Ovation 1612

Features: I got this guitar cheap because it had cracks in the top. These giutars are notorius for these cracks. They, however do not effect the playability at all whatsoever. It is an electric deep bowl, although when I got it, the electronics didn't work. I had them working for a little while, and found the problem is with the jack (easy fix), which made me feel better. Not sure of the pickup type but while I had it working it sounded great. Only has a volume control, no tonal controls ( Made in '70's ). Standard Ovation tuners, and bridge piece. Nice diamond shape inlay in the fretboard. Great All-Around guitar.

This guitar has the most awesome sound quality of any I have ever played! I have sat in music stores and pl;ayed $3,000 Gibsons, Martins, and Taylors that didn't even come close. All ovations sound good, but this guitars deep bowl gives it a warm qaulity that I have never heard before anywhere. The pickup does not take away from the sound at all. This sounds like a dream!

As would be expected from Ovation the guitars fit and finish are really good. The action rivals most electric guitars that I have played. Of course there are the cracks so there was something amiss, but it doesn't hurt the guitar, just gives it character. Everything else about it is great.

It is 30 years old and is still in great playing shape. If I neeed an acoustic guitar on stage it would be this one all the way. I wouldn't even bother bringing a backup. This is one great guitar, hands down.

No expirence.

I have been playing for a little over five years, and own this and a couple of strats. this guitar is amazing. If anything ever hapened to it I would definetly get another one. I would never play another kind of acoustic guitar.

Features: When I bought it new it was a great sounding acoustic electric guitar. The best sounding "Live Acoustic Guitar I'd ever played" I assumed it was active electronics because the pre-amp was battery operated. Pick up was in the Bridge as all Ovations are yet.

Initially I was doing a solo act using Neil Young, Jerry Jeff Walker, and David Allen Coe as my main songwriters, John Prine and Guy Clark fell in along the way. The Guitar followed me thru Bluegrass,Jazz for years, and Heavy Metal accoustic intro's in the 90's. The natural acoustic sound of this guitar was tremendous, and it stayed in tune no matter how cold the bus got...Party guitar.....Was played by many great guitar players...

Fit and finish wher great when I bought it. Now 26 years later the case is cover with National Security airport tape, the top of the guitar is cracked from to many "=30 below zero NORTHERN TOURS"
Still sounds great and I still record with it....The only Guitar to make it this long and still be working on stage!!!!! Awesome......

What can you say about something you beat for 26 years on the road and you still use in the studio......

I learned how to change the batery.... that's it....

First gig was in 1969.....you do the math....
Currently I'm only doing studio work,

In comparison to other Guitars.....My fellow musicians always pick this guitar up first when they enter my studio.....

If it where lost or stolen I would be as upset as if I lost a member of my family...This guitar has many miles, stories and history.....

!970's model.
My Ovation is long gone but I remember it as one of the best acoustic guitars I ever played.
Model 1612-2.
Electric Custom Baladeer.
It had a very deep bowl called auditorion size.
Considerably deeper than what the call deep bowls today.
One feature that others have failed to mention is that there are shims under the bridge to adjust the action.
The pins on each side of the bridge can be pulled out with a longnose pliers and the bridge lifts up easily.
Mine came with 2 plastic shims.
Removing one made it too low and using both was too high.
I ended up using a match book cover along with one shim for perfect action.
Mine was cherry transluscent red.
I see these models on ebay occasionally for reasonable prices.
I may just have to get another one.

One of the best acoustic sounds I ever heard.
Plugged in is also good but you have to keep new, clean strings on it to sound its best.
I used 12's.
The top is very thin and delicate.
A little bump in the wrong place can cause a serious crack in the body.

No complaints but you should set it up to your preferance.

I gigged with this guitar for decades with no problems.
The finish will crack if you subject it to extreme weather changes or treat it roughly.
I never use back up anything at gigs.

Never used it.

I have been playing since the 60's.
I have never played an acoustic guitar that I liked more.

