Hello Charles, and welcome to the guitar echo.   
      
   Sounds like you get quite a bit of enjoyment from yoru axes. Also thanks to   
   DAryl your host sysop for carrying this echo.   
      
   I know a lot of folks don't think of it, but a 12 string   
   acoustic has some rather admirable qualities for lead work.   
   A friend of mine does some of the best damned flamenco style and even adapts   
   it to rock and blues as well as jazzier   
   stuff.  I'm not near as accomplished, but back in the day I   
   used to use an Alvarez 12 for a lot of fill and some lead   
   work on my original compositions, and my six string acoustic for straight   
   ahead pound out the rhythm stuff.   
      
   My twelve I've always liked the best was an Alvarez 12 my   
   lady bought me for my birthday and I lost in Katrina.  I   
   still have a decent Martin, couldn't tell you its   
   nomenclature at the moment, but its a good instrument.   
      
   I owned one of the older ovations for awhile.  WAs never   
   real fond of them, but owned it because it was an easy   
   guitar for just sitting in with bands of friends of mine I'd visit when they   
   would gig, I could just bring the Ovation, a direct box, mic cable and a   
   regular guitar plug in cable.   
   PLug in and jam with them for a bit.  But, for acoustic   
   guitar tone it was a little thin for my tastes when placed   
   in front of a microphone.   
      
   Part of my extreme prejudice against Ovations also has to do with the fact   
   that I"M a sit down guitarist, and the round   
   backed guitar against the round of my belly means the   
   guitar's always slipping out of optimum playing position.   
      
      
   Thanks for dropping by again, hang around!  NOt a whole lot   
   of activity, but I know there are a couple of lurkers, a   
   young lady from Biloxi, MS. was here for awhile, maybe   
   she'll show up again now that she sees life here.   
      
      
   Regards,   
              Richard   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:116/901)