Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar 

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

I picked one of these up used in mint condition last week from a local store and I am amazed at the sound and quality.
The semi hollow body makes for a very nice tone when practicing unplugged (Great for night practicing in an apartment for me) and a very warm tone through an amp. I had originally gone looking for an acoustic bass, but got side tracked and fell in love with this guitar. When properly set up it is a breeze to play with no buzzes anywhere down the neck.

The only gripe I have is that most of the weight is toward the neck from the strap hooks, causing the neck to drop when playing while standing. Most of my time is spent sitting down, so this isn't much concern to me. However, if you plan to get this for gigging, be wary.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

When I first got this guitar, I absolutely adored it. I did minor set up work (the string height was too low, causing a little fret buzz), but the intonation was perfect out of the box. Like any 12 string, the first tuning is tune, stretch, retune, and repeat until solid (3X). The finish was perfect, and the construction was rock solid in the unit I got.

Unfortunately, I did return it for a refund. I tried a 45 minute set of Beatles tunes, and when standing, with the strap, the neck would dive to the floor because the body has almost zero weight. It was too much of a pain to keep it propped up with my playing hand after 15 minutes or so. Since I need a 12 string I can gig with, I had to part ways with it. I'm giving it a good rating for two reasons. 1) It plays and sounds great. 2) I would have kept it if using it just to record (ie - sitting down). So, I'd recommend it to a friend if his use was simply home recording. It is a good guitar, just not for use with a strap.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

THE PICTURE DOES NOT REALLY GIVE THIS GUITAR THE RECOGNITION IT DESERVES.I GOT THE AMBER SUNBURST. WHEN IT ARRIVED IT HAD A KIND OF ORANGE LOOK TO IT.I LOVE IT.I READ ALL THE REVIEWS.I STARTED PLAYING WHEN I WAS 10. THERE IS NOTHING I DON`T LIKE ABOUT THIS GUITAR.iT IS NOT TO HEAVY. THE NECK IS NOT TOO WIDE. YES, THE WIRES SHOW A LITTLE. THIS IS ONE ACTION PACKED,SLAMMAN,HOT WIRED, LITTLE AX. I REALLY LIKE THE FACT THAT IT IS SMALLER THAN MOST 12 STRING ELECTRICS.I COULD GO ON BUT WHY? GET ONE WHILE YOU CAN. I DID NOT FIND ANY 12 STRING ELECTRIC GUITARS IN THE ORLANDO AREA.I THINK ONE STORE HAD A RICK FOR $2,5000. JUST BUY THE DARN THING!!!!!ROBERT FROM ORLANDO FL

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

This guitar was the only one available locally so I took a ride to the nearby store and tried it out for all of about 2 minutes after tuning and bought it right then and there. Got it home and after setting the intonation and adding some graphite dust to the nut slots it plays wonderfull.
The only thing needed was to turn all the saddles around towards the tailpiece to provide enough travel for intonation, but one could always put a TOM with wider travel on if needed, or even swap out pickups. I decided on the Dean because although a Danelectro would have awesome tone, I was leary of the single coil noise if I use the guitar out live. The humbuckers sound great and won't present any noise issues. Action is superb and all in all this is a huge sounding 12 string for the price. Buy one while you can.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

This guitar sounds pretty good. Very little set-up.The one thing that bothered me was the visible glue looking in the f-holes. But the main reason I bought this guitar was for the width of the neck,wider than usual 17/8 inches at nut. I made it a six string. I have big fingers. It seems like guitars today have narrower necks. I thinking of buying another one for back-up.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

I reviewed the Dean Boca 12-string over a year ago and am glad to report that my initial comments and excellent ratings still stand. The guitar has held up well and the action still amazes me. For an inexpensive specialty guitar, it really is a great value. In my previous review, I suggested the use of a compressor and equalizer with the Boca as a way of enhancing the sound and getting more vintage "jangle" out of the somewhat dark Dean humbuckers. I still stand by those comments, but after a year experimenting with the axe, I would like to make an additional suggestions for those seeking to achieve the vintage jangle of a Rickenbacker or Italia Rimini 12-string guitar. I no longer use the standard equalizer. I still use a compressor, but I have found an Electro-Harmonix Knockout pedal paired with the Dean Boca can really get some amazing results. The EH Knockout pedal is an attack equalizer with high-pass and low-pass filters and it makes humbuckers sound like single-coil pickups. Of course, your amp choice is still important. I like running the Boca through clean settings of Vox, Roland JC120, and Fender Twin amp simulations on my Line 6 POD. I hope this amendment to my initial review is helpful to those considering to purchase the Boca or for those who already own one.
Great standard features for the money. The finish (amber) is very nice. Although it is not on the quality level of a high-end Rickenbacker 12-string, I prefer the Boca's wider neck to the Rickenbacker. I've played a number of Rics in music stores, but never owned one. The action on the Boca is simply amazing. It's low and easy to play. No buzzing. The humbuckers are a bit dark for the vintage sound I'm trying to achieve.
It is certainly is a quality instrument and great value for the money.
This is an inexpensive specialty guitar for someone who wants an electric 12-string, but can't afford a Rickenbacker or Italia Rimini. That being said, it's an excellent value and certainly a great instrument for the money. The Boca 12-string has exceeded my expectations and satisfies my need for certain sounds.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

