This model is the fanciest of the traditional round-hole models made by the company whose calling card is a decidedly untraditional, molded fiberglass back.

Ovation was founded in 1965 by Charlie Kaman, whose Kaman Aircraft company had been a leading helicopter builder since 1945. Due to political changes in the early 1960s, Kaman saw a need to diversify and, being an accomplished guitar player, he chose to redesign the acoustic guitar with modern materials and scientific methodology, using oscilloscopes and the same vibration sensors he used in aircraft to quantify the sound of a great guitar.

Ovation’s bowlback design gained a foothold in the guitar market, but the company hit it’s stride in the early 1970s with superior acoustic/electrics equipped with piezo pickups. Kaman Music strengthened it’s position by securing a distribution agreement with Takamine, which produced some of the best traditional-design amplified acoustics, and by acquiring several distribution companies.

It was one of the largest entities in the instrument business when it was sold to Fender in December 2007 for $700 million.