| The very first Ovation Guitar, Balladeer, was | | | | improves bass and treble while also adding to the |
| revealed to the world in February 1967. An | | | | durability of the guitar. |
| engineer and guitar player named Charles Kaman | | | | The Ovation Guitar team also pioneered the use |
| brought his guitar to the Martin Company so that | | | | of manmade materials to construct their guitar |
| the neck, which had warped, could be repaired. On | | | | backs. While working on helicopters, Kaman saw |
| his visit, Martin president, Fred Martin, took him on | | | | the negative effects on wooden rotors caused by |
| a tour of the factory. | | | | vibrations. While this could be a positive on an |
| Charles was shocked to learn on the tour that | | | | acoustic guitar, the resonance would need to be |
| Martin guitars were made with animal glue and | | | | controlled in order to have a good sound. |
| hammers. A former helicopter engineer, Charles | | | | After some trial and error, he found the right |
| was familiar with advanced woodworking | | | | mixture of manmade and natural woods like sika |
| materials and immediately knew the Martin guitars | | | | spruce, to create an acoustic guitar with a |
| could be improved. | | | | magnificent sound. |
| Kaman offered to buy the guitar company from | | | | In 1971 they would add preamps, pickups, and |
| Martin who refused. He would try again at a later | | | | eq's for musicians that were having difficulty |
| date. This time, he revealed his plan to incorporate | | | | dealing with feedback during live performances. |
| better technologies to manufacturing guitars. | | | | Ovation guitar innovations include the very first |
| However, Martin still refused him. Undeterred, | | | | electric guitar with a solid body in 1971, and in |
| Charles Kaman decided to begin a guitar company | | | | 1977l sound holes that are offset on the guitar |
| of his own, Ovation Guitars. | | | | top. |
| While working as a helicopter engineer, Kaman | | | | The Ovation Guitar was extremely popular during |
| was charged with finding the most effective | | | | the 80s due to its strong sound and low |
| ways of eliminating vibration. As a guitar player, | | | | feedback. It was the preferred guitar for many |
| he also understood the crucial aspect of adding | | | | musicians during live performances. |
| vibrations. | | | | Many people still use and love the Ovation Guitar. |
| Kaman compiled a team of talented aerospace | | | | Some popular musicians who use these wonderful |
| technicians and engineers and asked them to | | | | guitars are: Yngwie Malmsteen, Sully Erna and |
| design the ideal acoustic guitar. | | | | Tony Rombola (Godsmack), Melissa Ethridge, |
| After much research, they learned that the flat | | | | Mustaine (Megadeth), Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue), |
| back on their guitars negatively affected sound | | | | Ziggy Marley, Shakira, Steven Tyler (Aerosmith) |
| flow. This discovery brought about the roundback | | | | and Shania Twain. |
| of a standard ovation models. The round back | | | | |