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Full-length view of a light-wood acoustic guitar with a decorative soundhole rosette, standing in its open, brown, plush-lined hard case.
01 / 24Full-length view of a light-wood acoustic guitar with a decorative soundhole rosette, standing in its open, brown, plush-lined hard case.
The light-colored acoustic guitar is centered, showing its body and neck, with a decorative soundhole rosette and dark bridge.
02 / 24The light-colored acoustic guitar is centered, showing its body and neck, with a decorative soundhole rosette and dark bridge.
The guitar's shiny black bowl back and brown neck are seen from behind, resting in an open brown hard case with plush lining.
03 / 24The guitar's shiny black bowl back and brown neck are seen from behind, resting in an open brown hard case with plush lining.
The guitar's shiny black bowl back and lower neck are visible, resting in a brown plush-lined hard case.
04 / 24The guitar's shiny black bowl back and lower neck are visible, resting in a brown plush-lined hard case.
The dark brown headstock, with six silver tuners and a black truss rod cover, shows light wear and a few scratches.
05 / 24The dark brown headstock, with six silver tuners and a black truss rod cover, shows light wear and a few scratches.
The back of the guitar's headstock, showing six tarnished chrome tuners and a dark wood finish with two lighter wood stripes.
06 / 24The back of the guitar's headstock, showing six tarnished chrome tuners and a dark wood finish with two lighter wood stripes.
The acoustic-electric guitar's light wood top and dark bowl back are visible from the upper bout, with a decorative rosette.
07 / 24The acoustic-electric guitar's light wood top and dark bowl back are visible from the upper bout, with a decorative rosette.
The guitar's light brown top and black bowl back are shown from above, with a decorative soundhole rosette and dark bridge.
08 / 24The guitar's light brown top and black bowl back are shown from above, with a decorative soundhole rosette and dark bridge.
The guitar's light brown top and dark bowl back are visible from above, with a decorative soundhole rosette.
09 / 24The guitar's light brown top and dark bowl back are visible from above, with a decorative soundhole rosette.
The guitar's light wood top and dark, shiny bowl back are visible, with a decorative rosette around the soundhole and a strap button.
10 / 24The guitar's light wood top and dark, shiny bowl back are visible, with a decorative rosette around the soundhole and a strap button.
The guitar's glossy black bowl-back body is angled, showing a chrome endpin jack and a hint of the neck's wood grain.
11 / 24The guitar's glossy black bowl-back body is angled, showing a chrome endpin jack and a hint of the neck's wood grain.
The guitar's shiny black bowl back is angled from the upper left, showing a few light scuffs and reflections, with a brown neck visible.
12 / 24The guitar's shiny black bowl back is angled from the upper left, showing a few light scuffs and reflections, with a brown neck visible.
The guitar's shiny black bowl-back body is angled, revealing a cream binding and a glimpse of the neck's wood grain.
13 / 24The guitar's shiny black bowl-back body is angled, revealing a cream binding and a glimpse of the neck's wood grain.
The guitar's shiny black bowl back is angled from the lower right, showing a chrome endpin jack and some minor surface wear.
14 / 24The guitar's shiny black bowl back is angled from the lower right, showing a chrome endpin jack and some minor surface wear.
The guitar's headstock and upper neck are seen from the side, showing six metal tuners and a dark fretboard with light frets.
15 / 24The guitar's headstock and upper neck are seen from the side, showing six metal tuners and a dark fretboard with light frets.
Close-up of the guitar's neck and fretboard, showing the dark wood, frets, strings, and a diamond-shaped inlay.
16 / 24Close-up of the guitar's neck and fretboard, showing the dark wood, frets, strings, and a diamond-shaped inlay.
Close-up of the shiny, light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the soundhole with ornate rosette and the dark wood bridge.
17 / 24Close-up of the shiny, light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the soundhole with ornate rosette and the dark wood bridge.
Close-up of the light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the dark wood bridge, white saddle, and six brass bridge pins.
18 / 24Close-up of the light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the dark wood bridge, white saddle, and six brass bridge pins.
Close-up of the dark fretboard with a white dot inlay at the 7th fret and a diamond inlay at the 9th fret, showing light string wear.
19 / 24Close-up of the dark fretboard with a white dot inlay at the 7th fret and a diamond inlay at the 9th fret, showing light string wear.
Close-up of the guitar's soundhole, showing the ornate black and cream rosette, natural wood grain, and fretboard with dot inlays.
20 / 24Close-up of the guitar's soundhole, showing the ornate black and cream rosette, natural wood grain, and fretboard with dot inlays.
Close-up of the guitar's dark wood bridge with six strings and a white saddle, showing light wear on the glossy natural wood body.
21 / 24Close-up of the guitar's dark wood bridge with six strings and a white saddle, showing light wear on the glossy natural wood body.
Close-up of the guitar's light-colored, fine-grained spruce top, showing a few small dark spots and a thin black and white binding.
22 / 24Close-up of the guitar's light-colored, fine-grained spruce top, showing a few small dark spots and a thin black and white binding.
Close-up of the light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the dark wood bridge, white saddle, and six strings.
23 / 24Close-up of the light brown acoustic guitar's body, showing the dark wood bridge, white saddle, and six strings.
Close-up of the guitar's black, shiny, bowl-shaped back, showing light reflections and minor surface wear.
24 / 24Close-up of the guitar's black, shiny, bowl-shaped back, showing light reflections and minor surface wear.

