Unfortunately one of the previous owners of this guitar has blotted the model number out. The serial number is '073363' and the sticker inside says 'A Kaman product Applause Model #.' What gets me is that it does not say where it's made (I suspect Korea) and the head on the model is like the older AA-14 models however.
I have an Applause AA15, a freebie from a friend's dad who had an extra 12-string who didn't know what to do with it (he himself had gotten it for free from someone). Far as it may be from a Martin, Guild, or Taylor, it sounds and handles pretty good for something hardly possessing much wood.
There isn't much information about these older guitars out there on the net. Not even Applause's archival page mentions this particular model. By the look of it, I know it has to be from at least the 70's. It's got a pretty hip rosette and pick guard. The Applause logo is not the Ovation variant. In fact, the sticker in the bowl doesn't even mention Ovation, just 'A Kaman Music Product.'
Some Applause models bear their birthplace. Some American, some Korean, others elsewhere. Not mine.
I'd love to know the history behind this thing, so I'm wondering if anyone here knows a thing or two about this brand. Some of the questions I've had on my mind lately include:
- Were all Applause guitars made by Ovation in some way?
- How many countries made Applause guitars?
- In these older aluminum and plastic models, have anyone tried to adjust nuts and saddles to actually better the sound?
So, thanks for any input!
Most guitar manufacturers put a serial number on each instrument they produce. This number can be used to date a guitar and in some cases tell where it was made. Serial numbers tend to be stamped or written somewhere on the headstock or neck joint of the guitar. On some acoustic guitars, the serial number is on the inside of the sound hole. Serial numbers are often at least four digits long, and they sometimes include letters.
Search the area around the serial number for a date stamp. Not all guitar brands use date stamps, but if you find one, you have your answer.
Look for the brand name decal on the guitar's headstock. Each guitar brand uses a different set of serial numbers, so you need to identify your guitar before you attempt to use the serial number to learn when it was made.
Determine the type of guitar (such as Gibson Les Paul or SG, Fender Stratocaster or Telecaster) if possible. This can help when you are researching serial numbers. This information is often written on the headstock or truss rod cover. An online search of the brand name can help you do this.
Model Numbers Applause Guitars
Visit the manufacturer's website and look for serial number information. Many guitar makers have brand-specific serial number information on their web pages, usually in the 'Support,' 'FAQ,' or 'Info' sections. Sometimes third-party websites also have solid information on guitar serial numbers.
Applause Guitar Serial Numbers Dating
Email the serial number to the manufacturer and ask for help. Attach a few high-quality pictures of the guitar to the email to assist the manufacturer.