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| Edensharvest, about your Koa 12-string ......
I was going to ask you about the specs before your thread was closed (I don't like seeing info squashed like that).
Anyway, a beautiful 12-string! Is it essentially a custom legend with a Koa top or did you have anything else done that was a custom order item? How long did it take? Any flaws to the entire custom order process in your opinion? I've never heard anyone here with a bad experience ordering a custom/special order guitar from the factory. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I don't believe that that thread was closed to prevent others from learning about the guitar.
Any dealer can order a special guitar, there is nothing special about where that guitar came from.
It is a beautiful guitar and probably sounds great. I believe that the specs have been called out in another post here somewhere. |
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Location: SoCal | 12 strings are such great guitars... everybody should own one.
Ovations has always been known for it's great 12's, and today, they are building some of the best 12's they have ever built. When I first picked up an LX 12, I was blown away by the sound. And this comes from somebody who's main 12 is an early 90's Adamas I .... |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | That one is an X brace guitar and will have a very different sound from the earlier 15s and 18s. The Koa will figure into that too. Andrew, it looks like it could use a bit of oil on the bridge, which will darken it up a bit as well as help the wood. |
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Location: ranson,wva | it shure is a beutiful guitar,..jason |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
12 strings are such great guitars... everybody should own one. One ??? Yeah, right. Dave |
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Location: ranson,wva | i wanna get a adamas 12 or a new balladeer 12..or both...jason |
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Location: SoCal | ... at least one.....?
Ok, how about, "everybody should own at least 3"? |
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Location: south east Michigan | All these years and I've never been bitten by the 12-string bug. Probably because I have hobbit hands and they are a pain to tune. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | I've only got one,
well maybe that's really three. |
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Location: ranson,wva | do you have a 12 string national bill?
..jason |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | My 12s (I've only owned one at a time) are my least played guitar. Not so much because it's harder to fret and tune, but I just don't play much that takes a 12. |
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Location: NJ | ". . I've only got one,
well maybe that's really three . ."
It's gotta be more than one, 'cuz I've got one here (LongNeck12), which got used today t'put the finishing touches on the Vol.2 submission.
(HangOn, Dave!! . . . the disk is being overnighted . . .) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | That's the third one. The other is #1000, the dark blue one and I recently got #2000 which was at chk's and is the twin to 1000. Only #1000 is south
No 12 string Nationals. |
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Location: SoCal | Again, Andrew...congratulations.
I am curious how the Koa (versus spruce) stands up to a 12-string. My assumption is that it has a deeper, softer voice. We await your observations.
I have always been impressed by the Ovation/Adamas 12's.
Currently, a small rosette shiny bowl, two 1658 slothead Custom Legends, a 1659 Custom Legend, an Adamas I, an Adamas II, Preacher Deluxe, and Hamer Newport. Oh, one non-Kaman - the 1966 Wurlitzer (Italian made)since I didn't find a good Hurricane. Have also had the GC and 1118 slothead CL.
Had played a Martin D-18 12-str for 9-10 years...then played a Custom Legend (1118) - won't go back.
The post was closed, not deleted due to the actions of the poster...IMHO, Mile's actions were appropriate and appreciated. Vile and false attacks are not appropriate. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
... at least one.....?
Ok, how about, "everybody should own at least 3"? OK I have three. Do I have to stop there? :confused:
BTW Does the KOA make a big difference in the sound? |
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Location: Keller, TX | I tried a 12 string once. Was a celebrity that was too hard to play. Just wasn't my thing. I guess I'll have to get a REAL "O" 12 to play. |
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Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by ttenn:
I tried a 12 string once. Was a celebrity that was too hard to play. Just wasn't my thing. I guess I'll have to get a REAL "O" 12 to play. My first Ovation was a 12 string. A pacemaker I bought in 1972. I still have it and it still plays great. I also have a 1758 Elite which is an awesome sounding and looking guitar.
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Location: Sunshine State, Australia | I played a 12 string for the first time in umpteen years 2 days ago. It was a Yamaha and all 12 strings seemed equally spaced. Really hard to gauge where your fingers were for pickin'.
Then yesterday, I picked up a Celebrity 12 string and it was almost like pluckin' a 6 string. I can only imagine, but I'd assume a USA 12 would be even nicer, but I've got other GAS priorities. (Startin' with workin' out how to tell the missus about the 2005ES in the garage!)
Not played a 12 string for about 15 years, then 2 in 2 days. (Like buses, I guess) |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Owww!!.....that looks like my 1537 but with 12 strings, curious how it sounds compared to my 1618 (which is a 12 fret guitar) ,I have gotta get 1 of these..wonder what it ( used ) would cost these days :)
Vic |
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Location: ranson,wva | after i order my custom adamas my next o' will be a new balladeer 12 string. i played on at GC last weekend and loved it,the inlay on the rosette is beautiful,strings are apaced just right,sweet profile on the neck...jason |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | To answer questions:
Englishplayer, it's a standard Custom Legend C759LX 12-string, with these upgrades:
Figured & Flamed Koa top & TRC
Rosewood fingerboard (still w/inlays)
Walnut headstock, carved walnut bridge
OP-Pro/Studio preamp
The major difference is the Koa and the "trim" stuff, like the carved bridge, which IMHO Ovation should never have gotten away from as a standard CL feature.
Tony, and others, the Koa is simply amazing on a deep-body 12-string. I don't have a direct comparison here in spruce, but from playing my dad's Balladeer for years, I can tell you that the Koa is much warmer, softer, and almost sweeter in a way than the spruce. At the risk of sounding a little "new age" here, it's almost a mysterious, secretive sound, as though the wood has yet to open up and reveal it's full tone and warmth, but it just gives enough of that shimmering, vibrant 12-string sound that I can only imagine what it will sound like after it opens up fully.
It'll take some getting used to playing 12 strings and a wider neck again - obviously my hand is out of shape. One more good reason to play her more... |
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Location: CT | If you want deeper and darker, get one of the solid bodies with the the notch switch. Very cool. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Koa is kind of new agey but keep in mind that Martin made all koa guitars in the 20's and 30's. I've got a O-18K and a friend has OO-28. Wonderful sounding guitars.
You got to go with different tops, can't use mahogony or rosewood, or walnut or.... back and sides!
I'd bet this is a great sounding guitar, 12s can be bright and the "darkenness of the koa" would be a good counter balance. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I got to bond with this one in a noisy lobby over the weekend. A couple of passers-by got guitar whiplash as they nearly passed!
And it wasn't cuz of my playing!
Someone needs to custom order a baritone Koa LX so I can really get GAS! |
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Edensharvest, about your Koa 12-string