My Ovation Model #1612 serial #217620 was made in the U.S.A. I?m not sure the year but we bought it new in 1979 so I?m sure it was built around 78-79. It has 20 frets and a solid top. It only has a volume control and uses a 9v battery. I don?t know what kind of pickups it has or much about the electronics. I?m guessing it much the same as the rest. It?s one of the few guitars that I like that has a dark sunburst/flamed top. I think it?s because most of the area of the top is black and then it gradually lightens toward the sound hole. The finish is transparent and seems to have been pretty well done. I have a few cracks from weather/temp. changes below the bridge on the lower part of the body. This is a big guitar. It has the deepest bowl of all the ovations I?ve ever seen yet it?s not as big as some dreadnoughts I?ve seen. It has the enclosed tuners and the adjustable bridge. It was a gift to me by my parents when I was in the 7th grade after having played guitar for a few years. My teacher picked it out. He adjusted the bridge and WOW. I?ve never played any other guitar that feels as good. People who play it love the action. This guitar stays in tune. I use medium strings and get a real mellow tone out of it and tune it once a month whether it needs it or not. Usually it doesn?t. The neck is actually quite thin. The first time I played a Strat I couldn?t get over how big it?s neck felt after having played this for years. The case is one of those tan plastic cases that it came in and has served well over the years. I used to ride my bike with it and a backstage amp to school. Once I marked up that case a little and was relived when my dad said better that than the guitar. The only real damage was done when I scratched the top while singing Christmas carols with my High School choir as we strolled through the halls a few years ago. Other than that it?s been a great friend of an instrument. It doesn?t have that gritty acoustic sound that Leo Kotke? gets nor is it an easy guitar to play high on the neck but It?s wonderful for church, school, and any gig where you may not have amplification but need volume. I also like it?s warmth when playing a ballad.
Price Paid: Don?t know, I was in 7th grade.

It was a Gift from my mom and dad when I was in 7th grade. I'm now 37 and still love it. It's been a great instrument.

The 1612 is also known as a 'Deluxe Balladeer'
Even-traded new for an old String bass in spring of 1980 at Lake Park Music, Lake Park FL so built in 1978 or 1979?
Large bowl, no cutaway, sunburst
Mahogany neck with fancy diamond-circle inlay fretmarkers
'Ovation' sealed tuners
Truss Rod via the sound hole
Solid Spruce top
Piezo PU in bridge, 1 volume knob, 9 volt battery holder via souund hole

Back in the late 70s, most of these guitars did not have fancy electronics - just one volume knob. So compared to todays Ovations, the electronics as-is are not all that great. However, sometimes having too many knobs isn't good for your playing anyway.

I mainly play rock and roll on an electric, but I have used this guitar for over 20 years for song writing, studio work and some live performance. One band I was in did a CD and we used the guitar on-stage for live performance while promoting it.

If you are looking for a 'true' acoustic guitar, this is not it. Go for a true ACOUSTIC guitar. I don't believe an A/E will ever sound as good as an honest acoustic. Acoustically this guitar's sound is very loud, but somewhat thin and bright - not ballsy and mellow. However, it does a great job on stage for live performance where bass response is NOT your friend, and you need a certain amount of 'cut' anyway.

I suppose there are a great deal of better ones available now since A/E guitars have evolved with better electronics and cutaway for high-fretted playing.

As an aside, I have a friend who has a natrual-top 1612 about the same year as mine that is really great. I can't put down when I go to visit. It used to belong to a Nashiville-picker friend of his who has since retired from the biz. I believe it sounds better than mine. You just can't be an old guitar that has that broken-in feel and sound.

This guitar has always played well. I use relatively light guage strings (11-52) so I can do some lead type of things with it. Great finish, fit and workmanship. No Flaws.

This guitar is well-made and is pretty rugged. It stands up well to live performance. It is also very LOUD. As old as it is, it is still a great guitar for playing out in clubs and concerts with. After 20+ years it has stood the test of time.

