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29 Aug 11 - 12:35 AM (#3214321) Subject: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Mysha Hi, Travelling through the States I encountered one of these in a pawnshop in Grand Junction. Looked like a fairly normal acoustic guitar, but the odd bridge caught my eye, plus the fact that it was only 6 strung. I don't play guitar all that much, so I doubt I would have a use for a 12 string, but I'm a bit curious about these. Are they any good? Bye Mysha |
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29 Aug 11 - 02:30 AM (#3214334) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Richard Bridge The Ovations, with their man-made bowl backs, all have their own sound that is not quite like a wooden guitar. To my ears the deeper bodied ones sound better than the shallower ones. All plug in nicely. Some say that the man made body helps them to stay in tune in varying humidity and I think that is particularly true of the carbon-fibre fronted Adamus ones. The bridges are usually adequately stable but I have heard of the tops coming off the bodies. Some have an on-board tuner which can be handy. They have always been expensive new. If it is cheap with no obvious structural issues, it is likely to be a sound buy with a possible profit if ebayed! |
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29 Aug 11 - 07:02 AM (#3214404) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: banjoman I have owned & Played many 12 stringers over the years and currently am using an Ovation double neck guitar which my son bought. Its fantastic, particularly the 12 string bit although, it does have a different resonance to my usual (Old Washburn) 12 stringer. I have played an Ovation 12 string in the past and have always been surprised by the clarity and overall general feel of the instrument. I have, so far, never come across a problem of the top comming away on my Ovation Folklore which I bought in 1982, and which has served me well and has matured over the years. I agree with the above, they are expensive to buy new, so if its a reasonable price then go for it. |
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29 Aug 11 - 07:17 PM (#3214823) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: kendall They make great canoe paddles. |
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29 Aug 11 - 07:51 PM (#3214849) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Smokey. They're no substitute for the real thing, but once accepted for what they are, the better ones aren't too bad. I've yet to hear one that sounds any good acoustically. You get what you pay for, but I much prefer a nice unique bit of rosewood. Each to his own, I suppose. |
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29 Aug 11 - 07:52 PM (#3214850) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Midchuck A long while ago, I had an Ovation 12-string SLOTHEAD. I kept it long enough to change strings on it once, and decided the sound I got from it wasn't worth it, and traded it off. P. |
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30 Aug 11 - 01:46 AM (#3214973) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: michaelr In my opinion, they're just as crap as Ovation 6-string guitars. |
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30 Aug 11 - 07:38 AM (#3215072) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Fossil I owned an Ovation Celebrity 12 for many years. OK sound, heavy action, went out of tune if you looked at it crosswise. And very difficult to get into tune, I thing the necks are too weak for the tension you get with a 12, so as soon as you tune one bout, all the others change. Not an instrument I would recommend to anyone who's serious about 12-strings. But it looked fab as a stage instrument, being big, black and glossy. Not at all like me, really! |
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30 Aug 11 - 08:13 AM (#3215082) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Richard Bridge Action can always be tweaked by a decent guitar tech - unless there is a bigger problem and a neck set is needed. I'm surprised about the stability though. Maybe yours had a damaged neck joint? |
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30 Aug 11 - 08:33 AM (#3215087) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: GUEST No-one's mentioned the price. If it's less than five quid then buy it (with a view to sell on of course). |
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30 Aug 11 - 11:43 AM (#3215206) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: PHJim I haven't had a lot of experience with Ovations, but those I have played seemed to be strong in the mid and high range, but lacked something in the lower range. Has anyone else found this? |
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30 Aug 11 - 07:36 PM (#3215536) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: kendall After playing an Apollo 12 I would throw rocks at any other brand except Taylor. |
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30 Aug 11 - 10:24 PM (#3215638) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Bee-dubya-ell I won't say I love Ovation 12-strings, but I don't hate them nearly as much as I hate their 6-strings. The Ovation body doesn't generate the sustain and overtones that are typical of a good wood-bodied guitar. But that's not necessarily a bad thing for a 12-string. A cleaner more direct sound without so much of that 12-string jangle might be preferable if, say, you get the urge to pick fiddle tunes on the thing. |
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31 Aug 11 - 06:58 AM (#3215782) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Fossil Richard, I had that Ovation 12 looked at by the guitar shop in North London where I bought it (Rock Around the Clock, in Crouch End) and by many other knowledgeable twangers and lutherites I met on my travels and no-one could give me a definitive answer on the action or make that damn thing stay in tune! Anyway, I now have a solid-as-a-rock Japanese made Sigma/Martin D28-12, which both looks and sounds great, amplified or acoustic, has a nice easy action and stays in tune unless you really provoke it with excessive temperature changes, which I now try to avoid. My point was, that if you want to play a 12, I reckon that price for price there are better axes around than any Ovation I have yet come across. |
