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Average Price: $1,300

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$400

$1001+

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Standard

High-end

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Description

Step into the unique world of electric guitars with the Ovation Breadwinner. This remarkable instrument is a testament to Ovation's bold foray into the solid body electric market during the groovy '70s. The Breadwinner is an upgraded version of the Deacon, carrying its legacy forward but with a refined edge. This guitar not only promises an unparalleled playing experience but also makes a distinct statement with its eye-catching design. It is undoubtedly an instrument that stands out in a crowd and establishes its presence with conviction.

Key Features:

  • Part of Ovation's successful venture into the solid body electric market
  • An upgraded avatar of the classic Deacon model
  • Boasts a unique and standout design
  • Delivers an exceptional playing experience

Product specs

Brand Ovation
Model Breadwinner
Finish Black, Blue, Charcoal, Natural, Tan, White
Year 1972 - 1979
Made In United States
Body Material Mahogany
Body Shape Single Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type Top-Load
Color Family Black, Blue, Brown, Natural, Tan, White
Fretboard Material Ebony
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Neck Material Mahogany
Number of Frets 24
Number of Strings 6-String
Nut Width 1.6875"
Offset Body Offset Body
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed
Scale Length 24.75"

FAQs

What kind of pickups does the Ovation Breadwinner use?

The Ovation Breadwinner is equipped with dual humbucker pickups, which provide a thick, warm tone suitable for a variety of music genres, from rock to jazz.

Is the Ovation Breadwinner suitable for live performances?

Yes, the Ovation Breadwinner's solid mahogany body and unique design offer excellent sustain and projection, making it a great choice for live performances.

What is the neck profile of the Ovation Breadwinner like?

The Ovation Breadwinner features a bolt-on mahogany neck with a comfortable profile, making it easy to play for extended periods.

How does the Ovation Breadwinner's body shape affect its playability?

The Breadwinner has an offset body design that provides ergonomic comfort, allowing for easy access to higher frets and reducing player fatigue.

What finishes are available for the Ovation Breadwinner?

The Ovation Breadwinner is available in several finishes, including Black, Blue, Charcoal, Natural, Tan, and White, allowing for aesthetic versatility.

How does the Ovation Breadwinner's scale length affect its tone?

With a 24.75" scale length, the Ovation Breadwinner offers a slightly warmer tone and easier string bending, which is favorable for blues and rock styles.

Groovy Music Lessons

Groovy Music Lessons

1973 Ovation Breadwinner Guitar Review Scott Grove

Video thumbnail for 1973 Ovation Breadwinner Guitar Review Scott Grove by Groovy Music Lessons

1973 Ovation Breadwinner Guitar Review Scott Grove

Groovy Music Lessons

Groovy Music Lessons

Video thumbnail for 1972 Ovation Breadwinner / GuitarPoint Maintal / Vintage Guitars by GuitarPoint

1972 Ovation Breadwinner / GuitarPoint Maintal / Vintage Guitars

GuitarPoint

GuitarPoint

Video thumbnail for 1977 Ovation Breadwinner Active Electric Guitar by Guitars United

1977 Ovation Breadwinner Active Electric Guitar

Guitars United

Guitars United

Video thumbnail for 1937-75 Ovation Breadwinner - RED HOT GUITARS!! by James Hood Guitar

1937-75 Ovation Breadwinner - RED HOT GUITARS!!

James Hood Guitar

James Hood Guitar

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Ovation Breadwinner.

Features and functionality

  • Ovation Breadwinner's toroidal pickups are constructed like Sidewinder pickups, with horizontally oriented magnets and a vertically facing coil.

    Source
  • Toroidal pickups in Breadwinners have more clarity than later Mini Humbuckers but are prone to hum and interference due to their coil orientation.

    Source

User experience

  • Parts for Ovation Breadwinners are scarce; finding a neck and back plates can take over a decade.

    Source
  • Enthusiasts note that the pickups produce a unique sound but can buzz, especially in models made before 1973.

    Source
  • Breadwinner bridges are often replaced due to their unpopularity and poor construction quality.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Early Breadwinners with original toroidal pickups can be valued up to $1500, whereas the pickups alone may fetch around $150.

    Source
  • Collectors often seek original hardware, indicating that even if the guitar is unplayable, its parts retain significant value.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • Breadwinners with toroidal pickups offer a unique sound that's rarely available for sale, appealing to collectors and enthusiasts.

    Source

Build quality

  • The Breadwinner's body is often described as heavy, which might affect comfort during long playing sessions.

    Source
  • The original Breadwinner bridge assembly used pot metal, plastic, and nylon saddles, which contributed to frequent string breakage.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Owners suggest replacing the neck with a custom or Warmoth neck, potentially using headless Steinberger-style tuners for unique customization.

    Source
  • Some suggest reshaping a new neck's headstock to match the original Breadwinner design for authenticity.

    Source
  • Schaeller once offered an aftermarket bridge replacement for the Breadwinner, though it's now out of production and rare.

    Source
  • Owners recommend checking with Eastwood Guitars for a compatible bridge from their Breadwinner tribute model.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 4 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
mbowie4321

Surprisingly playable guitar

I have the white early '70's one with single pole pickups. The neck is comfortable and the balance is good. When I take it to the rehearsal space everyone checks it out (as in what the hell is that ... uh, can I try it?). It sounds fine. I'm not sure it has a distinctive tone, but you can certainly make your own via pedals or amp. It "colors" well if you do that.

