Customer Reviews

Dean BOCA 12 String Semi Hollow Body Electric Guitar Classic Black

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While many people might discount the Boca as a cheap, Korean Rickenbacker knockoff, it's not. It has it's own unique personality, and taken on its own terms, the Boca is very nice. The semi-hollow design gives the Boca a nice look, but doesn't affect the tone much; the Boca sounds pretty much like a solidbody. That's not a criticism - it's comparable to a Strat XII - but don't expect the wider range of mellow, jazzy sounds you can get from a true hollowbody guitar or even a semi-hollow Ric. Upon receiving the Boca it went straight to a local shop to get the action and intonation dialed in, so I can't speak to the setup from the factory, but with a bit of careful attention it's very playable.

It is attractive to look at and plays very nicely for a guitar in this price range. Still, it IS built to a price point. Upon close examination, the workmanship doesn't compare to a Rickenbacker, but that's not the point. It costs only a fraction of a Ric's price and the one I bought several years ago has held up nicely. It doesn't hold a tune as long as more expensive guitars, but it's not so bad as to be a bother.

There are not many choices in entry-level 12-string electrics, so there's very little to compare the Boca to. If you're a pro who's going to go out and gig with a twelve every night, spend the money for a Ric. On the other hand, if you currently play an electric six-string or an accoustic twelve and wonder if you'd enjoy an electric 12-string, the Boca is a great way to get your feet wet and experience something new without breaking the bank.

As a hobbyist guitar player, I thought I would have some fun and expand my playing with a 12-string. The Dean Boca, made in Korea, is about the best combination of quality and usefulness you can get for its $300 price, I discovered. One thing I have not seen in other reviews: The headstock is heavy, to the point that it affects the balance of the instrument. If you notice the photos, the body is relatively small, even though it mimics the appearance of a Gibson 335 jazz guitar. With the strap holders at their normal places, at the tail and the point of the upper cutaway, the distance between the suspension points is quite short. Due to the weight of the maple neck and, of course, the 12 tuners, the guitar headstock tends to dip when you're playing standing up. It also puts a lot of weight on your shoulder. My solution for this is going to be to get a long padded strap with leather strips on the end and tie the strips around the headstock above the nut. One other issue I've seen with 12-strings is the width of the fretboard, due to the extra strings. On the Boca, this extra width is not enough to be a problem to me. If I were a professional musician, I would have definitely have spent double, triple or quadruple the money for a higher-end guitar, like an Ovation, Fender or Rickenbacker. But I'm happy with the Boca. It puts a smile on my mouth!

this guitar is as good as my les paul and my ricky...ordered a 2nd one sure to be a classic....

Like the song says.....I shoulda known better........ The Boca 12 string is indeed attractive with a nice sound. The main problem I encounter is the constant tuning required after every other song I play. It's my first 12 string, & I thought I'd done my research when I dove in to buy it. Guess when you purchase a $300.guitar, you should expect some shortcomings. I still plan to keep it to mess around with at home, but I would not take it to any gigs or shows for fear it wil not hold its tuning long enough for more than 3 straight songs.