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31 Aug 11 - 07:22 AM (#3215792) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: kendall The only possible problem with Apollo 12 strings is the price. The other side of that coin is, they are worth it.. Playing an Apollo is like making love. Playing an Ovation is just getting laid. |
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31 Aug 11 - 07:39 AM (#3215803) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Backwoodsman Ovations are just curious. Period. |
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31 Aug 11 - 09:40 AM (#3215875) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: GUEST,guest (Fred Gosbee) Ovations have certain advantages: for one thing, you don't get sentimentally attached. I was too many years getting an Appolonio 12 - probably the last serious 12-string player in Maine to do so. What can I say? There are voices in there that you won't get in any other 12-string. Somehow Nick has managed to build guitars that sound full and transparent at the same time - a truly unique sound which allows a huge amount of tonal subtlety. The double compensating saddle system he uses has the guitar playing in tune all the way up the neck. As far as price goes Nick's guitars are the most affordable handmade guitars anywhere and are a good bit less expensive than any kind of factory made 12-string that is worth playing. |
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31 Aug 11 - 09:42 AM (#3215880) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Midchuck The only possible problem with Apollo 12 strings is the price. The other side of that coin is, they are worth it.. Ayup. Playing an Apollo is like making love. Playing an Ovation is just getting laid. Nope. Playing an Apollo (especially in DADGAD or CGCFGC) is like making love. Playing a Guild or Taylor 12 is just getting laid. Playing an Ovation is...what do you Brits say?..."wanking?" Peter |
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31 Aug 11 - 11:11 AM (#3215919) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Big Mick Spoken like a man who HAS NOT played my 40+ year old Guild F412. I am not saying it is the equal of Nick Apollonio's best work, but if it is like "getting laid", then it is like doing so with one of the most skilled courtesans I have ever known. She wears negligee woven with rich overtones and balance across her strings. Damn, believe I will go make love to her again. All the best, Mick |
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31 Aug 11 - 11:17 AM (#3215924) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Richard Bridge The thing about wanking is that you meet a better class of person that way. I think I might go and give my MUGEN THE78/12 a rumble. |
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31 Aug 11 - 11:21 AM (#3215929) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Smokey. The problem about wanking with a bit of plastic is that you just hate yourself in the morning. |
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31 Aug 11 - 11:22 AM (#3215930) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: John MacKenzie Since receiving new my Apollo 12 string, I am now getting laid regularly. Proof, if proof were needed, that folk music is good for your sex life. Yes I admit it, I have paid for sex. I paid a man in Maine you know! |
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31 Aug 11 - 01:05 PM (#3215984) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: GUEST,kendall Can't you clowns allow me to be serious sometimes? :-) |
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31 Aug 11 - 01:20 PM (#3215995) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Big Mick Fine, Kendall. We get you love Apollo's. I simply tapped into the metaphor you are using. Sheesh! Mick |
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31 Aug 11 - 09:01 PM (#3216253) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: kendall Relax Mate, I was being facetious. |
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31 Aug 11 - 09:49 PM (#3216286) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Big Mick So was I, you old seagoing popcorn fart! ***chuckle*** |
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01 Sep 11 - 08:04 AM (#3216433) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: kendall Oh yeah? well, your Mother smells of elderberries. |
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01 Sep 11 - 01:01 PM (#3216566) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Big Mick Yeah, but they were some of the finest elderberries in the neighborhood!! |
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02 Sep 11 - 07:40 AM (#3216976) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Mysha Hi, Thanks for your opinions. Those who value the instrument know where it is, should they come that way. The others ... well, they might buy it to save others from a fate worse than loneliness, I guess. Bye, Mysha |
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05 Sep 11 - 10:56 AM (#3218491) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: GUEST,quatfaux The only reason to touch an Ovation is if you are getting paid to do so. Speaking as a woman... and a repair tech... 'cause it sure is only money, not enjoyment! Hey, Big Mick... you wouldn't be Mick Wall the piper, would you? |
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05 Sep 11 - 11:21 AM (#3218498) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: saulgoldie A prime argument against Ovations by "those who know" is that they do not "age." I can't speak with experience about that trait, since I have not spent enough time across years with any one guitar to be able to say. But apropos this thread and the recent one about Glenn Campbell, there is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OnZyGhYic Saul |
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05 Sep 11 - 11:45 AM (#3218520) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: Stringsinger The point missed here is that Ovation cuts out the overtones which is desirable for flexibility in recording, overtones that muddy the track. As a result, many sound recording engineers like them for that reason. They are clean. I'll take a Guild 12 over others that I've played with exception of Pete Seeger's 12, I forget the maker. |
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05 Sep 11 - 12:11 PM (#3218534) Subject: RE: Curious about Ovation 12 string guitars From: John MacKenzie Pete's 12 string This is a link to another forum, and please note, the guy who made the original post, lists himself as the owner of 16 guitars. Must tell the staff: she's bitching about my having 3. (Was 4 up till last month!) |