1990s Ovation Celebrity CP255 12-String Guitar

Overview: Who doesn't like an Ovation 12? I remember back in the late '90s when I'd pick these guitars up at shops and have a go on them and my friends would tease me about them, though every time I'd play them I always thought they were tons of fun. The shallow bowl, easy neck, and chimey, punchy sound (almost bouzouki-like) are all features that really shine in a 12-string format. It's not as grandiose-sounding as a typical Guild 12 or big-body dreadnought 12, but it sits just right in the mix and has plenty of cut.

Repairs included: I reglued the bridge (for the second time -- someone had already been there and got a little goop on the finish behind the back edge of it), cleaned it up, and set it up. I also modified the stringing slightly (I drilled pinholes in each string slot so you have the option of stringing "through-bridge" from the rear access port as well as the usual top load -- I've strung it from the rear to reduce sideways tension on the bridge). It's playing spot-on and ready to go.

• Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz
• Scale length: 25 1/5"
• Nut width: 1 7/8"
• Neck shape: medium oval C
• Board radius: 9 1/2"
• Depth at first fret: .90"
• Depth at seventh fret: .94"
• Body width: 15 3/4"
• Body depth: ~3 1/2" shallow bowl
• Top wood: ply maple
• Back & sides wood: synthetic bowl
• Bracing type: lots of tonebars/fan
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: mahogany or similar
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16" overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 44w-9 extra lights
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium modern

Condition notes: The pickup does not work and the battery box is missing its battery holder drop-in thingy. The undersaddle element looks like it got stressed in the first bridge reglue job and I expect that's why it's not working. The preamp works as it should, so assuming that one can find an undersaddle element that sounds good with the preamp and a new battery door, it should work just fine. Alternately, I would love to have the permission to just cut the battery box out and give the thing a "sound port" and make it a true-blue-acoustic. Aside from that stuff, it's a pretty clean guitar (save some glue residue behind the bridge from the last guy to try to reglue the rear portion of the bridge).

It comes with: It has its original, in-great-shape, hard case.

Consignor tag: CLLR