Ovation

1968 Ovation Deluxe Balladeer Shiny Bowl Back Acoustic-Electric Guitar w/OHSC

$1,395.00

Available

  • Year1968
  • ConditionGood
  • StoreSan Diego
  • CaseOHSC
Make an offer Sell one like this

Specifications

Instrument

Year
1968
Model
Ovation Deluxe Balladeer Shiny Bowl Back Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Finish
Black
Condition
Good
Store
San Diego

Measurements

Nut width (in)
1.688
Neck depth, 1st fret (in)
0.83
Neck depth, 12th fret (in)
0.96

Construction

Top
Sitka Spruce
Fingerboard
Ebony

Hardware & electronics

Pickups
Passive Pickup Works And Sounds Great
Tuners
Chrome Grover Tuners

Case

Case
OHSC

Description

1968 Ovation Deluxe Balladeer Shiny Bowl Back Acoustic-Electric Guitar w/OHSC

This Guitar Is In Good Condition With Some Play Wear Visible Throughout (See Photos)

Bridge Looks To Have Been Re-Glued

Crack On Top Below Bridge, Professionally Repaired And Stabilized

Room Left On The Saddle

Straight Neck, Truss Rod Turns

Plays Well With Good Action

Added Glen Campbell Truss Rod Cover

Deep Bowl With Shiny Black Finish

5-Ply Body Binding

Ovation "X" Bracing

Ebony Fingerboard With MOP Dot And Diamond Inlays

Brazillian Rosewood Bridge

Inlaid Floral Rosette Showing Some Bubbling

Neck Depth At 1st Fret 0.83", At 12th Fret 0.96"

Comes With Original Hardshell Case

Here’s a gorgeous early example of Ovation’s revolutionary design — a 1968 Deluxe Balladeer featuring the iconic shiny Lyrachord bowl back and a warm, resonant spruce top. Built during Ovation’s first years of production, this model showcases their innovative combination of traditional acoustic tonewoods with space-age materials for enhanced projection, stability, and comfort.

The natural spruce top is paired with a mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard, delivering clear, balanced tone whether unplugged or amplified through its original pickup system. The shiny bowl back not only looks stunning but also reflects Ovation’s early build quality and attention to detail.

This guitar is in great shape for its age, with normal cosmetic wear that adds vintage character. It plays easily up and down the neck, making it perfect for players and collectors alike. Includes its original hardshell case.

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