Ovation 1612

It's an Ovation, so it doesn't have that mellow sound of other guitars. It is pretty loud as an acoustic guitar, so the design does help in that regard.

Action is great. The neck it is one of the things that attracted me to this guitar. In light of my current problems with this guitar (see below), however, I think my next guitar will be a Taylor. I like the Taylor action and neck much more than this guitar

This guitar sucks in terms of durability. After 15 years the bridge pulled off the front of the guitar. I got it repaired under warranty, but after 9 years the bridge pulled off the front of the guitar again. The front face was starting to bow, and some cracks were developing in the finish as a result.

This part sucks even more. The 2nd time the bridge pulled off I took it in for repair. The luthier (repair guy) looked at it and told me it was probably time to retire my guitar and move on. I asked him about the lifetime warranty and he said he'd call Ovation and ask. Ovation told him to have me send it in and they would probably replace the entire top (with new pickups everything). Great I thought!! After spending $100 in shipping, I get the guitar back from Ovation. They didn't replace the top, they just replaced the bridge again, no new pickups, and in the process they put a big crack in the finish. On top of that my case came back with a huge crack in the top with the plastic shell broken. It looked like someone dropped something heavy on it. Certainly wasn't that way when I sent it. Needless to say, I'm not too happy about the durability or customer support of Ovation.

I've been playing for over 20 years. I didn't realize that the new Ovation design might still have some bugs that needed to be worked out, and that 25 years down the road it may last as well as a Gibson, Guild, or Martin.

This was one of the first Ovations made. The guitar is simply fantastic. Ovation was 10 years ahead of its time in making acoustic/electric guitars. Ovation pickups are the best in the business. The design of this guitar is superior to anything that has ever been on the market.

The 5 piece mahogany and maple neck provides the best action available on an acoustic guitar. I like the neck better than any that I have played except my ES 335.

The Tuners are excellent. This guitar stays in tune as well or better than my 335 with Grovers.

The finish on my 1612 is perfect. It is in mint condition and it has survived two three year olds beating on it.

Simply the best sound available in an acoustic/electric.

Action, fit & finish are the best available on an acoustic guitar. The finish is perfect after 27 years.

The action is almost as good as my Gibson ES 335 TD

This has been the most realiable guitar that I have ever owned. I have had absolutely no problems.

Although I have never had a problem with my Ovation, I am going to give them a 10 in customer support. Like the Maytag repairman, the best customer service people are the ones who never have anything to do because the product is so durable.

The Ovation is the BEST acoustic/electric guitar ever made.

I own an Ovation 1612. My background is playing Electric guitar. I own a 64' Strat which I bought new and played gigs on for many years. I picked up the Ovation at a friends house, and had some fun with it. Eventually he owed me some money, ($350) so he gave me the guitar.
Nice guitar. Great finish. The case is original and has taken some abuse, but has protected the guitar terrifically. So the guitar is virtually perfect.
I like the feel of the neck and fretboard. However the action was too high so recently I lowered it. (by removing the thing the strings sit on from the bridge, and taking out the shims under it.) I would have NEVER known how to do this hadn't the manual been in the case. Now it feels really fine on my "Stratofied" electric guitar player fingers. I really like the Ovation and am glad I have it. I haven't played it much electrically. The only drawback really is the guitar is so thick (it has a thick bowed body) it pops out on my fat stomach! Even more than a standard shaped guitar, no less an electric. So I'm learning to hold it differently.
It's a nice guitar. Accurate. You can zip around the fretboard. Sounds prettty good. Certainly seems to be worth more than I may have paid for it, under the circumstances.
Considering I doubt that I would have ever purchased a steel string acostic guitar, and this one came to me, I like it and am glad to have it.
Nice Guitar

Finish is excellent! Action, now that I've adjusted it is good. I'm glad I had the manual to learn about the shims.

The only thing wrong is the battery/electronnic device near the volumn switch is loose. I haven't figured how to adjust it. Sure, I'd use it on a gig, if this was the type of guitar I played gigs with.

Never needed support.

I've been playing guitar for over 35 years. I own a 64 pre CBS Strat, and recently purchased a Charvel electric. Oh yes, I have a classical guitar which I bought in Mexico for about $50, maybe 15 years ago. It is very beat up. I love it.
The OVATION: The neck feels great and the action is good. It is fast. I don't like how deep the back of the guitar comes out, and I would therefor get an alternate guitar with a conventional wooden back. I just like wood. I wish it had a tone control besides just volumn. However it is a fine guitar.
The case is excellent.

USA made electro acoustic bowlback guitar. This one was made in 83 I got it in 87. The following information is guesswork. Mahogany neck with ebony or ebonised board(i'm not taking a knife to it). Plastic bowl body with 2 piece Spruce(?) top. Rosewood bridge and headstock facing is unknown-looks like Mahogany but this would be pointless. Electrics consist of piezo saddles pre amp with one vol on top bout and jack where the plug digs in to your hip. I am comparing this guitar to modern electro's so an unfair 7.

