a little history about the Breadwinner: it was Ovation's first solidbody electric guitar and was manufactured from 1972 - 1979. It was endorsed by Steve Marriot (Humble Pie) and Glen Campbell, and very visibly used by David Cassidy (aka Keith Partridge of the Partridge Family) weekly on national television, yet it failed to be a success. The Deacon was the upscale version of the Breadwinner, and was introduced in 1974 or so. There aren't all that many of either model left, I'd imagine, but who's to say. I remember my father buying me this guitar for $400 in 1977, which was a fair piece of change back then, so they weren't exactly giving these things away...

US made, 1974. Solid mahogany body with spackled finish, two Ovation mini-humbuckers, active FET preamp (the first production guitar with an active circuit!), master volume, master active tone, phase or "notch filter" switch and three way pickup selector. The neck is 24.75 inch scale mahogany finished the same color as the body, with a 24 fret ebony fretboard with pearl dot markers and smallish frets (what would be called "vintage" frets today). The body shape is unique - often called a "battle axe" or a "flying bat" - but is very comfortable and well balanced to play in any position. The bridge is Ovation's weird, honking plastic and steel string through affair with nylon saddles (they would later experiment wtih using brass for some and then eventually all of the bridge components). The tuners are Ovation tuners made by Schaller. It came with a fitted, injection molded case, which is a good thing, because it wouldn't fit well in any other kind. The hardware is good, the electronics are solid (this one still works thirty years on), and it is reasonably finished for an American made production guitar from the '70s (damning with faint praise, that :-)

As said in a previous review, the pickups are microphonic - but they are also glassy, articulate and lovely played clean. As humbuckers, they aren't suseptible to 60 cycle hum, but they aren't at their best when used with distortion. Clean, however, they present a wide ranging variety of tones similar to those found in Rickenbackers or old Gretcshs with DeArmond pups, and there's just no other guitar out there that I've ever heard that can sound exactly like a Breadwinner (except other Ovations that had the same electronics, of course). The active tone control is extremely effective, and demands far more attention than your average passive tone. With the tone in the full treble setting (on 10), the bridge pickup is sharp and piercing and sort of emulates the biting tone of a tele bridge pup and does the country thaing real well. Full bass setting (on 0) at the neck pup offers up rich, deep, clear tones that work great for jazz and never devolve to mud. In between is a wide and wonderful variety of shining, shimmering tones at are simultaneously unique and familiar. Very cool...

The neck pocket could be tighter and the finish is grossly thick, but the fret work is acceptable and the hardware is good. It suffers from many of the shortcomings of '70s production guitar making in the US as far as fit and finish is concerned, but the quality is there in terms of parts.

This is a pretty sturdy little box, but the only way you know the two 9 volts that power the FET preamp are running dry is when it starts to distort, so you have to keep a couple in the case at all times. I used mine to play in a punk band in high school, and I didn't manage to destroy it... It's nearly 30 and still going strong.

Kaman Music is useless when it comes to getting information on their old models, as far as I can tell.

I've been playing a good while. I love this guitar because it was my first electric and because it is capable of some unique and lovely tones, but it doesn't really suit my playing today at all. I won't give it up, but I don't need another :-) They're really very interesting instruments. Pics of mine and additional commentary/info can be found at http://www.magma.ca/~jimid/index.htm

I'm not sure as to where the guitar was made because it used to be my grandpa's before he got alzhimers, but boy could he play instruments, the bass guitar, guitar, clarinet, sax, trumpet ect. anyway, it has 24 frets.i'm not really sure what a pickup config is, but i love this guitar. i believe that the body is made out of mahogany. it is all black. it also has a ovation case and it is great protection when i go places.

this guitar is perfect for me. usuallyi play some styx, survivor, metallica ect.. i currently am using a pignose, which to me is a pice of crap, but it still sounds good, and i also do not use a dystortion pedal. i used it on my friends fender and it sounds great.

i love this guitar, its great. the pickups are good too.from what i can tell, there are no flaws.

i love this guitar, i havn't really played it live though. the hardware defiently seems to last cause i think its from the 70's and not its 2000.the strap buttons are great, they have never failed me so far.i can defiently depend on it.i would defienlty use it in a gig, but i would have a back up in case a string breaks, but i trust it.

i've never had anything happenen to it so i wouldn't know.

i've had it for a year. and this is the only one i need.if it was stolen, i would try my best to find it.i love everything about it,, the looks. i hate nothing.but i wish it can with a extra guitar, one just like it.

