Ovation Breadwinner Details
This is the I keep talking about. These are actual pictures of my actual guitar, not something I pulled off a web site. You can see all the wonderful blemishes and signs of mistreatment. The pictures are slightly reduced here (by tag) but if you open the image (firefox: rightclick and “show image”) you will see it a little larger. Im not going to make this too much like “flicker” or some nice layout — I’m just splashing the guitar pics on the page.
In its “bed”. This guitar has the off-white “spackle” finish.
Standing up, you can get a better idea of the looks of it.
Mine is number E00375
You can see the funky nylon bridge and the pickups here. The two toggles are visible. The distant black one is the three-position switch. The nearer steel-looking one is the coil tap. Notice that there is no front jack. Some of the later models had the plug in front, where they moved it from the edge. Mine must 1971-ish.
The later models had an ornate rear battery compartment plate. Mine is sleek and clean, just flat stainless steel.
Today was “our first day out” 
I played it in service this morning. I probably used all five settings. It is good to have this pickup combination. It’s plenty versatile and sounds wonderful through my crate tube amp. There is no buyer’s remorse in the choice of pickups. I’m very satisfied. I just wish I had more chance to play. Any inability to express myself on this instrument is a personal fault, not one of equipment.
Nice post. I have an all original early Breadwinner model 1251-5 serial # E00488, Black in excellent shape. It has the large toroidal single coil pick-ups and the jack is on the edge. I’m trying to date it but am having trouble finding info. Can someone tell me what year they moved the jack? I know the P/U changed in 1975. Thanks, Lauren
Comment by Lauren Whittaker — 2007-April-2 @ 04:13
I am still looking for the details I had, and didn’t post apparently. I think it was 72 when they started the four-digit serial numbers (starting with 1001, I think) and moved the plug to the front.
I may have to buy a black one with all-original electronics. Quite a guitar, yes?
Comment by Tim — 2007-April-2 @ 03:20
Yes it’s quite a guitar. It is the cleanest guitar I’ve heard and I’ve been playing since 73. I have a 79 Strat, a Tele, a Parker Fly Classic, and 7 other popular guitars and none of them compare to the BW. You can make it sound like an acoustic or fatten it up without it getting muddy. You can adjust the out of phase tones between the pickups, and it has a nice cutting distortion without sounding like a chain saw. I love it. These were definitely ahead of their time. I think if they were reissued, they’d do well now. If you are a tone freak like me, you’ll love the early original setup. Maybe you can find a nice blue one. Thanks for your help, Lauren
Comment by Lauren Whittaker — 2007-April-2 @ 05:08
I own a white BW E00741. The Foam (sponge) padding under the pickups have dry-rotted and fallen away. Some tiny rust pop-marks on the pickups, through the chrome plate. Guitar has not been repainted or altered. The case is getting tattered, but is the original case. Sort of flimsey, almost guitar shaped, black with red interior.
Comment by Ronnie Williams — 2007-May-15 @ 05:37
hi Tim,
great looking guitar.
i’m hoping to pick one up sometime in the near future.
from your description i think it would really lend itself to the sound
of our music. we call it ‘futurock’. feel free to check out our site. we are a full time Christian band ministry, and touring all the time.
perhaps our paths will cross one day.
blessings!!
doug
Comment by doug — 2007-July-9 @ 01:19
I have an Ovation Breadwinner, similar to the Final Prototype. Early 1970’s. 72 or 73…I think. I am the original owner. The Guitar has never been repaired or modified. It is in is original shape. I am now forced to sell this beauty. $650 Canadian.
Comment by Ronnie Williams — 2007-December-10 @ 07:11
I would so much like to own that guitar.
Comment by Tim — 2007-December-11 @ 06:26