It sounds like an ovation plugged in and out. The plgged tone is thin and needs tweeking by a good sound engineer. I know because I met him and he did a great job. I use a boss limiter because my attack varies due to nerves, mood etc. I prefer the acoustic sound to this guitar. Pause for breath in the muso community. I have read about and met people who hate the " plasticy sound" it s not real etc. Get an ovation away from its owner and HIT the strings with a sub 71mm plectrum. 7 for tone when worked hard.

I got this s/h but I knew the original owner. This guitar was perfect when purchased. This was the best guitar I had seen at the time.

This instrument has been gigged on and off for 16 years. It has been tuned to std D E and G. It has two dings on the top and refused to work electro wise once when my friend borrowed it as a back up to his Takameenie. The jack prongs had worked loose so I bent them. Someone once remarked that it looked new. The main downside is that the first 7 frets are flat. The first 2 frets are nearly flush with the board at the E and A postion frets. I have used it as a sole acoustic all this time and it only failed when used as a back up. I like irony.

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I got this instrument under tragic circumstances. It has been marvelous for both owners. It has been mine for a long time and there is a lot of history. I hated ithe bowl when I first got it but have grown to like it.As an instrument it demands you to work with it. A friend of mine got the 1712 new and he still has it. Its nice but doesnt have the soul of mine. If it went AWOL I would be heartbroken and would replace it with something very different. This is a guitar that will last 2 lifetimes. Not for everyone and difficult to use but if you see one cheap buy it. Trust me. I give it an 8 against modern electros of the Lowden ilk and how much are they?

It was made in 1979 in CT, USA. It has 20 frets. Only volume control, active electronics, sounds great. I bought it used and I donm't really know what wood was used. The case is sturdy as a rock.

I play for the church and it fits me and my style perfectly. I use various amps and effects, but there is no noise or buzz with any of them. It sounds great.

Man, this guitar is perfect, and it's 20 years old. Of course, the guy I bought it from didn't play much and most of the 20 years it was just stored away, but it's in perfect condition, like new. No scratches, no dents.

Looks like it will last for another 20 years at least. The only thing is that it has only volume control, no EQ, but it sounds great anyways.

I'm playing for over three years, before I played Epiphone Sheraton, another beautiful guitar.

I bought this guitar second hand from a friend who had bought it second hand. At the time of purchase neither of us knew terribly much about the guitar. Ovations are fairly uncommon in Australia and it has been hard to get much info, but here's what I do know..... From what I gather, it was built in the late 70's/early 80's in the USA and wood has aged superbly. It has a twenty fret neck and no cutaway although cutaway models are available. The neck is pretty chunky towards the body which makes it hard to hit those top notes. It features a triple A grade Sitka spruce solid top which vibrates freely and is quite durable. It's suffered a few knocks and has come out unscathed. The only control is a volume pot (newer models may differ) so you'd wanna have a trusted sound engineer (as I have). The pickup is a piezo and it sounds amazing plugged in. It's an active pickup and to change batteries the strings must be slackened so you can stick your arm is the sound hole which is a major hassle onstage. The neck is constructed from rosewood with a mahogany plate on the headstock and an ebony fretboard. The neck is thin, the action is low and it plays like an electric. It has abalone inlays on the fretboard and the rossete around the sound hole which is very attractive. As with all Ovations, the back and sides are fibreglass. I can find no faults in the craftmanship. It came with an almost indestructible hard case which is lucky 'cos I dropped it down the stairs once and the guitar came out intact. A very attractive guitar with impecable craftsmanship.

Plugged in or acoustic, the sound is awesome! I'm a big fan of jamming on the porch and it doesn't drown out my voice or other guitars, yet remains audible. As mentioned before, the guitar is twenty-odd years old and the wood has aged beautifully. The sound is rich and warm. No whinges in this department! oh... it's also records very well and sounds great with a wah pedal.

I don't know how it was setup at the factory or if any of the previous owners made any adjustments, but I have had no need to do so. The action is perfect for my playing as I prefer low and there's no buzzing. You gotta sit and stare for a while to even see the bookmatching on the top. The tuning pegs are set well and unlike Ovation copies that I've owned, it takes quite a bit for it to go out of tune.

It seems that this guitar was made for the stage. It doesn't need tuning between songs (my songs anyway), and has been reliable so far. My only complaint is that the saddle is worn and the strings seem to break at this point but that's just two decades of wear and tear. Unfortunately I have to replace the pick up to replace the saddle. The strap buttons are solid and I've never had it take a fall. A very dependable guitar. A guy I know has had a lot of trouble with the neck of his Ovation which is a cheaper model than mine. He has replaced the neck 4 times in ten years but I have had no such trouble.

I have had trouble with support as I live in Australia. Noone seems to know too much about Ovations here.

I am not an experienced guitarist by any stretch of the imagination (I'm actually a drummer). It plays beautifully, sounds awesome and it feels great just to hold it. The only hassles that I have are purely because of it's age. I plan to replace the pick up at some stage so that it has the features of a newer model. I'd also like to install a battery bay so that the battery can be accessed externally. I have seriously fallen in love with this instrument as have many of my friends. Highly reccomended!!!