Ovation Revives Viper Electric Guitar for 60th Anniversary
Ovation announced a 2026 revival of the Viper on October 21 as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. First launched in the mid 1970s, the cult electric guitar became closely associated with Jeff Buckley.
Two 60-piece anniversary Viper models
The release consists of the Viper IV-DTD-G and Viper IV-1-G, with production limited to 60 examples of each. Both retain the curved, single-cut approach of the original Viper while using current hardware and electronics.
The Viper IV-DTD-G has a basswood body with a maple veneer and a Babicz Fixed Six bridge. It comes in a Blue Burst finish. The Viper IV-1-G instead uses an alder body, a Babicz FCH-2 Point tremolo and a Honey Burst finish.
Shared specifications include:
- 25.5-inch scale length
- Bolt-on maple neck
- Java rosewood fingerboard with 24 frets
- Two US-made Lace Sensor Hot Gold Dually humbuckers
- Push-pull coil splitting on the tone control
- Black Tusq nut
- Oil-sealed Ovation tuners
The original Viper developed a cult following despite limited commercial success. Along with Buckley, players linked to the model include Alex Turner, Rick Parfitt, Neil Diamond, Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore and Josh Homme. Homme played one at Queens of the Stone Age's first concert at Seattle's OK Hotel in November 1997.
Ovation previously used the Viper name for an acoustic-electric guitar sold from 1994 to 2006. A 50th anniversary revival took a different route with a hollow mahogany body and carbon fiber top, while the 2026 instruments return more closely to the original electric design.
Each anniversary Viper includes a gig bag. The stated price is €1,194, approximately $1,122, with a UK price of £1,084.
(Compiled)