This is where things get interesting. Around the year 2000, after 20 years of service, the guitar developed a crack on the top from the bridge out to the end of the guitar. By the end of 2002, the crack was wide enough to place the edge of quarter into. I must admit, I lived in MD where the winters with heaters inside are pretty dry and I did not allow for this with a humidifier so some of this might be my fault. Anyway, I took the guitar to a luthier. He refused to do the work as it would require a lot of work. However, he did mention that I should return the guitar to Ovation.

I contacted Ovation with the model and serial number of the guitar and told them I had no receipt because it was so long ago. They told me to send the guitar to their New Haven, CT repair facility which I did. After receiving the guitar, they called me back and said that since the guitar was US-made and a top of the line model, they were replacing the top and redoing the frets FREE OF CHARGE! That means FOR FREE via a LIFETIME WARRANTY. (I did pay the shipping which was about $25.) They replaced the top with a honey-burst finish, a new bridge and new frets. Pretty much a new guitar except for the neck and tuners. While it was there, I had them replace the electronics with the new OP-40 electroncs package for $200.

Now this guitar is a one-of-a-kind large-bowl Deluxe Balladeer. It is great to see Ovation stand behind their US-made instruments. Note this Lifetime Warranty does NOT apply to the Korean and/or foreign made instruments. Only their US-made guitars.

I have been playing guitar and bass on and off since the mid-60s and I am a decent player. I can do some fingerstyle folk and blues. I have played some Martins, Gibsons, and few odd Harmonys, etc. I do own a hand-made Alverez-Yairi FY-85 that is truly a magnificent acoustic.

That said, this Ovation is still a great guitar, although it is sort of out-dated now. Due to the advances of Acoustic/Electric technology (cutaways, shallow bodies, fishman, etc.), the sound and capabilities of this guitar are not state-of-the-art. Thus I cannot give it a 9-10 rating. However, if you can find a good one used in the $300-$400 range, they are very rugged and work well as a 'second-guitar' when you need an acoustic for live performance. I will say that I have played some cheap Deans, Epiphones and even some 'cheap' Martin A/Es, and this Ovation still has them beat as far as construction and volume. I am glad I have had it in my 'arsenal' and I will continue to play it out on occassion.

Bought 2nd hand USA model for #450 in 1996 -I think it's a 1970's model - Tone and playablity impeccable - the table is a bit wavy behind the bridge and the high E string slips of the edge of the neck sometimes. It's had a lot of hard use over the last 8 years without any maintainance/setups - though it could do with a little attention now. Changing the battery is a pain. A great all round working guitar.

A great (and loud!) acoustic guitar - very percussive but with good bass - excellent for rhythm strumming and more melodic lead playing.

This guitar seems very sensitive to the string guage used - I find a mix of guages works well - heavy at the bass end - very light mid-range and medium at the top end - gives the best of all possible range of sounds for the different styles I play.

An extremely robust guitar. The end of the headstock is very vunerable to damage if the guitar is dropped. Great action and well finished guitar.

Properly cared for this guitar will last a lifetime and longer.

Never dealt with the company

Played guitar 35 years and this is the best guitar I have owned so far - It's a tough guitar to let go.

The serial number is 068228 which makes it a 1976 model..20 frets..single volume knob on the kneck end of the bowl near the heel..NO TONE OR EQ There is a 9 volt battery inside which is gonna be a nuicance to change cos it looks as though the strings will have to come off.Plays nice with a good positive feel

It's a bit on the tinny side plugged in but is easily compensated for by some good EQ.

The action is fine though i might try taking away the shims from the bridge to lower it slightly

I have gigged this guitar a few times in the month i have had it at a weekly acoustic session i do in a local pub and it sounds fine...just lacking a tone control.Hardware is all origional (27 years old)Finish is excellent..looks only a few years old

Only had the guitar 1 month so havent needed to contact them

I have been gigging since 1974 and have owned numerous acoustics including a few of the "EKO RANGER" series from the seventies (would love one now)But the 1612 is probably the best.If it were stolen i would probably try get another one.I just wish it had a tone knob.

Guitar is a standard 1612 with a black top, 9 volt battery pick-up with single pot for volume control - no tone controls. I have the owners manual, but it doesn't list any components. Tuners are great, the guitar stays in tune fine, and the intonations are pretty good. For it's day, it had fine features - by today's standards, it would be pretty unfeatured as it only has piezos under the bridge with no tone controls or built in tuners.

