Ovation CS212 Celebrity Deluxe Trekker

This little guitar was made about 5 years ago or so...in South Korea. It's a mini-ovation - 3/4 size guitar, closer in size to a parlor. Larger than the Baby Taylor or the Martin LXM, but still nice and compact. Beautiful spruce top - aged to an amber color, 15 Adamas-style sound holes on both the bass and treble sides, rosewood bridge and fretboard, mahogany neck and onboard EQ system. The body and neck are fully bound and the bowl of the ovation is medium depth. Surprisingly heavy for a small guitar. Mine came with a padded Ovation gig bag. I think the guitar retailed for around $300 - and it seems to be a good value with all of the options...definitely a 10 here.

Ovations have never sounded woody (obviously), but this one still sounds loud and punchy - very present and sensitive to the touch. I'm still getting used to the feel of this guitar and so another follow-up review in a few months might give me a better idea here. I just bought this puppy used and I got a good deal on it - so I'm pretty please right now. I can't wait to plug it in! But getting back to the sound...bright, punchy, good mid-range and well-bodied...not boomy, but clear.

This thing is a tank - very sturdy. I put on mediums and th eneck is still dead-on staright - frankly, straighter than my Guild and Larrivee. The action is nice and low and for a mini-guitar to have this kind of action with mediums on it is great. The Martin LXM calls for mediums as well, but the little Taylor recommends sticking with lights...that probably lends to the Taylor's thin sound. It's also nice to have a gloss finish on this - whereas the Taylor and Martin (both of which I've also owned) came with a satin finish. The leaf pattern on the top around the multiple sound holes is another "pretty" feature of this guitar. I'm wondering if it might be a bit feminine for us guys to play. I could see a petite woman loving this guitar on-stage - it would make for a nice presentation. I hope my wife will pick up the guitar a bit more with this thing. I, however, will continue to play this thing despite it's beautiful appearance.

Since mine came used and about half a decade old, there were a few nicks and dents here and there...but overall, the condition is very, very good. This thing looks and feels like it will keep going for many more decades...I look forward to seeing and hearing how this ages.

Ten years ago the only kind of guitar I wanted was a jumbo guitar fo the sheer boom and underbelly. I found and own my dream guitar - a chunky Guild. I also found a lovely concert size Larrivee cutaway and this one offers me great versatility as well as rich tone. Both of these guitars are lifelong companions. But my search for a comfortable couch guitar has been a long one - and I think I'm here now with the Ovation. As mentioned previously, I've owned the Baby Taylor and the little Martin - and I've previewed the Tacoma Papoose, an old Guild M20 and demo'd a few OM's here and there. What's nice about this Ovation is the sturdy feel and loud unplugged sound as well as the option to go electric if I need to. This plugged in option as well as the freedom to take this thing on planes and trips gives me a peace of mind about never leaving a guitar behind. I feel blessed to have a variety of these guitars with me now...the Ovation completes the collection.

2000, made in Korea. 21 frets, 22 1/2 in. scale. It has a lami spruce top with Adamas style soundholes mathed to a 3/4 sized mid depth lyrachord back. What makes this guitar a great value though, is the OP24+ electronics on this. The same as the balladeer models. As far as travel guitars go, this is the best and coolest one I have found. Not only is it easy to carry around, but when you get there, you can plug it in and get the great ovation sound.

It has a 3/4 size top and body, so the sound is not as loud as other ovations, which aren't known for their unplugged sound anyway. Its the plugged in sound that makes this guitar great. In my opinion it would make a great stage guitar.

good finish. The only compalaint about the one I had was one of the strap buttons seemed to be drilled a little cockeyed. Very good overall

It is an Ovation, so it is capable of taking a beating unscathed. The top is laminated, so it is very durable, and has a gloss finish which adds protection. I would use this guitar to gig, if I still had it.

The reason I am reviewing this guitar is that I used to have one of these, but sold it about 6 months ago. I am seriously considering buying another to use as a stage guitar. It has the same neck (though shorter scale), electronics, and design as a celebrity deluxe, but is smaller and to me better suited for live playing based on comfort. i think this is a great guitar, and can be had on the web for about $260. Therefore, for the money I feel it is an outstanding value.