Posted 2012-08-22 1:43 AM (#458084) Subject: 12 string sounds
Joined: August 2012 Posts: 227
( While some might think this post is just one of many to make Mr. Ovation feel sure I am not some web bot which takes up space in the forum, I assure you, I actually think about this stuff. Especially if money is on the line ! You can toilet paper Patch's house, if you want to blame someone. )
More 12 string thoughts. I've been web surfing, youtube watching, and reading in these forums. I saw an old post about 12 fret guitars having more resonance. I watch some guys playing Ovation 12 strings. Not all things found on youtube are good. Many of them sounded differently, but still Ovation like. It got me thinking about what sound I want. It also made me wonder how much different they ( Ovation 12 strings ) can sound.
At this point, what I want is deep, resonant bass, with clean mids and bright highs. I want an acoustic sound more than a plugged in sound. I often think that some maple built , jumbo would fit that bill, but I don't think that is always true and there are quite a few Takamine 12s that are for sale that fit that type. They must be missing something. I know some of you have quite the collection of instruments. Do you find real differences in the older, Balladeers and Pacemakers vs. the newer Elites and modern Balladeers and Legends ? Differences in tone or resonance ?
Posted 2012-08-22 3:08 AM (#458085 - in reply to #458084) Subject: RE: 12 string sounds
Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City
Here's my 12 string sound. This one is very even toned, across the board. Everything just blends perfectly.
I don't have anything posted with the Pacemaker, but it's a very different sound, much more of what Mark In Boise said about an old early Legend I once had.... the "Ovation Sound" Warmer, maybe more on the mids. And then again, every guitar is at least a little different from the next.
Posted 2012-08-22 1:20 PM (#458103 - in reply to #458084) Subject: Re: 12 string sounds
Joined: August 2002 Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee
I found a huge difference between an early 12 fret Ovation 12 and my 2000 Custom Legend cutaway. The CL is the one that's still here. Along with a 70's Takamine F400S ... which has survived much adventure and still plays well and stays in tune. I found the 12fret O's to be way too bright and "harpsichord"-like for my tastes. Some people like that though. Everything is subjective. My CL12 is rock solid, I can take it out and plug it in, and it's comfortable to play (mid bowl). It doesn't get "grating" the way a lot of 12ers sound to me after a short while, especially when I have to listen to someone else playing them. I'm sure it's the same when the shoe is on the other foot.
I generally use the 12 to get a particular sound texture,rather than as a main instrument. There are always exceptions ... since you're looking for some input, here is a link to a song of mine where I used two Ovation 12's (my 6759CL and a Deacon 12). The 6759 is strung in a modified Nashville-style tuning (lower three string pairs are an octave higher than standard) so you won't get the bottom end that's normally in the guitar. http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/12783172.
Posted 2012-08-22 5:56 PM (#458118 - in reply to #458084) Subject: Re: 12 string sounds
Joined: August 2012 Posts: 227
Damon,
I had seen your video, when I was youtube surfing. I liked that one.
If I could find a 12 string that had this sound, as it's base, I think I'd be happy. ( Custom Legend ) I don't know if it's because of the odd tuning or not. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kywU1HnAyf0
I just looked up his guitar and found it's a shallow bowl version. That kinda' throws my " It should be a deep bowl to get big sound " theory out of wack.
Posted 2012-08-22 9:53 PM (#458124 - in reply to #458084) Subject: Re: 12 string sounds
Joined: December 2006 Posts: 6996
Location: Jet City
It's the odd tuning. Every guitar sounds great playing The Rain Song I think it has a lot to do with the upstruming too.