Overall, I like the sound of the guitar un-amplified. It has pretty strong volume, and it has a rich tone. I play a lot of folksy, singer-songwriter type stuff, and it sounds fine for this kind of playing.
Amplified, I am less happy with it. I feel that it has a "bridgy" kind of sound, much like you are plucking the strings near the bridge all the time. Probably because that is where the pickups are located, but that's just my guess. You need to tone it right at the amp to get it to sound decent.

Guitar is extremely well made. I bought it brand spanking new when I was a kid of 17 years (in 1980), and NOTHING has ever needed adjustments/modifications etc. The action was great new, and hasn't changed at all. I play light gauge strings, and have had no problems. It's been a real joy.

This is really a high point for this guitar. It is really durable. My dad build classicals (he's an accomplished luthier), and I bought this as a "second" guitar so I wouldn't damage his. I bought this to take to the park, camping, tote around in the car, etc. It still is as good as the day I got it. I keep it in the case, which my girlfriend gave me as a present (didn't have enough for a case at the time).

Recently, I noticed that the top got "wavy" down below the bridge. I bought one of those 10 buck humidifiers you fill with a syringe and stuff into the sound hole ring. Within a week, it was all back to normal. I highly recommend one of these hydraters. By the way, that really increased its tone and took some of the "bridgy" sound out of it. I think the old girl was getting a little brittle and dry!

Not a crack in it, no nicks either, after 22 years!

Never had to call them.

This guitar has been good to me. I love it! If it were lost or stolen, I'd probably not get another Ovation, however. Variety is the spice of life! It would also be nice to play a guitar that isn't always trying to roll off of your knee.....

I would probably buy a Takemine, and I would like one with both piezos and a microphone, so I could mix to get the sound I get. I play in church, and I would like to mellow it out a little.

ahh i bought my 1612 (aka, the custom balladeer electric) wayyy back in 1973...it has a solid spruce top, (sunburst)... yep, only a volume control existed in those days...lol.. pick-up sits under the saddle powered by a 9 volt on the inside of the guitar.

i gigged with this guitar for many years... ahhh a "duo" playing? everything from the kingston trio to the rolling stones..lol... the sound is FANTASTIC (plugged in)... as a straight acoustic, it's a bit of a dud...

the action is low, the neck unbelievable. the playability of this guitar is probably it's best feature. as for fit and finish, see next category...

hell, my guitar is almost 30 years old...and shows little sign of wear...lol.. the hardware is perfect (the hardware being mainly the tuners and the pick-up)... ahhh, but my TOP cracked back in 1984... lifetime warranty, don't you know!... i called ovation... they said no problem... sent it in.. they replaced the top...sent it back in perfect condition.. i must say... for a manufacturer to...basically no questions asked replace a top after 11 years..is quite remarkable! and they did a flawless job...

see above.. and, i haven't talked to them since 1984...lol.. so?.. they were beyond helpful when i needed them but, that was a long time ago.. unfortunately things change and not usually for the better.. lifetime warranty.... i have to believe that they mean/meant it...

i've been playing for a long... longgggg time... i own more stuff than an all guitar orchestra could use..lol..guitars by: martin, taylor, guild, gibson, fender, seagull, yamaha, peavey... et al...

ahh if it were lost or stolen, i'd be pissed... but?.. my gigging days are essentially over... so, i'd probably install a fishman in one of my other acoustics... the PERFECT working machine though... like times it takes a lickin and keeps on tickin...

UPDATE: It's good that Ovation will fix the bridge for free when it pulls off (assuming you're the original owner), but not good that it pulls off so often.

UPDATE: After discussions with Ovation and UPS we determined that all the damage was done by UPS. I returned the guitar and this time Ovation (at UPS's expense) replaced the top, replaced the bridge, replaced the Rosette, Level and Dressed the Frets, Installed New Electronics, and gave me a new Case.
Thank you UPS!