Choosing a Twelve String

I wanted to add a twelve-string guitar to my inventory of instruments. Naturally, Craigslist and a local newsletter GearJunkies were helpful. If anyone bothers to read this blog looking for advise on choosing a 12-string...my advise is buy an instrument that is easy to play and stays in tune. Forget about brands and mother-of-pearl or abalone perfling because they just add $ to the price.

OK, don't 'forget' about brands--just use them as guidelines.

Here is what I found.

Epiphone .. acquaintance at work brought it in for me to look at. It had accurate harmonic and note at the 12th fret, but action was pretty high and bass was puny. It didn't take me but about ten minutes of playing to see it wasn't making the cut. He wanted 500 bucks for it - whch was about 400 bucks overpriced.

Seagull --Wow! I was surprised. Very easy action--bar chords up the neck are easy, sound is very nice..not real loud, but it has a pickup with soundhole volume adjustment. Hooked it up to amp and it sounds great. At $400, it is at the top of the list right now. It has solid cedar top with laminated cherry tonewoods and back. Mahogony neck and rosewood fb and bridge. It isn't flashy at all, just business. They sell new, without electronics, for about $450.














Guild -- Wants $1000 - This model 212 was not what I expected. Intonation was off, action high (neck need adjusting?) Playability not impressive. tone not particularly interesting for a thousand bucks. No.

A twelve should be easy to tune, stay in tune, have good action so bar chords are not going to cramp the hand. I personally want a rich sound with a deep bass--otherwise why have one?

Taylor, Breedlove, Martin, Larrivee all are just a little spendy for me right now, although if I talked myself into it, I'd get the Larrivee recording model for $1500.

Bently -- Never heard of this one...it was apparently a low-end model. The bridge was leaning toward the neck and had warped the top. Top was laminated...action was OK and the intonation at 12th fret was pretty good except for the A string. Definitely a no sale.

Martin D12x1 -- A friend got me a deal on a new one. I just couldn't say no. The reviews look great for playability and deep rich sound. It is NOT a guitar to show off because it is just music, no fancy-schmancy purfling, rosettes or pearl. The back and sides are not sawn wood...but a manufactured wood product Martin calls HighPressureLaminate. The top is solid spruce. I expect this to sound just fine...I'm getting it with the Fishman Classic 4T electronics. My friend said if I didn't like the sound she would sell it to somebody else..no problem.

The reviews I see are very positive for playability and tone. The engineering of the bracing may be part of the reason this guitar apparently sound so good. It is definitely not traditional!

Martin's X series guitars are an attempt to provide an outstanding sounding instrument using sustainable, less expensive materials. I like the idea.--especially since this box is just going to add some color to my playing. You have to ask how much do the back and sides of a 12 string contribute to overall sound? My guess is not much...this is a sound board rig. Delicate nuances are not going to be in my repertoire for a 12 string.

Now, if my bank account were a little larger, I would be lusting for the D28-12, but hey, I'm lucky to have what I got.

The guitar arrived and I couldn't be happier. I was surprised that the sides and back really do look like mahogany. But the important thing is the booming sound...great bass, and the harmonics ring with incredible sustain. She stays solidly in tune -- a major pain in the posterior for lesser guitars.

Rosewood back

Larrivee D03R

Gitane G250

Seagull

The price with Martin heavy duty case and shipping was $664, so I got a VERY good deal. No, it won't be a collector's item, but I plan to play it until I transfer to heaven. I don't give a rip if anybody makes money on it I just want a good box to play.

In the meantime, I picked up a new mandolin for my wife...a local fella traded up
to a Weber and had this very clean Michael Kelly Legacy Deluxe for sale at about half the list price. This MK really has a nice, crisp tone and is so much better in playability than her old Epiphone.

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I have a Larrivee D03R 6-string that I love. Deep bass and LOUD -- I didn't even consider a pickup. After all it's for bluegrass anyway. It is a recording model, so has no bling, just great sound. And really, isn't that the best 'bling' of all? I string with D/Addario PhosBrnz light. Mediums are OK too, but kinda tough unless I'm just playing in G


























I also own a Gitane DG250 Selmer-style gypsy-jazz guitar. Very pretty birdseye Maple tonewoods and back. I string it with "Red"(light) Manouche Tone Strings from Guadalupe Strings in LA.

It has K&K Pure passive pickup and sounds super on the Ultrasound AG50DS4 amplifier. It is the primary guitar for me at church.










I bought my wife a guitar to learn on..a Seagull . It is the Coastline series -- Grand Acoustic. I don't understand the Grand part...it is a small guitar, but does have a grand sound--maybe that's the reason.
I put the Manouche Tone strings on it as well--the 'Purple', ie extra light.
It is a beautiful little guitar. Very nice rich tone for a small guitar. I would highly recommend it for anyone desiring a small very playable guitar with a great sound.





I picked up a Big Baby Taylor in Phoenix (craigslist) to use for a trav'lin guitar.   It needed a little work rehydrating and getting the neck adjusted because it got all dried out in the Arizona desert.   I like the full rich tone and it is smaller ... fits in my lap watching TV ;o)