As for the shallow vs deep thing. Deep is the way to go if you're using it acoustically, the shallows are great for performing live and plugged in. I have a hard time telling the difference between a deep and shallow plugged in
Posted 2012-08-23 4:07 AM (#458134 - in reply to #458084) Subject: Re: 12 string sounds
Joined: December 2001 Posts: 7236
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest
Damon mentioned the Pacemaker... I think his is the one I have now. I think it's one of the best all-around Ovation 12-strings. It's not fancy, and it doesn't have a "Unique" voice other than it sounds like an Ovation 12-string. It's not too deep, too high, too loud, it's just right. Again it's like I mentioned before, most Ovation's sound great. You are paying for workmanship, bling and warranty as you go up in price. Yes an Adamas 12 sounds a little better than a Pacemaker, but most of the difference is in everything else.
Finding "your" Ovation is truly not an easy task. It's why so many of us, have so many guitars. You'd think it would be easy. They all sound great. But, the more you play, the more the subtle things like feel, look, and the intricacies of tone start to weigh in. If you are a gigging musician, than workmanship and bling (or not) start to factor in. But as far as sound... well... lets put it this way. I have a Medallion. They called them "Matrix" as well. They were from the 70's and essentially a Balladeer bowl with an aluminum neck. It was $150 bucks and still worth about that. I have an OFC II Adamas which is essentially a custom 2080 with hand laid bowl worth $5000-ish . I'm likely to pick either one up to play. I usually decide by which is closer to me or if I have to plug in as the Medallion has no pre-amp.
Good luck in your journey of finding "your" Ovation.
Posted 2012-08-23 7:46 AM (#458140 - in reply to #458084) Subject: RE: 12 string sounds
Joined: March 2005 Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains
The Pacemaker 1615 12 was my constant companion during the first 12 years that I toured: '76 - '88 before I switched to an Elite 1758 in 1989 when I became a Keyman Endorser. The 12 fret design of the guitar and the simple FET preamp along with the versatility of the guitar to play any kind of popular music made it (for me) the perfect vocal accompaniment instrument. I still have one today and although I have many other 12's including Adamas 1688's, I still get a huge smile every time I open the case, pick it up, and begin to play it. Is it magical? No, just an outstanding guitar. So were my Elites and so are my Adamas 12's...I also own an OFC II along with many Ovation and Adamas 6 strings and others. Nothing I have ever played has brought me so much satisfaction as the nights gigging with my Ovation's. The debt we who play music for a living and also those who enjoy it as a hobby or pastime owe Charlie and Bill and all those folks who worked at putting the guitars in our hands is more than we can repay...but then, they felt our happiness and joy because they experienced it for themselves as well.
Posted 2012-08-25 10:23 AM (#458208 - in reply to #458084) Subject: Re: 12 string sounds
Joined: September 2005 Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :)
I got my Adamas 12 because we have a lot of acoustic players in church band I play in every Sunday. I wanted some way of providing a completely different sound when we were guitar heavy. This 12 string gives me so many different sound options, including a mach-mandolin sound on the upper frets. I tend to play it utilizing the hole plugs on the treble side to boost the bass notes. It already has a nice heavy low end, and for that matter it is perfect accross the tonal spectrum, but I like as much bottom as I can get my hands on. (I know...I just open a can of worms on that one) Final comment... IMHO, nothing does 12-string like an Adamas.
Posted 2012-08-25 1:50 PM (#458217 - in reply to #458085) Subject: RE: 12 string sounds
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1433
Location: Right now?
damon67 - 2012-08-22 4:08 AM
Here's my 12 string sound. This one is very even toned, across the board. Everything just blends perfectly.
I don't have anything posted with the Pacemaker, but it's a very different sound, much more of what Mark In Boise said about an old early Legend I once had.... the "Ovation Sound" Warmer, maybe more on the mids. And then again, every guitar is at least a little different from the next.
DAMON! Your cover is AWESOME! I used to have an 1158, but it was stolen and never recovered. Now THAT was a nice 12 'er ... I have two 12 strings left; my Melissa Etheridge ruby burst and a Martin D-20.
12 string sounds
I think it has a lot to do with the upstruming too. 
