Hello BFLG! Hope you all are doing well. Summer is almost here, and I wanted to get started with some pre-Project pics for "Vincent". This 97C is something that you all at the OFC are very familiar with. OMA purchased "Vincent" (BanjoJ originally suggested "Chopper" for a name, but I guess OMA went with "Vincent") back in 2013 and posted a thread here:

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=34915&posts=21&highlight=97C&highlightmode=1#M478450

Ever since I posted my "The Ovation 12 Fretters – A Definitive List" here,

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=48330&posts=2&start=1

I've been intrigued by 12 Fretter Os. Originally, mistook this "For Sale" thread as a 5741 Parlor (a 14 Fretter), but closer inspection revealed it was the 12 Fretter 97 Collectors. By the way, OMA also has the 5741 Parlor. How does the 97C compare to the 5741? Anyway, some of you named the 97 Collectors as your favorite Collector's Edition (here);

http://ovationfanclub.com/megabbs/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=30230&posts=25&highlight=97C&highlightmode=1#M401750

...and where ever the 97C is named, there are rave reviews. OMA's asking price was insane, AND he was nice enough to agree to ship "Vincent" internationally. He included the original TKL case (super heavy and really sturdy...think I'll get the O gig bag P/N GB6741), 2 new sets of strings, 2 picks AND an extra set of gold Schaller slot head tuners! The 9v battery is still good too! So, a big "THANK YOU!" to OMA for your generosity!

Well, although you all have seen him before, here's Vincent in his new home. I hope you don't mind my sharing:

The simply operated and sophisticated Touch Sensitive (TS) Pre-amp is elegant and effective.

The guitar sounds phenomal through a PA and leads me to wonder if the deceptively simple circuitry includes compression functions. Of course, the A-braced sound board is resonant and balanced and gives this parlor guitar an amazing acoustic voice. Vincent only suffers from cosmetic damages in four areas which will be relatively easy to repair.

The challenge will be to repair Vincent's ears... I guess when the ears are repaired, he won't be called Vincent anymore...

Unlike Os usual output jack, the 97C uses an end-pin mounted output jack.

Vincent's ebony bridge design is understated and elegant. The ebony and maple rosette is really classy too.

Vincent will spend the next two years or so on this side of the Pacific, but my daughter expressed a desire to learn guitar for the first time this summer, and Vincent will be the perfect instrument for her to learn on. She'll be taking Vincent back to the States with her when she goes to college, so he'll be back on his home turf in no time. It'll be a month or so, before the repairs will begin; meanwhile, equipped with Adamas 1919E strings, Vincent has a deep, satisfying resonant voice. One of my surprising discoveries was that the Parlor bowl is only second in depth at 138.0mm to the standard deep bowl (147.6mm)! Comparatively speaking, the mid-depth bowl is only 133mm deep while the SSBs are 103mm. I'm guessing the bowl depth contributes to the 97Cs surprisingly full resonant voice. He'll see a lot of playing time this summer for sure.

Until then, keep playing those USA Os and thanks for letting me share!