The Ovation "Breadwinner" which is the lesser or rather Poor mans Model of its Later & more Weighty Sibling known as the "Deacon" i believe as is the case with the "Deacon" was built & manufactured in Connecticut <Ovation was then a subsidiary of the "Kaman corporation" "Charles Kaman" was a music lover who combined Engineering & Music to create Ovations first & only Solid Bodies> In or around 1966* this may be incorrect i have never been able to verify this . I have a "Deacon" also & it is Stamped in the owners manual " Accepted 69" i have always assumed that "66" in the Breadwinners manual reffered to the yr & likewise with the "Deacon".The guitar has 24 frets , & has a very interesting 3 way selector switch A,B & C ...the A switch gives you the neck pickup the B" gives you the Bridge & when in C" position or the middle both pickups are out of phase producing a funky sound. You then have a seperate A/B NOTCH switch ..when coupled with the variations of the 3 selector switch's you can produce 6 totally distinct & totally unique guitar tones that i have yet to hear on any other guitar. When the Notch switch in in the A position The "band rejection filter is active" This means the mid-range frequncies have been reduced in volume producing rich mellow tones .In the B Notch setup The Filter is inactive & gives a Flat response as in conventional guitars. I will further add that inside the body of the guitar where you change or replace the 2 ..9 volt batteries that is required to power the pre-amp , there are TWO TRIM controls ..you can by these adjust the volume of the front & back pickups & also account for the maximum of out of phase effect when playing in the positions i have previously described . The trim controls of the "Breadwinner" models are "Blue & White" On the Deacon they are from serial numbers E00021 to E001137 black & red ..instead .The pickups are Humbucking , Chrome plated & shock mounted .. they are also Radio-Phonic heh* so they are fantasticly Psycho-Accoustic..they really pick up everything & i LOOOVE! that .. from the radio to TV! very quietly though ..& they react to external sound the feedbacking possibilities of this guitar are astounding!! .The electronics are active ofcourse with FET" preamp .The neck is lamenated ..the body of the "Breadwinner" is to say the least original ..its a wood framed body .what? i dont know because instead of a clear finish it is covered in a white what you could call like a pigskin finish ..it feels like a thick skin is covering the wood body. The Guitars shape is unique it literally looks like a Battle AXE! with a cut away .non locking tuners heh* didnt have em then ..the action is fast & the neck quite thin ..though in the hand it does feel clubby. I couldnt describe the Saddle well OK ..its strings through the saddle set up but you'd have to see the saddle ! ..everything on this guitar is adjustable the pickups the saddle the intonation the neck you name it ...mine needs a refret to be perfectly honest ..ive had it for 11 yrs .& its the first & only electric i ever had ..its seen plenty of action too ...the guitar came with a solid shell Hard flight case ...Great case, in traditional Ovation BROWN! ...this guitar has features up the Yin Yang .. its my big LOVE! oh & two very large very groovy looking Volume & Tone controls with a silver refletive cap lid!!

