Ovation Serial Number Formats
Numeric (various)(1966-present)USA production in New Hartford, CT.
Where to Find Your Ovation Serial Number
- ▶On the label inside the guitar (sound hole)
Tips
- ▶Ovation is known for its distinctive round-back composite body design.
Spotting Counterfeit Ovation Guitars
Ovation counterfeits are uncommon due to the unique round-back composite body design, which is difficult to replicate cheaply.
Body & Construction▼
- ▶The Lyrachord (fiberglass composite) round back is Ovation's signature feature. Fakes may use cheap plastic that lacks the correct rigidity and resonance.
- ▶USA-made Ovations have a specific internal bracing pattern visible through the sound holes. Incorrect bracing suggests a fake.
Branding & Serial▼
- ▶Verify the serial number format and check the internal label. USA models should reference New Hartford, Connecticut.
- ▶The Ovation headstock logo and any model-specific markings should be cleanly applied. Poor branding quality is a red flag.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Ovation guitars made?▼
Original USA Ovations were made in New Hartford, Connecticut from 1966 until Fender closed the factory in 2014. Gibson acquired Ovation that same year and limited Custom Shop production has continued. The Celebrity and Applause import models are made in Korea or China.
What makes Ovation guitars different from other acoustics?▼
Ovation's round-back body is made from Lyrachord — a fiberglass composite developed by founder Charles Kaman using aerospace materials technology. Unlike wooden round-backs, Lyrachord is moisture-resistant, extremely consistent, and durable on tour. Ovation also pioneered the factory-installed undersaddle pickup preamp, making them the preferred choice of many acoustic performers from the 1970s onward.
Ovation Links & Resources
Ovation Gallery
More About Ovation
Ovation Instruments was founded in 1966 by Charles Kaman in New Hartford, Connecticut. Kaman was an aerospace engineer who had founded Kaman Aircraft Corporation in 1945 and brought an engineering mindset to the guitar industry. Dissatisfied with the acoustic inconsistencies of wooden round-back guitars, he and his team developed Lyrachord — a proprietary fiberglass composite — as the material for Ovation's distinctive bowl-back body. The resulting guitar had unusually consistent tone across its range and exceptional durability.
Ovation became closely associated with acoustic-electric performance. The company developed one of the earliest integrated undersaddle pickup systems, making their guitars popular with performers who needed to amplify without feedback. Glen Campbell, whose television show reached millions of viewers weekly in the late 1960s and 1970s, became Ovation's most visible endorser and is credited with introducing the brand to a mainstream audience. Bob Dylan, Adrian Belew, and Joan Armatrading also played Ovations prominently.
Kaman Music Corporation operated Ovation through its rise and eventual decline. The New Hartford, Connecticut factory — which produced all USA Ovations — has been closed at various points, with production shifting overseas for the Celebrity and Applause budget lines. Gibson acquired Ovation in 2014, and production of USA Custom Shop instruments has continued in limited form. Despite the ownership changes, the round-back design remains distinctive enough that Ovation enjoys persistent brand recognition.