I have owned a Dean Boca for about 4 months and have spent a lot of time playing it. This is a fantastic little electric 12-string at a "steal" of a price. I have owned a Ricky 330-12, 360-12 and a Tom Petty 620-12 and with a good setup and some minor modifications the Dean Boca can hold it's own with the Ricky's at a fraction of the price. The neck on the Boca is easier to play than the narrower necks on the 330-12 or the 360-12 and very similar to the wider neck on the Tom Petty. The string slots on the nut of the Boca had to be re-cut a bit to lower the strings and make playing more comfotable. The stock humbucker pickups on the Boca are wound to about 16K which is way too hot for an electric 12-string. At 16K you loose that "jangle" that a good electric 12-string (Ricky) should have. I first replace the stock humbucker pickups with P-90 type pickups wound to about 8K that fit in humbucker mounting ring. The "jangle was back. For an experiment I then converted the stock pickup from 16K humbuckers to 8K single coils by grounding one of the coils. The "jangle" with the converted stock pickups was closer to the "Ricky jangle". This is a fantastic little electric 12-string (especially for the price) and a great alternative if you can not justify spending a couple of grand on a Ricky.
For my needs the Dean Boca has everything that an electric 12-string should have. Two pickups, pickup selector switch, master volume and master tone. The six saddle bridge intonates surprisingly well with 12 strings. The truss rod work very well for adjusting the neck curvature. The machine heads are good quality and guitar stay in tune surprisingly well for a 12-string.
The quality is excellent. The materials, fit and finish are excellent. After a good setup and a few mnior modifications the playability of the Boca is excellent for a 12-string.
The value is absolutely outstanding.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

Let's face it, few of us not dedicated to the Roger McGuinn sound need an electric 12 string. If that is your main sound, save up and buy a Rickenbacker. But I compared this to the DiPinto, which I liked, and the Italia, which is also good, as well as the Burns. and there was not enough difference to warrant the extra money for an instrument that I will use as an occasional ax in my musical toolbox. I plan to upgrade the controls -- perhaps coil splitting and definitely separate volume and tone controls for each pickup -- but I find this a cost effective platform from which to work. I definitely do not feel like I settled for less but rather that I made a smart selection. Give me free Ric, my friends at Musician's Friend, and I will treasure it. But I am happy with this purchase.
The features are a little spartan but based on the price very much in line. It is missing the ability to set intonation separately for each of the paired strings.
I received this guitar yesterday and went over it closely. I found nothing wrong and no shoddy workmanship.
Here is where the Dean Boca 12 really shines. It really is very much better than you might imagine for a guitar at this price point. The finish is well applies with no lumps, bumps or sags. The frets are well dressed at the edges of the fret board. The setup out of the box was almost spot on and felt quite easy to play (especially considering that this is a 12 string). The pots and three-way switch feel like good quality. The neck is reasonably comfortable for a 12 -- not quite as good as my Breedlove but so much better than the junk with off-brand names made in China sold on eBay. The pickups sound pretty good and are hum-free.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

OK, this is my least expensive guitar by a long shot. I wanted to play around with a 12 string electric, but didn't want the big price. I play keyboards and guitar in a Christian praise band and frequently play an acoustic 12 string. At any rate, I was very pleasantly supprised at this little gem. I have essentially put my strat down, and use this dean for most live performances. It is incredibly easy to play, and I love the
complexity of the tone. I can just do so much with it! I would recomend it highly to anyone who is not afraid to have a "new" favorite guitar! The only negative is that it is slightly neck-heavy. Can't see any way it wouldn't be, and would never let that stop me from playing this one!
Hey, a 12 string electric- very versatile. Everything works as it should. It stays in tune fair- better than some of my others, less well than some. The pickup selector switch, volume and tone are solid and work properly every time- not common on such an inexpensive guitar.
I have only had this guitar for a month, so I can only go by reviews I have read here before, and so I expect it will be fantastic. The workmanship certainly is top rate.
Unbelievable value! Never baught a guitar so inexpensive for myself before, and it is more that I would have ever thought for the price.

Comments about Dean Boca 12-String Electric Guitar:

Great looking guitar. Great sounding . Great price . Only 2 criticisms . As pointed out in previous reviews , it is a little neck heavy and wires are visable thru the f hole . Other than that , I couldn't be happier .