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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Brown delivered today...opened case...hmmm, seems ok...spent the next three hours adjusting neck, lowering action, restringing, clean and polish everything (very dirty and strings were the original set...), retuning...new battery...pictures...retune...play, play, play...
OK, so what does it sound like?
Many here have put down the SSB's for no power, no tone, etc. but I am here to tell you all, you have to hear this guitar...absolutely incredible (even the wife was complimentary, and she is not a huge Ovation fan...). I truly have never played an Ovation 12 string that sounds like this guitar does...(I'm not counting the Adamas guitars...just the wood top Ovation 12's)...
One small bump:
The seller (who bought it new) said it was mint...well not quite...I guess if you don't include the two very hard to photograph finish cracks on either end of the bridge (only finish...not through the wood)...but that's it...in the grand scheme of the guitar, it doesn't mean much...it is gorgeous and sounds awesome (I'd say incredible again but I don't want to gush...)
BUT:
This is a monster 12...and it's an SSBC...go figure: but true!
Case is also near mint and includes all of the original case candy from 1995/96...The serial number actually makes this a late 1995...
I am awaiting some additional info and I'll add that later...
Here are several pic's and the link to the new album...enjoy (Believe me, I will)...
1868-7LTD Book Elite 12 |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | A couple more:
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Location: Tennessee | WOW! NICE! FYI, some of Templeman's MOP buttons are a must for that guitar. There only one thing to be said for that guitar ... oh, YEAH! If you can, record something on it and sent it to me for the SOTD. Kick it up and make it HOT! :)
P.S. Looks like you've got another nice hillside to take pictures on. |
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| I'm sure the congregation will love it. You'll be playing it this Sunday, right? Congrats. |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Thou shalt not envy.
You hear me Patch?
Stop it!
Right now!
Does the word Purgatory mean anything to you Patch?
SIGH.....
What a nice guitar Mike! :) |
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Location: Orlando, FL | Beautiful Mike! Congratulations. It is amazing the amount and quality of sound that comes out of those SSB 12 strings.
+1 on the MOP buttons.
Enjoy! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
WOW! NICE! FYI, some of Templeman's MOP buttons are a must for that guitar. I don't know if Al has the smaller size for a 12-string, but buffalo bone or buffalo horn buttons look great on that headstock as well.
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Location: East Tennessee | Mike,
I like it. |
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Location: SoCal | If you gloss the headstock and neck it'll sound even better.... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Thanks all... :cool:
If you gloss the headstock and neck it'll sound even better.... Paul, you really made my day! That's too funny!!!
But believe me, after owning Dave's (now AJ's) Book Elite 6, I have to admit, the thought has crossed my mind...
Bobbo, I will try to get something recorded: we're only here for a year so most everything is still packed: including my studio...but I will try to get to the Boss and get something done...interesting that you said to record something HOT...that was the first thing I played on this: a fast chordal progression, and it blew me away...this is a world class guitar...
g8r: My voice is recovering and I am not currently doing music on Sunday's: I want it to heal properly...but I will be playing it for them at the retreat in two weeks...
patch: ;) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ah yeah that is nice. Definately has that wow factor. FYI, am I the only one who looks at the wood stripes in the neck and thinks of adidas? |
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Location: south east Michigan | Nice guitar Mike.
I'm sure some shallow bowls stand out from others but I just can't get my head around the idea that a shallow bowl can complete with a deep bowl. It's just the physics of the thing. Then again, you certainly have more experience with Ovations than I have.
.
But I have to ask.
Have you ever bought an Ovation that... shall we say.. wasn't the "best"? Maybe you have. I just can't recall ever hearing. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | OH come on Brad and be nice.
Mike is the proverbial kid in the candy store or the sleepy eyed child on Christmas morning.
Whenever he get a new toy, it is THE BEST toy in the world......until the next one come along and then it is THE BEST toy in the world....
until the next one comes along and it is THE BEST toy in the world until the next one comes along and it is THE BEST........
well you get the idea.
Right Mike ;) |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Steve and Brad, you're right...That's me alright!!! I love 'em all...well most of 'em anyway... Have you ever bought an Ovation that... shall we say.. wasn't the "best"? Yes Brad and they eventually get sold or traded...For example, the 1995 Collector 12 string that I had several years ago...beautiful guitar but it didn't do it for me...so it's gone...
As for the absolute best, well I do have one or two that fit my qualifications for that and give me chills every-time the case opens and I get to play them...
I guess it comes down to the fact that for many years I could not afford a quality guitar...my folks didn't have the money and would have rather I played piano and kept my hair short...some of you remember the hippie factor?
Later I had to sell the guitar I currently owned if I wanted another...
so yes, it is overwhelming at times...some gamble...some "recreate"...some do it all...I just play and collect guitars...pretty harmless until it takes control over the room/house with all the gear...lol
And come on, around here, isn't there really a pot/kettle metaphor going on?
But yeah, it's all GREAT!
BTW, the seller contacted me: the slight damage was done in shipping (I have the pictures to prove it thanks to Steve) and a claim will be filed as soon as the appraisal comes in for the repair...I'm in no hurry...and Brown is difficult to deal with...so what else is new? |
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Originally posted by stephent28:
Mike is the proverbial kid in the candy store or the sleepy eyed child on Christmas morning.
Mike, first of all, CONGRATS! Please keep us posted as to any damage resolution. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | That IS a nice one! :cool: |
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Location: NW of Philadelphia | SWEET! |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by Slipkid:
Nice guitar Mike.
