Ovation Thunderbolt TB-01 Prototype

The Ovation Thunderbolt TB-01 is a semi-acoustic guitar model that was produced in the United States by the Ovation company in the late 1980s. Its roundback body shape with the distinctive “Thunderbolt” soundholes is a visually striking feature that gives the guitar its name.
The instrument is equipped with an OP-24 preamplifier and a piezo pickup located beneath the bridge, allowing it to be used both acoustically and amplified. The neck is made of mahogany, the fingerboard of ebony, and the guitar features 22 frets. The company’s founder, Charles Kaman, was originally a helicopter engineer. As a result, several Ovation guitar models incorporate carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) into their construction, including for the soundboard. The production period of the Thunderbolt model was relatively short, and only a small number of instruments were manufactured in various finishes such as black, red, and pearl white.

This particular guitar comes from the estate of the renowned German guitarist Carlo Karges (1951–2002), who was active as a guitarist for the Hamburg-based band Novalis as well as a member of Nena’s band. He is the co-author of the successful German pop song “99 Luftballons,” which, following its release in 1983, quickly became an international hit due to its critical stance toward global political tensions.