Adams Ovation Offset
![]() |
The guitar ovation was a revolution in the history of a guitar. His innovations include the use of synthetic materials in the construction of the guitar, designed mathematically "bowl back," the use of on-board preamp and piezo pickups, and the displacement of Adamas Series soundhole. This article offers a look at the origins of this American original, and its cheaper cousin Applause guitar.
Charles Kaman, an aeronautical engineer and amateur, born in 1917. He played the guitar at an early age and studied aeronautical engineering in college. After college he worked in the design of helicopters. At some point, Charlie entered a national competition and the guitar came to the final. As a result, had the opportunity to play the guitar with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. Dorsey offered him a position in the band, but Kaman was committed to aeronautics and rejected.
In 1945, Charlie founded his own helicopter design company, Kaman Aircraft. The company was quite successful and grew steadily until 1960, when the division failed commercial flight. As a result, Kaman was looking for diversification away from the aircraft and defense related businesses.
At this time, Charlie took his Martin guitar factory deformed Martin for repair. He toured the plant, and was surprised that Martin was building guitars by hand with hammers, animal glue and clothespins. It offered to buy the company and the modernization of manufacture, but refused CF Martin, trying to keep a family business Martin.
Kaman decided start your own guitar manufacturing business. Assembled a team of aeronautical engineers to design the perfect acoustic guitar. The result was a standing ovation "Bowlback, a rounded back of a glass fiber composite materials similar to those used in aircraft construction. The only way back, designed to focus the sound waves inside the guitar to maximize sound transmission.
The first guitar ovation balladeer, was introduced in 1967. In 1971, Ovation pioneered the acoustic guitar, electric, adding piezo pickups, preamps on board, and equalizers to some of his guitars. In the 1980s, Ovations had caught on with professional guitarists and were widely used on stage. Cheers with stage included guitarists Glen Campbell, Al DiMeola, Jimmy Page, and many others.
If Charlie Kaman had not touched the guitar, or had not studied aeronautics, or if Martin had not needed relief in the industry while Kaman needed to diversify, we'd have a guitar or guitar Ovation Applause today.
To learn more about the Ovation guitar, visit http://BobsGuitarPracticeTips.com.


US $29.99






