Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist & Limited Edition “Bluebird” Hardbody Electric Guitars Launch at NAMM 2018
(January 24th, 2018 – New Hartford, CT) Marking the 50th Anniversary of the debut American music icon Glen Campbell’s signature “1627” Ovation Guitars artist model, Ovation Guitars proudly announces the official release of two new signature models, the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model and the Limited Edition Bluebird 6 & 12-String models. Working in conjunction with the Campbell family, Ovation Guitars is honored to celebrate their five-decade relationship with one of the most prolific and celebrated artists in music history with the debut of these two American-made signature guitar models.
“This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the creative relationship between Ovation’s founder, Bill Kaman, and my dad,” said Cal Campbell. “Growing up, his guitars were a fixture in our lives and it has been a pleasure to work with the artisans at Ovation to ensure the look and the sound of his original guitars was faithfully recreated and it’s our family’s hope that they will inspire future generations of artists to play, write and create for another half century and beyond.”
Utilizing the exact specs from Campbell’s original 1968 artist model, the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model features a stunning torrefied spruce top, which lends this USA-made model apart a vintage, “played-in” look. Compared to standard spruce, torrefied spruce soundboard offers improved tone, responsiveness and stability. The ancient process of “toasting” wood uses extreme heat in a low-oxygen setting to remove moisture. Not only does this remove environmental moisture, but it permanently alters the cell structure of the wood, emulating the natural aging process. When viewed microscopically, torrefied wood is almost identical molecularly to wood that is decades and even centuries old.
Crafted in the Ovation Custom Shop located in New Hartford, CT, the Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model also features Campbell’s signature inlaid in Abalone on an ebony fretboard, an engraved ebony truss rod cover, new vintage-style electronics, and a custom, mid-depth bowl which built to the exact measurements of the original artist guitar that Glen personally helped design. The 1627 immediately became a best seller when it was released in 1968, and 50 years later has stood the test of time to become one of the most enduring and iconic Ovation guitar models ever produced.
Perhaps the most sought-after and unique Ovation guitar associated with Campbell was the elusive “Bluebird” model. Hand-crafted exclusively for Glen in the late 70’s, the Bluebird’s design was based on the Ovation Viper solid body and was produced in both 12-string and 6-string models. In order to painstakingly handcraft these unique models, the Campbell family graciously loaned Glen’s original Bluebird to Ovation in order to create this extremely limited run of Bluebird replicas.
Outfitted with hand-wound humbuckers, Grover tuning machines, custom Hipshot bridges, original factory retro volume and tone knobs, and an ebony fretboard over a fast-feeling solid mahogany bolt-on neck, these American-built beauties perfectly mirror Campbell’s unmistakable instrument down to the finest detail including a retro, throwback Ovation logo on the headstock and a Crème-to-Blue-Burst Flake completed with a soaring, “blue bird” logo on the body. While not an actual “bluebird” (in fact, it more closely resembles a swallow), the unique Ovation guitar became affectionately known as “The Bluebird” to Campbell and his fans. This collector’s edition comes complete with a Calzone flight case. Meticulously detailed and extremely limited, only ten of the 6-string and five of the 12-string models will ever be produced.
The Ovation Guitars Glen Campbell 2018 American Artist Model and Bluebird 6-String models are on display at NAMM 2018 in the DW Drums booth 202A.
ABOUT OVATION GUITARS
Founded in 1965, Ovation Guitars is an American manufacturer of acoustic-electric guitars, basses, mandolins and ukuleles. Known for their distinctive parabolic-shaped, composite backs, multi-wood epaulets and integrated electronics, Ovation guitars have been played by such legendary artists as Glen Campbell, Melissa Etheridge, Mick Jagger, John Lennon, Richie Sambora, Jimmy Page and Kevin Cronin among others. For more information, visit www.ovationguitars.com
ABOUT GLEN CAMPBELL
Legendary singer and guitarist Glen Campbell brought country music to the mainstream as the genre’s first crossover star with hits like “Rhinestone Cowboy,” “Wichita Lineman” and “Southern Nights.” In a legendary career that spanned more than six decades and more than 50 million records sold, Campbell created an indelible mark on American pop culture as a beloved musician, singer, movie star and television personality. From his time as a groundbreaking guitarist for Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, The Beach Boys and many others in the archetypical backing band The Wrecking Crew to his decades atop the charts to the grace he showed as he closed his career while fighting Alzheimer’s disease, there are few artists who have touched as many lives as the Rhinestone Cowboy. Campbell capped of his extraordinary career with his farewell studio album, Adiós, released in 2017 shortly before his death.