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Richard Jernigan -> RE: Luis Cepeda double-top guitars (Apr. 1 2012 23:36:22)
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Coincidentally, I was acquainted with Charles H. Kaman, the founder of Kaman Corporation, and the inventor of the Ovation guitar. Kaman was an engineer and a great innovator in helicopter design, as well as a classical guitar player.
The company that I worked for in 1969 had suddenly become cash-rich and was looking for acquisitions. Kaman Sciences Corporation, a defense subsidiary, was one of the companies they looked at. Though I was a young guy, I worked directly for one of the founders of my company, a member of the board of directors.
I met Kaman and talked guitars a bit. I forget what kind he had at the time, he didn't have a guitar with him in Austin. He was interested in playing my Ramirez, not that common in the USA at the time, so we got together.
Talk turned to guitar making. Kaman said he intended to develop a concert quality classical guitar made entirely of modern materials. He was an expert in non-metallic aircraft materials, and had some interesting things to say.
I was quite interested to play a nylon string Ovation when they came out. I was surprised that the top was wood, and I was disappointed with the sound. My company ended up not buying Kaman Sciences Corportation, and I never ran into Kaman again after the Ovation came out, though I worked with Kaman people on various projects. I always wondered what he thought of the Ovation line, but never got the chance to ask him.
RNJ
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