Although Ovation´s solid body guitars are generally overshadowed by the fine acoustic models, they still are good playable instruments that offer a change of pace from the traditional market favorites. Ovation introduced the Electric Storm semi-hollowbody guitars in 1968, and they were available through 1973. The Electric Storm models featured bodies built in Germany, and hardware by Schaller. American-built solid bodies were presented beginning 1972, and various models survived through to 1983. Early models featured an on-board FET preamp, and are probably the first production guitars with "active electronics."
In 1984, Ovation produced the Hard Body series, which featured Korean-built necks and bodies, DiMarzio pickups and Schaller hardware. The Hard Body series was only briefly offered for a year, and can be identified by the natural wood strip bearing the Ovation name on the lower section of the four- or six-on-a-side headstocks. The 3+3 headstock looks similar to other Ovation headstocks. Model names range from GP (Guitar Paul) which had a retail price of $399, to the GS (Guitar Strat) models which ranged in price from $315 to $425. Those names seem pretty self-explanatory in regards to the models they resembled. Both solid body guitars and basses were offered. In 1988, Kaman bought the independent Hamer company, a move which brought the company back into the solid body guitar field in a competitive way.