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1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

A look at the history behind many of the guitars Glen has used throughout his career.
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jay
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1970 Advertisement with Glen's 1968 GC 12 String

Post by jay »

This picture was used in a 1970 ad campaign by Ovation, as well as in a 2006 ad celebrating Ovations re-issue of Glen's 1627 Ovation. Although you cannot see the Glen Campbell signature on the head of the guitar, from other pictures in the photo op, it is clear that he is using the original GC 12 that was different than the one Ovation released to the public.

Ovation Advertisement with 68 GC12
Ovation Advertisement with 68 GC12
Ovation Advert.jpg (91.3 KiB) Viewed 12632 times
1970 Ovation Advertisement with 68 GC12
1970 Ovation Advertisement with 68 GC12
1970_Glen Campbell Ovation_Ad_01.jpg (110.3 KiB) Viewed 12632 times
Many thanks to OvationTribute.com for preserving these ads for Glen Campbell and Ovation fans!


crest
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Re: 1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by crest »

I Iive in CT, which is where the Ovation factory was located for many years. I think I have one of the 'model 8" guitars that preceded the model 1118. Can anyone who was on this thread please contact me? Thanks.


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jay
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Re: 1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by jay »

Wayne Reid passed this picture along this evening.
Another picture that was taken when Glen played for President Nixon.
Glen playing his Ovation Glen Campbell 12 with Waynes X014 sitting in the background.
Glen playing his Ovation Glen Campbell 12 with Waynes X014 sitting in the background.
GC White House 1624.jpg (343.37 KiB) Viewed 15834 times
Glen is playing his proto 68 Ovation 12 String. Wayne's proto 1624 (X014) is sitting behind him (you can read about it here )


Bluebird
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Re: 1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by Bluebird »

Here is another pic from the same Johnny Cash show of Glen using the same guitar.

Wayne
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jay
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Re: 1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by jay »

On the Johnny Cash Show on July 12, 1969, with the custom Model 8



Bluebird
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Re: 1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by Bluebird »

Thanks Jay, for the wonderful job you do with these guitar threads.

I would like to add this photo of Glen and his 12-string prototype at the Whitehouse with President Nixon on May 7, 1971.
Attachments
GC12 proto whitehouse.jpg
GC12 proto whitehouse.jpg (2.24 MiB) Viewed 15996 times


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jay
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1968 Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String

Post by jay »

With Glen's early success playing a 12 String, Ovation followed Glen's signature 6 string model
(The Glen Campbell Deluxe Balladeer) with his own Ovation signature 12 string...The Glen Campbell 12 String.

Ovation first introduced their 12 string in late 1967, the Ovation Balladeer 12 String (Credit: Dave Witco). Its' most eye catching feature was a smaller sound hole, bordered by the soundboard and surrounded by an inlaid rosette.
Ovation Balladeer 12 String        Credit: Dave Witco   http://www.ovationgallery.com/pageoriginalb12.htm
Ovation Balladeer 12 String Credit: Dave Witco http://www.ovationgallery.com/pageoriginalb12.htm
1967 Ovation Balladeer 12 String.jpg (35.45 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
1967 Ovation Balladeer 12 Soundhole  Credit: Dave Witco   http://www.ovationgallery.com
1967 Ovation Balladeer 12 Soundhole Credit: Dave Witco http://www.ovationgallery.com
1967 Ovation Balladeer 12 sound hole.jpg (36.41 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
Towards the end of 1968, Ovation added a diamond inlay pattern, gold Kluson Deluxe tuners, a bound neck and a select spruce soundboard to the Balladeer 12 and introduced the Glen Campbell 12 String or Model #8.

GC12fullweb.jpg
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GC12headweb.jpg
GC12headweb.jpg (43.35 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
GC12sigweb.jpg
GC12sigweb.jpg (32.59 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
The oddity about the beautiful 12 that Charles Kaman made for Glen, is that there is no documentation or proof that Glen ever played one...much less owned one. The general consensus is that no more than 15 or so were produced, before Ovation discontinued them and transitioned their 12 string production into the Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String Model 1118, beginning in either late '68 or early '69. Gone was the shiny bowl, winged bridge, Deluxe Kluson tuners, smaller sound hole and inlaid rosette and Glen's signature between the tuners. The 1118 Glen Campbell 12 had little, if any, in common with Ovations initial offering. (Thanks to Jerome Galopin for providing this wonder Ovation site ( Ovation Tribute )

An early transitional 1118 that still has the winged bridge:
1969 Ovation Model 1118  The Glen Campbell 12 String
1969 Ovation Model 1118 The Glen Campbell 12 String
Glen Campbell 12 String Model 1118.jpg (60.96 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
1969 Ovation Model 1118  The Glen Campbell 12 String
1969 Ovation Model 1118 The Glen Campbell 12 String
Glen Campbell 12 String Model 1118 Head.jpg (74.39 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
Glen playing a 1118 Glen Campbell 12 for the "I Knew Jesus" photo shoot.
1118 GC 12 on I knew Jesus
1118 GC 12 on I knew Jesus
GCF high res.jpg (41.5 KiB) Viewed 15938 times
So what Ovation 12 string was Glen playing from late '68, well into the 70's?

Screen captures of Glen playing His Glen Campbell 12 String on the Goodtime Hour (2-5-69)
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
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Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
gc12gh1.jpg (22.66 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour 2-5-69
gc12gh2.jpg (11.85 KiB) Viewed 16015 times
The Segment From the Above Goodtime Hour Where Glen Plays His 12 String



A photo op
gc12collage.jpg
gc12collage.jpg (50.15 KiB) Viewed 16003 times
And as seen in 1977, with Carol Burnett, on this YouTube clip

https://youtu.be/pwsBW8mbq00?t=4m20s



It appears that Glen had Charlie put a regular sound hole soundboard on top of the original 68 GC 12. It has the same tuners, bridge, headstock with his initials on the 12th fret, and shiny bowl as the original 1968 GC 12. Therefore, it was either a custom or a prototype, because it doesn't appear that this configuration of the original Ovation GC 12 was ever publicly available.

So, it doesn't appear that Glen ever owned or played the first Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String and the first Ovation Glen Campbell 12 String that he played was custom made for him. The sound hole from Glen's GC12 was carried forward into the Glen Campbell 12 Model 1118, as well as all the other 12 string models in Ovations 2nd generation of guitars.

Thanks to Paul Moody and Wayne Reid for walking me through this with their knowledge and perspectives.
Attachments
Glen using an Ovation 1118 Glen Campbell 12 for the '73 "I Knew Jesus" photo shoot
Glen using an Ovation 1118 Glen Campbell 12 for the '73 "I Knew Jesus" photo shoot
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1968 Ovation Prototype Glen Campbell 12
1968 Ovation Prototype Glen Campbell 12
protogc12.jpg (70.63 KiB) Viewed 16015 times


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