Ovation NNS778-7QM, 30th Anniversary Guitar!
Extremely rare Ovation! This is a model NNS778-7QM, 30th Anniversary, Nature Series Southern Bald Eagle Model in nutmeg quilted maple, s/n 5038XX. It is a New Hartford guitar made exclusively for the Japanese market. Per the catalog at the time, the line was a step above the Custom Legend Series and their most expensive offering without getting into the Custom Lines. (I do have a copy of this catalog for your reference.) Multiple sources including the catalog state that there were only about a hundred of these made, and that can be confirmed by trying to find another one on the internet. After about a month of research including extensive discussions on multiple Ovation groups, I can find four total examples of any guitar in the entire 30th Anniversary Series, and no examples at all of this one. It sold for 280,000 yen at the time, which would be about $2,137 today.
It is in very good condition with the tiniest marks on the top from careful use as seen in the photos. The lower leaf epaulet is slightly up from the body—probably an easy for someone who knows what glue to use. I have no way to objectively measure the neck and am not a pro player, but sighting down it, it seems to have the correct relief with no twists or dips, and has always played well for me. If you’re buying a guitar at this level, you probably set up or have pro setups done on all your guitars anyway. I didn’t replace the strings for the same reason—I’m sure you’ve got your favorites. Hardshell case included.
As mentioned, this sold for more than the Custom Legend, and it combines some of the best features of Elites, Legends and Adamas. They went with a nice, earthy look for the Nature Series: Elite-style hardwood epaulet sound holes but with a mid-depth bowl (can’t get that on an Elite!), ultimate grade quilted maple top instead of the stock Sitka spruce, unbound neck with exotic hardwood Adamas-style inlays, bald eagle feather on the headstock, and gold-plated tuners with pearl knobs, Rosewood fingerboard instead of the stock Pau Ferro, nut a bit narrower at 1-11/14, and a gorgeous five-ply binding with ivory, tan, red and brown layers to it. Op-X electronics. It is the only one you will ever see, ever.