| History | | | | Pickups |
| Making guitars might not be rocket science, but Charlie | | | | The acoustic guitars of the day suffered greatly from |
| Kaman applied aerospace and aeronautical science to | | | | feedback when guitarists attempted to amplify them. |
| the manufacturing of the Ovation guitar. Kaman, an | | | | The Ovation guitar was an early adopter of preamps, |
| aerospace engineer, was a long-time guitarist and | | | | onboard equalization and piezo pickups. This provided |
| wanted to diversify his aerospace company. When he | | | | a fantastic improvement in the reduction of feedback. |
| took his Martin guitar to be repaired for a warped | | | | And the sound of Ovation was far more realistic and |
| neck, he was offered a tour of the factory. He was | | | | adjustable than what had been available for standard |
| surprised to find the luthiers there using hand tools, | | | | acoustic guitars. The piezo pickups were another |
| animal glues, and low-tech approaches to guitar | | | | Kaman innovation for the Ovation that was developed |
| making. | | | | through engineering and manufacturing techniques that |
| Interestingly he offered to buy the Martin guitar | | | | were standard in the aviation industry. |
| company, but was refused -- twice. So he decided to | | | | I am sure the engineers knowledge of aviation |
| expand his company into guitar production. Like most | | | | electronics helped too. |
| engineers he approached the problem of making a | | | | Celebrity Endorsements |
| guitar with engineering precision. He formed a team of | | | | Celebrity endorsements are common in the music |
| people who analyzed problems, formed solutions, and | | | | industry. Guitar manufacturers feature the celebrities in |
| tested them. The Ovation Balladeer was the result of | | | | advertising and often the celebrity's name may appear |
| their efforts. | | | | on a special model guitar in the manufacturer's line. |
| Body | | | | Glen Campbell, a popular entertainer in the 60s who |
| One of the first things people notice about the Ovation | | | | was known for his guitar playing, endorsed the Ovation |
| guitars is the round back. This was one of those | | | | guitar and frequently played the Ovation on his variety |
| engineering discoveries that Kaman's group made. | | | | show. |
| According to their research, the regular guitar's flat | | | | This contributed to Ovation's early success. |
| back actually hindered the sound projection. So they | | | | Summary |
| chose a round back. In addition they made the back | | | | Since the company's inception Ovation guitars have |
| out of a synthetic material -- a composite plastic that | | | | exhibited innovative engineering and design. |
| Kaman was familiar with due to his experience | | | | From its beginning and continuing to the present, it has |
| manufacturing helicopter roto blades. This was another | | | | created guitars that are still some of the most sought |
| interesting innovation in guitar manufacturing. | | | | after and desirable acoustic/electrics in the world. |
