Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware: Haven't been in the forum for awhile but was looking at a 70's Applause AA-31 SN185786 - had the ugle headstock and have not been able to find specs for it. For example, serial number 07100091 indicates a guitar built in 2007 (07), in October of that year (10), and that it was the 91st guitar made that month (0091). Similarly, serial number 09050112 indicates the 112th guitar made during May 2009. Model Number: Model: Years Made: Made In: Strings: Format: Cutaway: Bowl: Style: Frets to Body: Headstock: Output: Comments: 385T: Pinnacle: 1992-1993: USA: Steel: 12.
ALAMO GUITARS (1999-2010) Alan Miller. Wow, my latest acquire is a six string, six digit serial applause by kaman, according to a chart I found late 70s b4 leaving usa. I just acquired for 30 bucks an old Applause from the early 70s with the idea that I would use it as a 'beach guitar. Model number is AA24-A and its built in Moosup, CT, USA.
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Vintage Applause AA-31 | ||
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skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Haven't been in the forum for awhile but was looking at a 70's Applause AA-31 SN185786 - had the ugle headstock and have not been able to find specs for it. Can anyone tell me its nut width and solid or laminate top? Does it have a standard neck or is it aluminum? What might value be for one in good shape with case? Thanks very much. (Hi Tweeter!) | |
ksdaddy |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 605 Location: Caribou, ME | The AA-31s were made in Korea beginning about 1983. There were no US made AA-31s to my knowledge. They have 'real wood' necks and fingerboards as opposed to aluminum. The nut width on my AA-31 is 1-11/16'. All AA-31s have laminated tops. From a marketing standpoint they were meant to replace the Moosup AA-14s (Hi Alison!). | |
ksdaddy |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 605 Location: Caribou, ME | As to value, I've bought them as cheaply as ten bucks on ebay (a fluke). They hover around the $100 mark for the most part. Now if you're talking THIS pimped out '31, well, now, that's altogether different! | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Thanks for the response ksdaddy. I bought the one I was looking at although I paid more - $200 w/shipping. I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think the guitar is beautiful even though not the pimped up version - your pimpdaddy applesause is gorgeous! Do you have any videos in youtube or anything that would help me hear how she sounds? Also is it a deep bowl? Appears so in photos - which I prefer for deeper tone. The one I bought looks just likes yours except it is plain. Is your pimpdaddy applesause original like that? Amazing! | |
seesquare |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3233 Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Nice get, Skip. I think you will be pleased with the instrument. Get a good set-up done on it, and it will truly talk to you! Oh yeah, and your favorite flavor in acoustic strings. | |
ksdaddy |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 605 Location: Caribou, ME | No idea who was *cough* responsible for the paint job. No idea what they were thinking either. It's a regular deep bowl. I have one AA24 which has a little shallower bowl. I don't hear much difference to be honest. | |
seesquare |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3233 Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Seen a lot worse. Frankly, I'm too old to understand those DJ Ashba critters. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | thanks for the comments guys (I see you Tweeter :) | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Well friends it seems I got burned this time in ebay. Seller had lots of photos interestingly all of them avoided the areas where things are wrong. Guitar and case were described to be in 'very good condition' and nothinig is further from the truth. The damages were obviously present when the guitar was listed and did not happen during shipping because the guitar was safe and secure inside the case. Please check the video link at end of this note. The upper bout on back is cracked in several places and top has delaminated on that whole area. Can this guitar be salvaged or is it over? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw8yUNhhm00 | |
Mark in Boise |
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12700 Location: Boise, Idaho | Since a new Applause can be had for $200 anywhere, anytime, and ksdaddy correctly told you that he regularly buys used ones for $100, I think you know your answer. It would cost more to salvage it than it's worth. I'm always suspect of any ebay ad that starts with 'vintage'. My wife would say that means 'old, worn out and worthless', kind of like me. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | thanks mark - if repaired i would attempt it myself thus the interest - a learning dummy is how i look at it. ive bought plenty of used and vintage gits on the bay over past 10 yrs and this is first time burned. like riding a motorcycle - you ride long enough - you will be involved in an accident. | |
Mark in Boise |