I'm sure some shallow bowls stand out from others but I just can't get my head around the idea that a shallow bowl can complete with a deep bowl. Unless, of course, you're plugged in and playing live from a standing position for hours at a time, with old shoulders. Many older men face rotator cuff issues in their shoulders after a lifetime of lifting, throwing, pushing, pulling, etc. Shallow bowls allow you to keep your elbow lower down and closer to your body, thereby relieving stress on your shoulder joint. At least, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Mike, I was not aware this was an SSB. This one I could get excited about. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I've been busy...But, I now have the whole story and it's so interesting that I am going to share it with the entire fan club.
First as to how many were made: there were probably only several of these made: Several groups of the original series were made for each of the markets at the time...so maybe only 2 or 3...I personally know of only 2 including mine that have surfaced. No one is completely sure and records were not kept...But it definitely is very rare: it may be the only SSBC Book Elite 12 made or one of two...no one is sure. IMHO at least qualifies as the proverbial Holy Grail...for 12 stringers at least...
Now to the mysterious blue label on the back of the headstock:
Turns out it is a COA placed on every Ovation product in Germany to distinguish them as original and not counterfeit...these were place after the guitars arrived in Germany...so how could the guitar end up back in the US w/a German COA sticker on it?
First back up for a minute: As I said earlier in this thread there are two small parallel finish cracks along side each bridge end on the top...the seller told me again last night they had to have happened in shipping...that he had pic's showing that they were not there when he took the pic's for eBay...well, last night, after I answered my previous post, I got to thinking...so I blew the eBay pic's up bigger in photoshop: sure enough, they are there as plain as day...
So, who's right and what happened...well, it all came together just a few minutes ago with a phone call: the reason that the guitar w/a German COA sticker ended up back in the US was because it developed the cracks while in the German distributor's inventory, the German distributor wanted a replacement or more likely a credit, so the guitar was shipped back. The call told me that the finish in the mid 90's did this a lot...often enough that the company changed the formulation and got rid of the problem (for the most part)...Dave, that may be what happened to your former Book Elite 6...
So the guitar had the finish checks/cracks even before it arrived back in the US back in the mid/late 90's...
The other Book 6 for sale by the former seller of my Book 12 also has a 6 string Book Elite for sale: here is the same sticker on it:
I looked at the eBay pic's for that guitar and it is not as definitive as the pic's of my guitar were but thee has to be a reason for that guitar to have ended back in the US...you do the math...
So mystery solved, I have an estimate for the repair if I chose to get it done...bottom line here is that it is a great guitar (yes, I said great) which should only appreciate in value and with a very cool history lesson to go with it... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | My book mando had the same sticker.
If you send it to get the finish crack fixed make sure they gloss the neck as well !!!
NICE guitar, by the way. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I may well do it Dave; Thanks! |
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Location: Steeler Nation, Hudson Valley Contingent | Originally posted by Gallerinski:
If you send it to get the finish crack fixed make sure they gloss the neck as well !!!
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Pot/Kettle...lol |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | CrackFixer
that would make a good OFC moniker, I think.
maybe when I hit 12k |
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Location: Tennessee | No crack fixing required whatsoever on the Book Elite For Sale I have available. Mine doesn't have a sticker, but it does come with a not-so-perfect hard cover Walter Carter book.
I strung my 12 string Nashville style for a while and it was a super cool effect. I'll bet it would be well-suited for an SSB. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | That's what 12 string capos are for...yesiree... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I got one strung up nashville style. Very cool.
specially for layering on a recording without clutter or overring/subsonics. |
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Location: Tennessee | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
That's what 12 string capos are for...yesiree... Totally different thing. The Nashville stringing completely changes the sonic character. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
Totally different thing. The Nashville stringing completely changes the sonic character. Absolutely! |
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Location: closely held secret | So what strings do you use to Nashville string a 12? |
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Location: SoCal | I think there are some manufacturers who make specific "Nashville" sets. Otherwise, buy a set for a 12 string and just put on the octave strings.... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I know that guys: what I meant was that by capoing high up on a 12 you can get some great effects as well: mandolin for example...Moody is right: actually D'Addario makes a set: EJ38s maybe... |
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Location: Tennessee | D'Addario makes Nashville (EJ38H), but I just cannibalized some partial sets to make it work for me. I suppose I did a "modified" nashville ... I left the top four courses normal, and went up a whole octave on the A and Low E. You need a .008 for the A string high Octave to make it work. |
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| Hey Mike, you need to post a pic of this 12-er next to the Book 6-string with the gloss neck you picked up from from Dave. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | AJ now has that guitar Serge...I'm working on something else :cool: |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Taking the Book 12 out for 4 performances today...I'll attempt to attempt to sing as well...we'll see...nothing ventured nothing gained... |
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Location: Connersville, Indiana | Again I hate to be uninformed, but what is Nashville tuning on a 12 string. I never heard of it before |
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Location: SoCal | No Nashville tuning that I'm aware of for a 12 string (tune the whole thing with octave strings?). On a 6 string, Nashville means that the guitar was strung with just the octave strings from a 12 string set. It gives the guitar a high jangly sound. It's normally used in recording to overdub another guitar part, usually with the Nashville strung guitar capo'd way up the neck.
I did hear an award winning fingerpicker pick up and play his stuff on a guitar tuned Nashville. It was wonderful..... |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | yup
just another flavor of ice cream and a different way to eat it. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | 12 string did fantastic...I love this thing (sorry Brad...both of you ;) )...my voice held up but eventually it couldn't take it...but it's better than several months ago at least...getting there...onward through the fog... |
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I Never Saw This Coming (Book Elite 12 - Part Deux)