Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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SignoftheDragon
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Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by SignoftheDragon » Mon Jun 06, 2022 9:47 am

Care to hazard a guess what 12er will be joining the House of the Dragon next?

Clues:

1) Not offset
2) 1970s vintage (perhaps even my birth year?)
3) I've never owned one of these, though I played one in a used guitar store in the 90s and thought it was cool.
4) I don't know of any famous players famously playing one, except possibly Glen Campbell
5) It's RAD. And red. And RAD.
Last edited by SignoftheDragon on Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:07 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by cestlamort » Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:01 am

Ovation?

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:10 am

Danelectro?
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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by LVC » Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:54 am

Mosrite Mark XII? :w00t:

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by SignoftheDragon » Mon Jun 06, 2022 12:26 pm

cestlamort wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:01 am
Ovation?
FIRST GUESS! DAYUMM!

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Guess I made it too easy this time?

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by cestlamort » Mon Jun 06, 2022 10:48 pm

SignoftheDragon wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 12:26 pm
cestlamort wrote:
Mon Jun 06, 2022 11:01 am
Ovation?
FIRST GUESS! DAYUMM!

Image

Guess I made it too easy this time?
I didn’t get the model though! (Deacon, right? I honestly would have guessed Preacher or whatever that Baldwin collab was)

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset incoming...

Post by SignoftheDragon » Mon Jun 27, 2022 9:06 am

This thing plays like a dream- neck is nice and wide without taking it too far. It's actually very relaxing to play.

Neck dive though. The resting position when not holding onto the neck is about 4:30ish on the clock face (is that how we refer to this?) when hanging from the strap. I may need to adjust, or change to a different type of strap, etc. but honestly I don't love the 'hang' of it very much. Probably my biggest issue with the guitar. I also hate where the strap buttons are placed.

The 70s humbuckers can be coil tapped, but I'll definitely need to build some fx sets & EQs around it as the tone is quite a departure from most of the other guitars I have. There's not an obvious volume difference between the tapped & full positions, so I'm actually not sure which is which. I need to explore more to see what will be inspiring/useful tone-wise. Switching & vol/tone are all functional- just sounds a bit trashy through my main setup with my general fx.

Anyway... PICS!

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Image

Image

Image

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by BoringPostcards » Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:40 pm

That thing is wild. Good score!
Det er mig der holder traeerne sammen.

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by countertext » Mon Jun 27, 2022 2:13 pm

I’ve only seen one of those in person, and it was beat to hell. Your’s is in killer condition.

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by Fiddy » Mon Jun 27, 2022 3:40 pm

Hell yes!!

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by SignoftheDragon » Thu Jul 07, 2022 9:40 am

A few nit-picks that I've discovered on further exploration:

1) it's missing a 3/8" long chunk of the binding at the base of the fretboard- just right there at the corner where you see it EVERY. TIME. YOU. LOOK. DOWN. I'm going to have to do some dental-style patching so it doesn't drive my OCD into frenzy. First binding-fix project on the way!

2) It needs a setup with some bridge-filing. There's a slight flat area across the top of each saddle that ever-so-slightly mutes/buzzes/sitar-s on a few strings. The intonation seems okay, but I'll have my dude sharpen those angles and compensate for intonation there to get it spot-on like I like it. I guess it'll be .010 D'Addarios on this baby for life then...

3) I still hate the hang/neckdive/strap-button-on-the-heel situation. Worth experimenting? Time will tell.

4) Toanzz are still needing some setting adjustments to calm some of that '70s brashness.

5) This guitar is RAD enough to accept some minor inconveniences, so we'll take it slow.

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Re: Another vintage 12-string non-offset: 197? Ovation Deacon 12!

Post by Marc » Tue Jul 12, 2022 10:21 am

They have quite a unique sound - I particularly like the (I think) out of phase switch sound on the 6 string. Very hollow and nasally but cool!

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