Ovation 1858 Elite 12-String

This is a review for a brand new 2004/2005 model Ovation 1858 (Cherry Burst color, Sitka Spruce top). I just recieved this guitar, and normally I'd wait a bit to review an item, but, since I already own an Ovation already, and I have years of experience with using them. This guitar is just like my other Ovation....Simply amazing! In every way! The tone, fit, finish, neck & body binding, fast/thin neck, the electronics, PLUS it also has a nice on-board chromatic tuner! Not only is the fit & finish amazing, but so is the headstock finish. It's painted all black, with gold tuners, which REALLY looks sweet with the cherry-burst color. Another cool thing, it features the nice fret inlays, and the laser-cut tri-colored wooden leaves which adorn the multiple soundholes, like the Adamas models. Really a beautiful guitar, plays like freakin' BUTTER!!!! Comes with original Hard Shell Case.

The sound?.....OH THE SOUND! This baby produces some of the richest sounds I have ever heard from a 12-string. As far as effects go (with my acoustic guitars), I simply use a bit of Hall reverb, and/or a hint of delay. Nothing more. The amp I use with my acoustic guitars is a new Genz Benz Shenendoah Jr 35w acoustic amp, with built-in Alesis Effects. (Very nice amp!!!)

The guitar is not noisy. It has an extremely rich sound (a bit on the brighter side, as with many Ovations) but, I will admit not overly bright. I guess I can say it's a very nice bit of brightness that compliments the overall tone of the guitar.

Although, I'm MAINLY an 80's metal-head lead guitar player, this is going to be a guitar I'll use in my new acoustic band. (We play mainly Classic Rock, some old blues tunes, a little Fleetwood Mac, Rolling Stones, Clapton, with a little bit of 80's & 90's rock, like Gin Blossoms, and similar music...etc) Guess we all slow down a bit, as we get older...hehehe....But, it really brings new life, and a breath of fresh air into the music we do!

The action, fit & finish are all top-notch! Right out of the box (literally!) this baby felt & played like butter, and sounded like a wall of guitars! Comes complete with XL D'Addario bronze strings, and string action to make any acoustic player jealous. The Cherry Burst finish, black headstock, and gold tuners really turns heads!

Right out of the box, she was almost in perfect tune, and ready to go!

I didn't notice ANY flaws in the guitar.....All looked gorgeous! From the awesome binding, headstock, tuners, Spruce top, paint, electronics....I must admit, this baby was just beautiful from the minute the UPS driver delivered it to my friend's music store!

Well, I have only had this guitar for a week, BUT, I must admit, I already own a 2000 Ovation Standard Balladeer, and no matter what, every time I pick it up, it's just about in perfect tune, and it's always ready to go! I'm pretty sure this 1858 model can withstand ANYTHING I throw at it, just like my other one. I have always trusted my Balladeer in all my gigs, without a backup, and never worried once!

Strap buttons are solid, and look real beefy.

I simply couldn't be happier with this guitar, and about the ONLY thing that may be a "CON" in this entire review, is the weight of the headstock. If you're not used to playing a 12-string guitar, take the weight of the headstock into consideration. No, it's not really heavy, but it may see a bit weird at first, if you're not used to playing a 12-string. But, when you have 12 tuning machines, instead of 6, you're bound to have some added weight. Just keep that in mind.

And, as with ALL Ovations, they feature the rounded-bowl-back. So, play one first, before buying one. Some people absolutely LOVE Ovations (like myself), and other people find them too bright, and the bowl-back sometimes to be a nusance.

Dealing with Ovation is a nice experience. I have emailed them on several occassions, and I ALWAYS get a reply within 12-24 hrs. A reply from nice people who care about what they do, and enjoy what they do.

Warranty? Not sure, but I think it's ONE-YEAR.

How long have I been playing?
I have been playing for more than 24 years.

What were you looking at before this guitar?
I was going to buy the Ovation 1866, or a Takamine 12-string.

If stolen?
Well, if I actually SAW the person steal it, I'd rip off his legs and kick his ass with them!

What do I love about this guitar?
EVERYTHING!

What do I dislike about this guitar?
Nothing, honestly!

Anything you wish it had?
No! It literally has everything I wanted (and MORE)

Final note:
If you're looking for a 12-string acoustic guitar, and you have around $1000 to spend, I URGE YOU to look into this guitar, or, at the very least, PLAY ONE!

2000 Model.

The best. you either like um' or loathe um' right ?

There IS only 1 12 string sound, and this is it.

The odd flaw, but its made by humans so what d'ya expect.
Therefore, everyone is slightly different, UNIQUE !
Georgous...............

Pick up went awal after a month and had to be replaced, a couple of frets had to be pushed home very slighthly (im a perfectionist) and removal of a small burr on the bridge.
Nothing out the ordinary realy as anything new you buy comes with the normal teething troubles doesn't it.
Well worth it though.

Brilliant from my dealer I use in England, UK.

Second 12 string ovation ive owned, last one (sold now) was deep bowl elite that I had for 13 years.
Just fancied another new one.
Been playing for 32 years.
Also own Schecter PT elite electric and Washburn 6 string acoustic.