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Joined: March 2005 Posts: 12700 Location: Boise, Idaho | A DIY attempt would be the only way to go. I have only tried the basic stuff with guitars. Some glue, clamps and time could do a lot. | |
sycamore |
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Joined: March 2007 Posts: 672 Location: Cork, Ireland | Originally posted by ksdaddy: Mine says both 'AA-31' and 'Made in USA' on the label. Neck is plasticky - possible aluminium inside. The fretboard is dark hardwood. The AA-31s were made in Korea beginning about 1983. There were no US made AA-31s to my knowledge. They have 'real wood' necks and fingerboards as opposed to aluminum. The nut width on my AA-31 is 1-11/16'. All AA-31s have laminated tops. From a marketing standpoint they were meant to replace the Moosup AA-14s (Hi Alison!). Sorry to hear yours didn't work out though. They are a great budget guitar. Mine is often admired by people who haven't been told that plastic guitars are no good. Worth repairing if you can. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Thanks Mark and Sycamore - good information. A question - my SN 185786 seems to suggest 1979 according to the SN record in Reference here at the site. Can anyone positively tell me the year this guitar was made. It was definitely made in Korea (small black print under larger white text on label. Also a little red tag is sewn into case liner under place where neck rests saying Made in Korea. I'm posting a 6 part video series showing what I did to this guitar in the other thread titled Ovation Sting in the Bay or something like that. | |
Waskel |
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Joined: February 2005 Posts: 11834 Location: closely held secret | You can't determine dates from S/N on imports. If you bought this on ebay I would definitely file a SNAD and at least get some of your money back. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Waskel - seller refunded me 100% and also asked me to keep the guitar because it was not worth the cost for them to cover return shipping. | |
stonebobbo |
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Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8302 Location: California | Nice ending. Congrats. | |
sycamore |
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Joined: March 2007 Posts: 672 Location: Cork, Ireland | Even better if you can get it to a working condition. Had mine over 20 years and woudl be very slow to part with it, hope my kids will use it to learn on when old enough. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | I have it repaired enough to play and am watching to see if the repairs hold. There was evidence that previous owner had left the guitar a long time under full string tension because the neck was slightly bellied down and low E was unwound and stretched out at top near tuner post. There was just enough adjustment left in trussrod to bring the neck ever so slightly belly up before restring and now it is perfectly flat at full string tension. Bad news is action is very high, 1/4' or more at 14th fret and saddle is already as low as it should go because the angle to bridge is less than 45° and should not be lowered further. In other words this gutiar has reached the end of its useful or playable life. Time will continue to pull neck belly down and there is no adjustment left to stop it and action is high enough to make the guitar difficult to play and will only get worse with time. I will probably keep it because I admire the relic and also because I cant imaging trying to sell it unless all the above is explained - and who would but it then? | |
seesquare |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3233 Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | bowl-bend. not for the faint-of-heart, though. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Chris - are you saying the action can be recovered by something called 'bowl-bend'? I'm listening! | |
seesquare |
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Joined: November 2002 Posts: 3233 Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | You heat up the bowl, where the neck meets the bowl, and judiciously apply force, to 'reset' the neck angle. Had mixed results with the procedure, though. | |
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | ||
skip77 |
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Joined: June 2007 Posts: 100 Location: Delaware | Interesting - only you would try such a thing! I guess I'll just leave this one be. Might test a replacement saddle to lower action and see if the decreased back angle to bridge hurts tone noticably. Intonation on 6th is off too so I'll compensate that at same time. Tell you what, this old Applause with lam top has pretty good tone and volume - impressive. | |
ksdaddy |
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Joined: April 2003 Posts: 605 Location: Caribou, ME | Can a bowl bend be performed on a shiny bowl? |
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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 |
320-999 | 1967 (Feb.-Nov.) | New Hartford; three digits in red ink |
1000- | 1967 (Nov.)-1968 (July) | four digits in black ink, no letter prefix |
10000- | 1970 (Feb.)-1972 (May) | five digits, no letter prefix |
A + three digits | 1968 (July-Nov.) | |
