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Location: Atlanta GA | I a little hesitant to ask for advice from this crowd but, after hearing about how good 12 strings sound I would like to get one but my understanding is that Ovation doesn't offer a Left Handed guitar so short of an O anyone got any advise on what I should buy? The guitar Nazi (read wife) has placed a $1,000 limit on anything brought in the house that can't be ridden in, sat on or otherwise used to adorne her beauty. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Get yourself a used Ovation 12 string non-cutaway like a model 1115 Pacemaker. You can get them for $400 or so. Have it modified to Lefty. That'll mean a new nut and bridge. If they are crafty, maybe they can reslot the existing bridge and just alter the saddle angle. Probably looking at $250-$300 for the conversion. You'll have a great sounding, great playing, great looking, LEFTY ovation 12-string for well under the $1000. ceiling. Dave |
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Location: Atlanta GA | Thanks for the reply Dave. Should I send it back to the factory for these modifications? Or is that something a local Luthier could do? (assume I don't know any Luthiers and would have to seek one out) |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | It's not that big of a conversion so any good luthier could do it. Depending on the condition of the guitar to start with (and how close you want to come to the $1000. limit), you could send it to the factory and have all kinds of good stuff done like install new Ovation tuners, or put in an Ovation pickup and pre-amp (in the RIGHT place for a lefty). Also could have them add fretboard side dots on the proper side for you. I guess that would be what I would do. Dave |
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Location: Atlanta GA | This one might work. It has electronics on it but I could live with the knob in it's current location. missing an ear...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33029&item=7... |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Actually with that type of pre-amp you could relocate it very easily. Basically just swap the position of the strap button and the pre-amp. The holes are probably different size, but it could easily be made to work. Not a bad guitar. I like black Ovations. |
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Location: Atlanta GA | Cool.. I've got "my eye on it" I looked at the bidders and didn't recognize any as an OFCers. I think I will lurk around for a couple of days and maybe probe the bids a day or so before the end of the auction. |
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Location: Central Florida | Hey guys,
Allow me to jump in here and add my two cents if I may.
The guitar you're watching is a good candidate for a lefty conversion. I've been converting right handed Ovations to lefty for over thirty years. If you go with an acoustic/electric model with the original style bridge, all you'll really need to do is have a new nut installed. For some mysterious reason (for which I'm most greatful), the original piezo bridges allow you to string the guitar lefty without sacrificing proper intonation. I don't know how or why that is, but it's a fact. As for relocating the preamp, I've personally never felt the need to do this. On models where the preamp is located next to the neck heel, I find it no more difficult reaching under the neck to make adjustments as it is to reach over it. But if you wanted to have it done, I'm pretty sure as StandingO said that it could probably be done without too much hassle. Hope this helps and good luck with the auction.
Jeff |
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Location: Omaha | You also asked about other options for a lefty 12 string; as a Larrivee lover I'd suggest checking these out if there are any available near you. Larrivee's 12 strings are amazing, as the article in the current issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine makes clear: a Larrivee won their 12 string "shoot-out."
The 03 series (which was the one used in the AG comparison, I believe) should be available for right around $900-1,000.
Just another $.02. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Hey Jeff. I'm confused about your comment not having to screw around w/ the bridge. I've currently got 4 12-strings in the house and every one of them the routed slot in the bridge is ever so slightly angled so I don't see how you get proper intonation if all you do is flip around the saddle. Am I not seeing this right? Dave |
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Location: SoCal | If needed, you could always pop off each individual saddle on the original piezo p/u and put it on backwards.
And if you move the control for the volume tone, why not just move it us to the waist of the guitar? Or better yet, take the opportunity to upgrad the preamp. |
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Location: Central Florida | Hey Dave,
I was referring only to the piezo p/u type bridges. On an all acoustic Ovation it doesn't work because the saddles are angled, as you noted. My Deluxe Balladeer, for instance, has the angled saddle and I do experience some slight intonation problems beginning at the 12th fret and higher. But I have three Custom Legends, a GC 12-string and a Country Artist (all of which have the original piezo style bridge and were also rightys now set up for lefty) and the intonation on each is close to, if not perfect. Regarding Paul's suggestion of removing the individual saddles and putting them back on in reverse, I've done that in the past but have found no real advantage to it. Like I said I can't explain it, I just know it works.
Jeff |
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Location: Atlanta GA | WOW.. A lot of good advice coming my way, would love to have an O 12 string and I haven't ruled anything out. But I'm looking to be playing in a few days not really interested in any "Projects" of 6 month solutions. Haing said that, it does sound lie a unique, amd I'm sure a great sounding/playing guitar if I decide to go that route.
Hmmm... nothing is easy when your left habded, else I'd just call Al and order one and I'd be playing in a few days. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Jeff, I too am talking about the ones with piezo pickups. At least on the ones that I have, the slot in the bridge is slightly angled. See photo below. So I don't see how you can get the intonation right if you just flip around the saddle. Are yours different than this? Dave
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Originally posted by Watchme22:
nothing is easy when your left handed. Rolling down the drivers side car window and depositing coins at the Garden State Parkway toll booths.
Dave |
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Location: Atlanta GA | Yea, I stand (ahm.. sit) corrected. I should have said nothing FUN is easy. |
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Location: Central Florida | Dave,
Thanks for posting the pic, I now see what you're saying. I just did an eyeball check of my GC 12 and one of my Custom Legends, and sure enough, there is an ever-so-slight angle. But I suppose the operative word there has to be "slight." If there are intonation issues with any of my guitars they're not audible. Now, I've never checked them against a strobe or anything that precise, but to the human ear they sound fine. Like I said in my previous post, my Deluxe Balladeer, with it's more pronounced saddle angle, does start to go audibly flat around the 12th fret and beyond. But not so with my piezo
birdge O's. Again, I can't explain it, except to say that it's worked for me for over thirty years.
Jeff |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Jeff, I'm sure it works fine. Heck, they way my tuning ear is, I've got a lot bigger issues than intonation! And of course I never go above the 5th fret, so no problem. Question for you, when you string it lefty, do you do the pairs "normally" i.e. octaves on "top" when you strum, or do you do them "righty", i.e. like a rickenbacker? I'm very tempted to try the Ric setup one of these days. Dave |
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Location: NJ | ". . Rolling down the drivers side car window and depositing coins at the Garden State Parkway toll booths. . ."
Especially when you're driving a "stick". |
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Location: Central Florida | Dave,
To date, I've always gone with the conventional 12-string configuration, with the high octave on top. But like you, I've been tempted many times to try out the Ric style. In fact, the GC 12's about due for a restring... I may just give it a try. If I'm bold enough to do it I'll be sure and give you full report.
Jeff |
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Location: SoCal | did the Ric style on a CL slothead years ago...interesting but guess it was too radical for me. also, nut was cut for the traditional method. changed back after a couple of weeks. |
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Location: Atlanta GA | Have any of you see this guitar? My understanding was that Ovation didn't make a left 12 string.
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/lefty/Ovation/6751.htm |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ovations does make LH 12-strings. They are just not part of their normal product offerings. They will special make pretty much anything you want. Dave |
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| like W2 said several posts ago - you got the money they got the time to make it.
And, on a personal note, th3ey don't upcharge as much as ytou might expect. talk to al if you want a new one. |
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Location: Omaha | Oooo...that's nice...good thing I'm broke; cuz if I bought that, I'd be broke AND divorced!
:( :rolleyes: |
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LH 12 String Advice
