Growing up in the 80s, rock music was the genre that filled the airwaves. I was first introduced to Ovation guitars by a fellow named Richie Sambora. He obviously was the lead guitar player of the band Bon Jovi. What attracted me to the guitar, he was playing, other than it had two necks, was the fact that the sound hole was not in the center of the body. In fact, they were several, smaller sound holes, strategically placed to the sides of the strings. I later found out that those wholes, when put together, would occupy the same area as one large sound hole. Since then, I've noticed that other musicians, of bands that I loved, used Ovation guitars as well. One of The Scorpions' guitarists, Rudolph Schenker, can also be seen using Ovation guitars. Growing up, as a teenager with little to no money, I've always dreamt of buying one of those expensive guitars. Fast forward, a few years later, I won't date myself :), I finally obtained not one but several of these magically sounding instruments.
I currently own a 1979 1651, a 6778LX, a Celebrity CS28-RR, a Celebrity CC15, and another Celebrity with Koa top (can't remember the model right off the top of my head).
What makes these guitars so special, is the fact that their rounded backs are made of Lyrachord, a material which was invented by Ovation's founder, none other than Kaman Industries' founder, Charlie Kaman himself.
Kaman Industries is an aerospace technology company, lead by Charlie Kaman who also happened to be a guitar aficionado. He invented Lyrachord, the "indestructible" material, which is related to the materials for making helicopter rotors.
The shape (round back) and unique material (Lyrachord) is what gives these guitars their superb and full-bodied sound. Countless, great musicians such as Glen Campbell, John Lennon, Melissa Ethridge, Kaki King, Bob Marley, and Yngwie Malmsteen, to name a few, all let their hands and fingers grace these beautiful instruments.