B + three digits | 1968 (Nov.)-1969 (Feb.) | |
B + five digits | 1974-1979 | Magnum solidbody basses |
C + three digits | 1969 (Feb.-Sept.) | |
D + three digits | 1969 (Sept.)-1970 (Feb.) | |
E + four digits | 1973 (Jan.)-1975 (Feb.) | solidbodies |
E + five digits | 1975 (Feb.)-1980 | solidbodies |
E + six digits | 1980 (late)-1981 | some UK IIs (does not reflect production) |
F, G prefix | 1968 (July)-1970 (Feb.) | |
H, I, J, L prefix | 1970-1973 | Electric Storm series |
Ovation: six digits series from 1971
Range | Date | Comment |
000001-007000 | 1972 (May-Dec.) | |
007001-020000 | 1973 | |
020001-039000 | 1974 | |
039001-067000 | 1975 | |
067001-086000 | 1976 | |
086001-103000 | 1977 (Jan.-Sept.) | |
103001-126000 | 1977 (Sept.)-1978 (Apr.) | |
126001-157000 | 1978 (Apr.-Dec.) | |
157001-203000 | 1979 | |
211011-214933 | 1980 | |
214934-263633 | 1981 | |
263634-291456 | 1982 | |
291457-302669 | 1983 | |
302670-303319 | 1984 | Elites only |
315001-339187 | 1984 (May-Dec.) | Balladeers only |
303320-356000 | 1985-1986 | |
357000-367999 | 1987 | |
368000-382106 | 1988 | |
382107-392900 | 1989 | |
403760-420400 | 1990 | |
421000-430680 | 1990 | |
400001-403676 | 1991 | |
430681-446000 | 1991 | |
402700-406000 | 1992 | |
446001-457810 | 1992 | |
457811-470769 | 1993 | |
470770-484400 | 1994 | |
484401-501470 | 1995 |
Adamas: from September 1977
Range | Year |
0077-0099 | 1977 |
0100-0608 | 1978 |
0609-1058 | 1979 |
1059-1670 | 1980 |
1671-2668 | 1981 |
2669-3242 | 1982 |
3243-3859 | 1983 |
3860-4109 | 1984 |
4110-4251 | 1985 |
4252-4283 | 1986 |
4284-4427 | 1987 |
4428-4696 | 1988 |
4697-4974 | 1989 |
4975-5541 | 1990 |
5542-6278 | 1991 |
6279-7088 | 1992 |
7089-8159 | 1993 |
8160-9778 | 1994 |
9779-11213 | 1995 |
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
Model Numbers Applause Guitars
1964 | Charles Kaman chose a small team of aerospace engineers and technicians, several of whom were woodworking hobbyists as well, to work to invent a new guitar. One of these was Charles McDonough, who later created the Ovation Adamas model. Kaman founded Ovation Instruments. |
1965 | Engineers and luthiers work to improve acoustic guitars by changing their conventional materials. The R&D team builds and tests prototype instruments. Their first prototype has a conventional dreadnought body, with parallel front and back perpendicular to the sides. The innovation is the use of a thinner, synthetic back, because of its foreseen acoustic properties. The company is moved from the aerospace facilities of Bloomfield to a new location in New Hartford. |
1966 | Balladeer introduced. Has a natural top, Grover Rotomatic tuners, dot fret markers, white-black-white binding, small or thin rosette with figure-8 chain link motif and grape bunch at 4 o’clock position. Less than 100 made before February 1967 move to New Hartford factory. The very early have no rosette, some have extra diamond fret markers at twelfth fret. |
1967 (Feb.) | Deluxe Balladeer introduced. Essentially a Balladeer with diamonds at twelfth fret, Grover Rotomatics (Balladeer now has Kluson tuners), five-ply top binding. |
1967 (Sept.) | Classic introduced. No fret markers, twelve frets clear of body, flat fingerboard. Josh White model introduced. Twelve frets clear of body, wider neck, steel strings, dot markers with diamonds at twelfth fret. Shaded brown sunburst top introduced. Larger floral leaf rosette appears. Model numbers introduced:
|
1968 (Jan.) | Model #5 12-String introduced |
1968 (July) | Semi-hollowbody Electric Storm series introduced Model #6 Contemporary Folk Classic appears in the catalog, but is only produced as a prototype (probably during development of Glen Campbell model), with red, green or blue bowl color option |
1968 (Nov.) | Glen Campbell models and shallow “Artist” bowl introduced. Four-digit model numbers with K prefix introduced:
|
1970 | Josh White model deleted after his death |
1971 (May) | K-1124 Country Artist introduced. Similar to the Josh White but with shallow bowl, fourteen-fret neck, flat fingerboard, and nylon strings, replaces Josh White as the #4 model. Acoustic electric models introduced:
|
1972 (June) | Solidbody electrics introduced. K prefix deleted from model names
|
1974 |
|
1976 | New top finishes introduced: Red, White, or Blue Patriot Bicentennial introduced. Limited run of 1776 guitars, fancy version of Custom Legend with drum-and-flag decal and “1776*1976” on lower treble bout. |
1976 (Sept.) | Adamas introduced in prototype form for artists and select dealers. The first 26 are prototypes; #27-#61 are a non-tooling production run; #62-#76 have a new headstock design and the Kaman bar neck reinforcement. Wooden epaulettes around soundholes change to a photographic Mylar material. Extensive tooling begins Sept. 1977. Dealers receive first production models in Dec. 1977. First production Adamas sold is a Model 1687, #0077-95. Suffix is guitar’s natural frequency resonance. The first Adamas 12-String is #213. Charles H. Kaman signs the labels up to #600. At #600 C.W. (Bill) Kaman II begins signing labels.
|
1978 | 1157 Anniversary and 1657 Electric Anniversary introduced |
1979 | 1587 Adamas cutaway and 1651 Legend Limited (electric only) introduced |
1981 | Adamas II models introduced. Standard Ovation neck and bridge, available as acoustic electric only.