This is a USA made Elite 12 string guitar with 22 frets,although the last five are partial.Like most USA Ovations,the top is solid wood.There is a preamp on the body which has controls for volume,bass,mid,and treble,plus a pre shape button that cuts the mids whilst slightly lifting the bass and treble,and another button which shifts the frequency at which the mid slider acts.There's another button to bypass the EQ and yet another to activate the onboard tuner (a feature which quickly reveals itself to be essential on a 12 string.) The neck is made of alternating strips of Mahogany and Maple with an Ebony fretboard and bridge.The top is Spruce and the body is solid Lyracord :-) The requisite leaf pattern wood inlays adorn the multiple soundholes.The body is Ovation's Super Shallow type,the tuners are gold Schallers and the guitar is fitted with Dunlop Strap Lock buttons which are also gold.The neck is bound with a white border as is the joint of the top and body.The finish is called Black Cherryburst,and it is quite striking visually.The fretboard has a pronounced radius,almost like some Fender guitars I've played,and the neck has a V shape to it that is comfortable to me but may not suit everyone.

12 string will probably never be my main instrument,but nonetheless there are times when the characteristic jangle it gives is de rigeur so I knew I needed one and spent quite a while looking at various brands and models. I will mainly be writing and recording with this guitar,but occasionally I plug it into my little Digitech RP200 in which I've programmed a couple of patches for Electroacoustic guitar,but most of the time it will get plugged into my recording gear.The electronics are quiet,no hiss is evident unless the treble slider is maxed out,at which time the sound is unbearably strident anyway.As I said above,I tried several other 12 strings,one of which was the Adamas ME,and although that guitar does have a slightly more powerful sound and more deep bass due to it's mid bowl body,I didn't feel the extra cost would be justified considering my occasional need for 12 string sounds.Playing the mid bowl model did,however make me slightly apprehensive about getting a shallow bowl model.I was afraid that the deep lows would be amputated by the smaller cavity,and while this is true somewhat when the guitar is played acoustically,it is not to the point I feared initially.The longitudinal brcing and solid build of the guitar maximize well the available energy of the vibrating strings,and when plugged in,a slight boost of the bass slider gives rich,sustaining low end performance.The treble,on the other hand,is very lively,and slightnuances of picking/plucking technique yield substantial tonal differences from chime/bell-like to raspy.I can't personally see any situation where I would feel the need to boost the treble on this guitar.I really like the particular sound Ovation 12's make,and this one is a fine example of them.Had I been able to buy the same guitar with a mid or deep bowl at the same price I paid I probably would have if only for the better acoustic bass sound,but on the other hand,it's true that the shallow bowl is more comfortable when playing seated or standing.

The action at purchase was what most people would probably find good with the strings about 5/64" from the 12th fret.There were 2 shims under the saddle and I've removed one,and now I feel the guitar is very easy to play.I do like the necks on most recent USA Ovations,the shape suits me and I like the bare wood feel they have,and this guitar's Ebony fretboard is very easy on the fingers.I would have preferred a flatter fretboard because that is just more comfortable to me,but the 10" radius of this one isn't preventing me from doing what I need to with this instrument.There are a couple of minor cosmetic flaws here and there,the white binding has some dark spots on it and there is a small glue drip on the corner of the bridge on the bass side,and when I removed the disc shaped cover to view the guitar's interior i was greeted with small quantities of wood dust.Inserting a finger into the soundholes revealed some roughness in the cut on the underside,invisible however when viewing the guitar face on.All in all,however,most everything is as it should be and well put together.

I've owned a few other Ovation guitars in the past and found them to be quite durable and reliable.I did have some cracks develop near the bridge on my first one,a Balladeer,but to be fair that guitar was regularly exposed to radical shifts in temperature and traveled a lot.The Dunlop strap buttons are nothing if not solid,and the overall feel of this instrument is that of structural integrity,especially the neck which has a reassuring solidity and is arrow straight.I would not have this guitar alone at a gig,but not out of fear of failure,but simply because I wouldn't use 12 string for more than a few numbers.

I've yet to deal with Kaman about this particular guitar,but my interactions with them in the past have always been positive.The guitar has a limited lifetime warranty.

I got my first guitar in June of 1964.I own and have owned much too much gear to list here.If misfortune befell this guitar I would either replace it or move up to an Adamas if finances permitted.In any case I would stay with an Ovation USA 12 of some kind.I make the USA distinction because the import Ovations have laminated tops and I find this unacceptable for acoustic sound although I recognize that it matters less for amplified use.I would like to add for prospective buyers of this type of guitar my feeling that the multi soundhole Ovation models are inherently superior to those with a traditional center soundhole,because the top has more wood at the point of greatest string stress which allows for a less acoustically restrictive bracing scheme.They look better to me as well.I really enjoy playing this guitar.It is very easy to play for a 12,and it sounds good both alone and plugged in.I compared it to the Adamas as stated above as well as a Larrivee D-02,a Takamine, and a Seagull.The 1858 had the package I was looking for,and the favorable price (clearance) clinched it for me.My ideal 12 string had electronics,a cutaway,and an Ebony fretboard and solid top,and I found those traits for a good deal less than I expected here.