This guitar & i are like hand in glove .. its like any relationship i think once you play a guitar long enough you learn to like it ..you get to know its weaknesses & weird moments & its strengths too. It suits my style of playing totally due to the wide range of sounds that i can coax from it ..it really has so many unique sounds ,i couldnt ever let it go .. i play hmmm Psychedelique/Experimental Space rock ..that is tinged with the Quirkyness of Some of the PIXIES heavier moments A'la "Trompe La monde" that kind of thing but having said that ...heh* im playing Old school Punk rock vibes & RAW-POWER Iggy & the Stooges type stuff too ... I run the whole Kit & Kaboodle of my rig thus! ..Guitar to ..Boss Metal zone - Turbo distortion - Octave - Vibrato - Phaser 1r - Colorsound wah - Digital delay - Rocktron Surf trem - the signal then goes direct to a "1969 SOUND CITY Mark 4 120watt head Master Volume " run through a Marshall Slant cab JCM900 LEAD 300watter " the sound from this guitar is phenomenal it sounds great .it can get noisy on the bridge pickup if your not too careful ,ive been foolish during playing at times & forgot to centre my pickup selector whilst stomping on my WAH pedal ..YOWWWWWWWWWWW ouch!! this guitar is extremely bright & accoustic but can also produce extremely thick boomy bottom end vibes as well as really thin AM radio Funk vibes too ...there is EONS of variations to what you get sound wise from this guitar ... its up to the individual to go a hunting for tones ... there is very little i dont like about this guitar other than it needs a refret & well thats not the guitars fault now is it ! ..Love it ...

This was already a second hand guit when i got it ..over the years ive adjusted it to my personal satisfaction ..it was never annoying in the hand when i first got it, the pickups were slightly lower than i have them & i have them tilted too! ..you can tilt the pickups ..as far as i can tell the guitar was aging well when i got it ..had the odd ding here & there ..well thats just for character & ive since added a few more ... nothing to complain about here ..everything is adjustable anyway ...

This guitar has survived hmmmm nearly 30yrs & is a battle axe, & with that Pigskin covering i dont think its going to fall apart on me ..the hardware is doing fine ..i may replce the NUT soon though. The strap buttons arent going anywhere ..I can depend on this guitar like i can depend on boss pedals! You know what i mean... I would certainly use it during a gig without back up ..absolutely! .. though i am planning on having a DANELECTRO 56u2 as a back up soon ... but as a guitar in its own right not as a back up cause im anticipating the "Breadwinner's" demise! ....Its durable ,its real ... its the Guitar that survived the Colony from ALIENS!

I dont anticipate Ovation who are these days ONLY! an accoustic manufacturer having much to say to me on a 30yr old second hand guitar ...& besides im surrounded by great Guitar Doctors in Sydney OZ ... i want for nothing ..we have a lil revolution in guitar Luthiers going on here soo ....

Ive been playing for 12 yrs ..i am a drummer & bass player singer & Organ player too ....so as for gear theres all kinds of stuff kicking around my house . Theres nothing i wish i had asked beofre i bought this guitar only like "errr you got any more ..?" If this guitar were stolen for fear of sounding redundant along with every other post by every other guitarist here errr ..like id be extremely pissed off would lament & then scour the Earth like some evil KRAKEN! searching & destroying till i found an exact relpica right down to the exact same colour ... i really would be heart broken thats for sure ...sleepless nights make any sense ..im not kidding !!! ..I searched for two yrs as a 14 yr old kid for one of these .. i was 16 when i found one ..what really turned me onto them was that a fave band called Siousxie & the Banshees played them exclusively ..& well i seriously dug all their guitarists ..John Mc'Geough particularly ..a total legend ..well once i saw the damn thing on the OLD Grey Whistle test one night ..i had to have one ..& they were so unusual in every way shape & form that now i have TWO! ..i always look out for more ... I love the tortured whining sounds this guitar can produce the feedbacking the right on the egde of out of control vibe it has & also the really very ancient history 1960's weirdness it had about it .. its just a great Star Trek guitar ... if you dig SCI-FI ..or Retro Futurism with your Loud rock guitar then the "Breadwinner" is for you ...a strange name i agree ..laughable almost ..ahhh but therein lies the deception ..this guitar is unique! & becoming after many yrs much sought after ..if you see one save it from the ignorance of others ..you have the info on it now! make use of it & get turned onto the Sound that was but for a brief period Ovation in the Solid body trade ,..the other models made in the 70's prior to them shutting down the Solid body thang ..were known as the "VIPER" & the "PREACHER" ...happy hunting ..good luck finding one ..