Ovation Magnum..... Who designed it?

[Muziekschuur]

The Ovation Magnum is such a distinct bass. It has so many features not to be found on other basses. That it must have had a very elaborate development process. The pickups are very special and quite high tech. It has a 18 volt system on board and all sorts of special "not off the shelf" parts...

Who designed this bass?

And it's different versions:

Magnum

Magnum II

Magnum III

Magnum IV
Link Removed

 

[FrednBass]

I dunno, but I like them all with all their "weirdness"

 

[RED J]

Heironomus Magnum III

 

[Jazz Ad]

It was designed by none other than Mr Wishnevsky. No kidding.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

It was designed by none other than Mr Wishnevsky. No kidding.

I thought you were joking. Learn something new every day.

 

[Wagz]

Wishnevsky was at Ovation twice in his career and started his second stint around the time the first two Magnums came out, but I'd be surprised to learn that he designed the whole guitar. And, I believe he was gone by the time the III and IV came out. Ovation had a LOT of engineers working there and the Magnum surely had a decent-sized design team with several people involved.

 

[Jazz Ad]

The whole instrument, probably not. It was likely a team effort but he was part of it and designed the shape.
There is an interview floating around somewhere where he explains it.

 

[Jazzdogg]

The first time I saw the Magnum, it reminded me of the old TV show, The Jetsons.

I've always thought it was ahead of its time, but it looks heavy to me. Hope it's not.

 

[PDGood]

The original concept was stolen from Magnum P.I. They did that whole TV series around a private eye who played bass....no wait...that was a dream. Sorry.

 

[Dluxe]

The prototype Magnum had a slightly different shape and a few other things different than the production model. The Magnum II and VI are active while the I and III are passive.

Magnum II on the left, Prototype on the right.

 

[IronLung1986]

It was designed by none other than Mr Wishnevsky. No kidding.

well my mind is blown.

 

[jim777]

Awesome basses

 

[cdef]

The US patents for the bridge, mute and quad-coil pickup were issued to James H. Rickard of Harwinton, Connecticut.

 

[KeithPas]

I remember playing a Magnum II in a music store when I was a kid and being blown away by the tone. If I had money back then I would have bought it.

 

[cfsporn]

It was designed by none other than Mr Wishnevsky. No kidding.

You'd think that it would have a proper size neck then.

 

[cdef]

I guess people who like to joke about the Magnum because of its unconventional looks haven't ever actually played one. I'm on my second one now, as I had to lose the one I owned back in the '80s. I found there is no substitute.

ED: Dluxe, thanks for the prototype pic. I hadn't seen that before. It shows the original shape was derived from the Breadwinner guitar model, but they eventually rounded the back fin so the Magnum could stand up straight.

 

[RickC]

The original Wishbass!!!???

 

[M.R. Ogle]

Like a few other things in life....I had one of these in the 80's. It was a good bass, but, of course, I wanted something red and pointy with a billion knobs and the hottest pickups I could find. It was the eighties...

Now, I'd like to have one of those again. I think I'd get along a lot better with the more "focused" sound I remember it having these days.

And I like the prototype shape a bit better. I'd like it even MORE if it was "full Breadwinner." I've threatened to build myself one shaped like that for years.

 

[bongomania]

well my mind is blown.

Mine too! A Magnum I was my first bass, and a Wishbass was my third or fourth, and I had no clue there was this connection!

 

[eddododo]

Woww thats the only 'that-era-looking' bass i have ever liked!