• Ovation Applause Serial Number Lookup
• Warranty Information | Ovation Guitars
• Ovation Applause Acoustic Guitar

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.

• 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 Range Date Comment 006-319 1966 three digits in red ink.
• Dec 31, 2015 I'd like to ID my Ovation and all I HAVE is the serial number! Post #2 had this, but I will spare you having to scroll up. I have an Applause wooden neck, not.

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 Range Date Comment 006-319 1966 three digits in red ink.

Years and models

Original series from 1966

Ovation: six digits series from 1971

Ovation Applause Serial Number Lookup

Adamas: from September 1977

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

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.

Acoustic and Acoustic Electric

Warranty Information | Ovation Guitars

Colors

Ovation Applause Acoustic Guitar