Ovation Pro Series Sunburst Viper IV-1-G

The Viper, Ovation's Return to the World of Electric Guitars

With this Ovation Viper, the brand returns to the world of electric guitars after several years away. It brings back a name steeped in history without simply looking to the past: this new interpretation combines an ergonomic construction with modern components in an instrument designed for today's playing styles.

The Viper retains Ovation's distinctive spirit while offering familiar features for electric guitarists: a bolt-on neck, two humbuckers and centrally positioned controls. This version is fitted with the Babicz FCH-2 Point vibrato, unlike the fixed-bridge configuration also featured in the range. With production limited to 60 instruments, it occupies a special place in the brand's return to electric guitars.

A Guitar for Exploring, Practicing and Performing on Stage

The Viper is particularly aimed at intermediate and advanced guitarists who want to cover several styles with a single instrument. Beginners can also find it to be a guitar that grows with them: the master volume, master tone and 3-way selector provide a direct playing experience, while the push-pull control makes it possible to explore additional textures later on.

Its configuration is well suited to rock, blues and pop, offering everything from clean accompaniment to heavily overdriven parts. The 24 frets extend the available range for solos and melodic lines. The vibrato adds an expressive dimension for shading a sustained note or animating a chord, without requiring its use in every song.

At home, in the studio or on stage, this electric guitar's main appeal lies in its ability to change roles. It can deliver defined rhythm parts before moving to a denser sound for a chorus or solo, combining pickup selection, tone adjustment and coil splitting.

Lace Pickups and Babicz Bridge: Definition, Dynamics and Sustain

The solid alder body forms the foundation of this Viper, paired with a bolt-on maple neck and a Java rosewood key. On an electric guitar, the resulting sound also depends on the pickups, the instrument's setup and the amplification. Here, this construction supports a design focused on precision, playing response and versatility.

The two Lace Sensor Hot Gold Dually pickups occupy the neck and bridge positions. Their dual-coil configuration makes it possible to cover full-bodied sounds and overdriven tones while retaining the clarity and dynamics sought in this series. The stated values are 12 kilohms at the neck and 26.4 kilohms at the bridge; however, these figures alone are not enough to sum up a pickup's character.

The 3-way selector allows you to use either pickup individually or combine them. The master volume adjusts the output level, while the master tone control shapes the treble presence. Its coil-splitting push-pull control provides access to finer textures than those available in dual-coil operation, making it useful for varying accompaniment parts and clean passages.

The Babicz FCH-2 Point vibrato is based on a full-contact design intended to promote the transmission of vibrations between the strings and the body. It therefore contributes to the pursuit of sustain while allowing the pitch variations associated with vibrato. Finally, the 647.7 mm / 25.50" scale length provides a familiar reference for musicians accustomed to long-scale instruments.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

The included Ovation Viper gig bag is the intended solution for transporting this instrument. For regular maintenance, a soft, dry cloth can be used to wipe the strings and surfaces after playing. When replacing the strings, choose a set designed for electric guitar and preferably keep the same gauge as the strings already installed to minimize adjustments to the vibrato balance.

Technical specifications

Electronics: microphone configuration	HH	Body	Alder, solid alder
Strings	Steel	Bridge / tailpiece	Tremolo
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Gradient
Top	Spruce	Finishing	Glossy
Fingerboard	Rosewood	Hardware	Chromed
Nbrs of frets	24

Construction	solid body	Neck pickup	Lace Sensor Hot Gold Dually
Wood	solid alder	Stated neck pickup resistance	12 kilohms
Design	lightweight and ergonomic body	Bridge pickup	Lace Sensor Hot Gold Dually
Neck wood	maple	Stated bridge pickup resistance	26.4 kilohms
Key	Java rosewood	Pickup manufacturing	United States
Scale length	647.7 mm / 25.50 inches	Volume control	master volume
Number of frets	24	Tone control	master tone with push-pull
Key inlays	abalone	Push-pull function	coil-splitting
Nut	black Tusq	Selector	3-way
Nut width	42.8 mm / approximately 1.69 inches	Model	Ovation Viper
Bridge	Babicz FCH-2 Full Contact Hardware tremolo	Instrument type	electric guitar
Tuners	molded Ovation tuners	Production	limited edition of 60 units
Hardware finishing	chrome-plated	Included accessory	Ovation Viper gig bag
Pickup configuration	two humbuckers