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Glen Campbell's Ovation Breadwinner and Ovation Deacon

A look at the history behind many of the guitars Glen has used throughout his career.
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jay
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Glen Campbell in Melbourne with his Ovation Breadwinner

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Glen Campbell Melbourne Breadwinner.jpg
Glen Campbell Melbourne Breadwinner.jpg (153.89 KiB) Viewed 6685 times


Damon67
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Re: Glen Campbell's Ovation Breadwinner and Ovation Deacon

Post by Damon67 »

One of these days I'm going to buy a Deacon/BW to modify as I wish. I like the idea of swapping pickups and electronics. I've never embraced the circuitry of these models... The UKII on the other hand is PERFECT.


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jay
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Glen Campbell's Ovation Breadwinner and Ovation Deacon

Post by jay »

In January 1972, Ovation entered the solid-body market with a battleaxe shaped guitar called the Breadwinner.

Ovation Breadwinner Glen Campbell Forums
Ovation Breadwinner Glen Campbell Forums
Breadwinner Glen Campbell Forums.jpg (75.78 KiB) Viewed 6908 times

They quickly followed up with a similar model, the Deacon.

Ovation Deacon Glen Campbell Forums
Ovation Deacon Glen Campbell Forums
Deacon Glen Campbell Forums.jpg (58.3 KiB) Viewed 6908 times
Both had two-octave bolt-on Ovation necks with mahogany bodies. The Breadwinner initially came with a kind of spackle finish (white, black, tan or blue). The Deacon initially came with a sunburst finish and then was available in a natural or colored finish. There were 6 and 12 string versions produced.

These Ovation guitars were remarkably ergonomic, well-balanced when standing and cradling comfortably on the knee if you preferred to sit. Both had unique, wide, toroidal contoured-cover pickups with 12 individual polepieces, and six rectangular, adjustable screws. But the real innovation was an onboard FET (field-effect transistor) preamp, arguably the first production active electronic system. Due to poor sales...both were gone by the end of 1980 from production.

From 72 to 74, Glen was seen playing a Breadwinner, that appeared to be customized. Wayne Reid pointed out that the pickups were Gibson humbuckers. Good eye Wayne! And those Gibson covers were only made for a couple of years.

From A.R. Duchossoir's book Guitar Identification
in late 1970, it was decided to emboss the Gibson logo on the pickup covers. By the end of May, 1972, this particular feature was officially discontinued
Glen's Ovation Breadwinner Gibson Pickup
Glen's Ovation Breadwinner Gibson Pickup
Breadwinner Gibson.jpg (50.9 KiB) Viewed 6860 times
Gibson Embossed 70s Pickup Cover
Gibson Embossed 70s Pickup Cover
Gibson Embossed.jpg (27.29 KiB) Viewed 6860 times

Here is Glen playing his Breadwinner on Johnny Carson.



Glen played both the 6 and 12 string version of the Deacon between 1974 and 77. Here are a couple of video's of Glen and his Deacon.





In 1977, Glen began playing his Ovation Bluebird. It didn't take long for the Deacons to end up somewhere else.


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