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Tom Morello uses Ovation Breadwinner

Tom Morello

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via YouTube

At 0:26 in the music video for Carry It, by Travis Barker, Tom Morello can be seen using an Ovation Breadwinner.

See how Robert Smith uses Ovation Breadwinner

Robert Smith

Singer, Guitarist

The Cure

...
Verified via Photo

Robert with an Ovation Breadwinner, used in early 80s

See how Ace Frehley uses Ovation Breadwinner

Ace Frehley

Singer, Guitarist

Kiss

...
Verified via Acefrehleylespaul

Ace Frehley used an Ovation Breadwinner on the 1st KISS album. He also played an Epiphone Coronet during his Honey/Molimo days before KISS.

See how Paul Stanley uses Ovation Breadwinner

Paul Stanley

Guitarist, Singer

Kiss

...
Verified via Photo

Here we see Paul playing an Ovation Breadwinner from the recording of the first KISS album. It's unclear if this actually belonged to Paul because Ace played a Breadwinner during that time too.

See how Jeff Mangum uses Ovation Breadwinner

Jeff Mangum

Guitarist, Singer

Neutral Milk Hotel

...
Verified via YouTube

In the pictures provided in this youtube video he can clearly be seen using an ovation breadwinner

See how Phil Anselmo uses Ovation Breadwinner

Phil Anselmo

Singer, Guitarist

Pantera

...
Verified via YouTube

he is using one in a snippet of the pantera video "3 Watch It Go"

See how Todd Rundgren uses Ovation Breadwinner

Todd Rundgren

Singer, Guitarist

Utopia

...
Verified via Photo

Rundgren can be seen in this photo playing an Ovation Breadwinner.

See how Greg Hawkes uses Ovation Breadwinner

Greg Hawkes

Guitarist, Keyboardist

The Cars

...
Verified via YouTube

Greg Hawkes, known for his work with The Cars, occasionally played rhythm guitar on tracks not originally featured on their albums, such as "You Just Can't Push Me" and "Take What You Want." These songs, available on expanded editions like The Cars Deluxe Edition, notably lack synthesizer parts. In these recordings, Greg's guitar, often delivering a fuzztone sound, adds depth to the mix.

Additionally, Greg Hawkes is pictured with an Ovation Breadwinner guitar on the inner sleeve of The Cars' album "Panorama," alongside his bandmates and their respective instruments.

See how Colin Newman uses Ovation Breadwinner

Colin Newman

Singer, Guitarist

Wire

...
Verified via Photo

In this interview, Colin is asked, "What have been the best and worst guitar related purchases you’ve made?" He responds, "Same guitar - Ovation Breadwinner. Looks fantastic, sounds like a heap of shit!" He can be seen playing this instrument throughout the videotaped live performance on a Rockpalast television broadcast in 1979 (packaged and sold on DVD and CD as "Wire - Live On The Box"). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhtYeJXNNbU

See how Peter Tosh uses Ovation Breadwinner

Peter Tosh

Singer, Guitarist

Bob Marley & The Wailers

...
Verified via Photo

This guitar was used by Tosh during The Wailers US tour for their Burnin album. It was first seen being used on video during the Capitol Records Rehearsal session and can be heard on both the Talkin Blues album and the Leeds Polytechnic concert on the bonus disc on the Burnin Deluxe CD.

He would keep this guitar until his death. He also used it on his first solo album "Legalize It" and can be seen using it on The Wailers 1974 and 1975 Reunion concerts, mainly the Dream Concert with Stevie Wonder

See how Björn Ulvaeus uses Ovation Breadwinner

Björn Ulvaeus

Guitarist, Composer

ABBA

...
Verified via Photo

In this photo, Ulvaeus is seen performing with the white Ovation Breadwinner.

See how John Carruthers uses Ovation Breadwinner

John Carruthers

Guitarist

Siouxsie & the Banshees

...
Verified via Muzines

John Carruthers, with two years tenure, is the newest member of the group, and plays guitar. He reaches in his pocket and pulls out a neatly handwritten piece of paper: it reads

GUITARS: Green Yamaha SG2000/brown sunburst SG1500/Hofner 'Verithin' semi T65/Ovation 'Glen Cambell' 12 string acoustic/Yamaha FG450 six string acoustic/Ovation Breadwinner solid body. EFFECTS: Drawmer Compressor/Boss Heavy Metal/MXR Flanger/Eventide Harmonizer & Delay/Ashley Twin Parametric/Yamaha 1010 analogue delay/Cry Baby Wah Wah/Boss Tuner; built into Quark Custom Rack with individual noise gates. AMPS: Marshall MV50 x2/Roland JC120 with ATC speakers x2.

Album Usage

The Ovation Breadwinner has been featured on the following albums:

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Ovation Breadwinner, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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1
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1
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1
Travis Bean TB1000S
Travis Bean TB1000S Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
MXR M-117 Flanger
MXR M-117 Flanger Flanger Effects Pedals
1
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar
Fender Stratocaster Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars
1
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal
Boss HM-2 Heavy Metal Distortion Effects Pedals
1

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