The History of the Ovation Guitar [Paperback]

Walter Carter (Author), Jon Eiche (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1996

Guitar industry expert Walter Carter relates the story of one of the 20th century's most innovative companies, from its owner's humble beginnings as a helicopter manufacturer to its rise as the biggest acoustic guitar maker in the U.S. Features beautiful color photos of Ovation guitars, interviews with Ovation artists, and an appendix of guitar serial numbers for collectors.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Hal Leonard Corporation (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 079355876X
• ISBN-13: 978-0793558766
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 8.8 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,378,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Guitars, June 11, 2002

By 

Harold Piskura (Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The History of the Ovation Guitar (Paperback)

I am a fan of Ovation guitars, I already own two and will buy more. The History of the Ovation guitar is fascinating in itself as well as the great history behind it. Charley Kaman's accomplishments are impressive in the aviation industry, but are a renaissance for the guitar world.

Ovation dares to color outside the lines and the results are fantastic. History happens. Here is the story of a revolutionary instrument that had its beginning the 1960's.

Even if you are only interested in music, this book is enlightening in an unique area. The authors inclusion of his interviews with Kaman family members in his work is like sitting in on a story telling. You get a feel for the events as they take place. Particularly those of us who were around when the Beatles, Glen Campbell, Josh White and others rising. There are those ties that from Ovations' history that stir warm memories. In short, a good read.

5.0 out of 5 stars bit cheeky, July 18, 2011

By 

oz boy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The History of the Ovation Guitar (Paperback)

No doubt whatsoever this is a great book at it's original price of $26.00 but to cover the price with
a white paper sticker and then charge me $100.00 is tosayb the least a bit cheeky some might say dishonest
as a matter of fact i think it's against the law here in Australia I own over a dozen Ovation's an i love them dearley but this has left a bad taste they say buyer be ware well i most certinaly will be next time but i doubt it will be on amazon i have bought several books on amazon in the past and have always without exception been 100% happy dont know what happened here maybe i held my mouth wrong or maybe i just struck a dishonist basket well there you have it imm not happy jan

3.0 out of 5 stars A lot of money for not much book., November 19, 2010

By 

ksdaddy - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The History of the Ovation Guitar (Paperback)

This book sold in the mid 90s for $20 or so. It's been out of print a long time and any copies that become available usually command $100 or more. I got very lucky and found one with many wrinkles for $40. The information provided could easily have been produced in a web page. I'm not sorry I bought the book but I'm sure glad I didn't pay $100 for it. I wish they had provided more information as to construction methods, photos from inside the factory, interviews with current or former employees, anecdotes about the factory, production figures, dimensions, oddities, things like that. It seems they spent a lot of time on artist endorsements with a little technical fluff here and there.