2002 Ovation Balladeer 12-String Acoustic

I had thought about buying a 12-string for some time before finding this guitar. I’d thought mostly about buying an electric, though, because I had several songs that I’d used the 12-string neck of my old Aria double-neck guitar on. While I had found 12-string acoustics that I liked, none really suited me. I had the same old problem that I always had. My chubby fingers didn’t fit very well on an acoustic 12-string neck.

I stumbled across this guitar at Sam Ash in Charlotte, North Carolina. I’d taken my wife up there on May 10th, 2003 to pick up her guitar (a Baby Taylor). While she was talking to the salesman I was wandering around playing various guitars. First I played a $1,800 Adamis 12-string that sounded wonderful but didn’t suit me too well. Then I picked up this Ovation Balladeer. This one was an entirely different story.

After I played this guitar for a bit, I told my wife; “We have to leave. We have to leave now.” She didn’t realize how serious I was.

This guitar so perfectly fit my hands that it felt like it had been custom built for me. I’d never come across a 12-string that came anywhere near this guitar in playability and comfort where my stubby fingers were concerned. I knew I’d be getting it. And I did. We talked about it, and we laid away the guitar before we left. I came back a few weeks later and picked it up.

I’ve never heard as 12-string that sounds as powerful as this one. It’s a huge, warm sound that has served me well through the years, and I’m thankful to have found it. Every one in a while you come across that one guitar that’s been waiting for you. This one was patiently waiting for me.

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“My girl, my girl, don’t lie to me.
Tell me, where did you sleep last night?”

– Lead Belly

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