|
1982 | Collectors’ Series inaugurated (see separate listing) and several new models, including cutaway models:
|
1982 (Oct.) | Elite appears on price list; production begins shortly thereafter. First catalog appearance is late 1983. |
1983 | Super-shallowbodies introduced |
1988 | Abalone trim added to Custom Legend and Electric Custom Legend |
1989 | Introduced Optima-3 preamp |
1998 | Introduced the Custom Legend Al Di meola. |
2004 | Introduced the LX series (for Light and X-Bracing) |
Applause Aa 31 Guitar Serial Numbers Lookup
Colors
1 | Sunburst |
1Y | Sunburst Flame |
2 | Red |
2WFB | Red Waterfall Bubinga |
3 | Green |
4 | Natural |
4B | Natural Bird Eyes |
4C | Natural Cedar |
4G | Natural Graphite |
4GB | Natural Graphite Burst |
4HF | xNatural w/HEXFX Electronics |
4RM | Recording Model that features Optimax |
5 | Black |
5BQ | Black Blue (Quilted) |
5E | Ebony Stain |
5EY | Ebony Transparent Flame |
5F | Black Flake |
5HG | Black High Gloss |
5M | Birdseye |
5P | Black Pearl |
6 | White – Cream White |
6P | White Pearlescent |
7 | LTD Nutmeg, Anniversary Brown, Tan and Beige, Deep Red |
7QM | Nutmeg |
8 | Blue |
? | Opaque Blue |
8T | Blue Transparent |
8TY | Blue Transparent Flame |
9 | Brown Sunburst |
9FM | Brown Burst Flamed maple |
9B | Brown Burst Bird Eyes |
9Y | Brown Burst Cycamore |
30CM | 30th Anniversary Natural |
AB | Autumn Burst |
AM | Amber |
ANB | Antique Brown Burst |
ANR | Antique Red |
AS | Antique Sunburst Bird Eyes |
ASB | Aspen Blue |
ASW | Angel Step Walnut |
B | Barnwood (Gray-to-Black Sunburst) |
BCB | Black Cherry Burst |
BCBQ | Black Cherry Burst Quilt |
BFT | Blue Flame Top |
BG | Blue Green (Adamas) |
BS | Blue Sparkle |
BSB | Blue Surf Burst |
BTA | Blue Tamo Ash |
BZ | Bronze |
CB | Cobalt Blue |
CBV | Cobalt Blue with VIP Preamp |
CCB | Cherry Cherry Burst |
CCBQ | Cherry Cherry Burst Quilt |
CG | Cadillac Green |
CGB | Cadillac Green Burst |
CRP | Crimson Red Pearl |
CS | Cherry Sunburst |
CTBFA | Cherry Transparent Burst Figured Ash |
DBP | Dark Blue Pearl |
DPQ | Deep Purple Quilt |
DSQ | Deep Black |
DTQ | Deep Turquise (Quilted) |
FKOA | Figured Koa |
FR | Figured Redwood |
G | Burgundy Sunburst |
GQ | Green Quilt |
H | Honey |
HT | Honey Sunburst |
YB | Yellow Burst Flame |
YS | Yellow Burst |
IC | Iced Coffee |
HB | Honeyburst |
LFR | Legend Figured Redwood |
LR | Lusty Red |
M | Mahogany |
NB2 | No-Burst Red |
NB5 | No-Burst Black |
NB8 | No-Burst Blue |
NEB | New England Burst |
NMQ | Nutmeg Maple Quilt |
NWT | Natural Woven Top |
OB | Opaque Burgundy |
OFT | Orange Flame Top |
P | Pewter |
PB | Plum Burst |
PTF | Purple Tribal Flame |
PY | Plumburst on Sycamore |
RB | Rootbeer |
RF | Red Flame |
RG | Ruby Graphite |
RR | Ruby Red |
RRB | Ruby Redburst |
RRBY | Ruby Redburts Flame |
RTD | Red Tear Drop |
RTDB | Red Tear Drop Burst |
RW | Rose White |
RWB | Red Wineburst |
RBBW | Ruby Burst Burled Walnut |
SS | Silver Sparkle |
SSP | Silver Satin Pearl |
T | Turquise |
T5 | Textured Black |
TB | Tobacco Burst |
TG | Teal Graphite |
TDB | Teardrop Burst |
TH | Transparent Honey |
TN | Tangerine |
TPB | Transparent Burgundy |
TQ | Turquoise Quilted |
USA | US Flag |
VOQ | Vintage Orange (Quilted) |
VY | Vintage Flamed Sycamore |
VT | Vintage |
WB | Wine Burst Flame |
WP | White Pearl |
WS | Walnut stain |
Z | All Black guitar |