007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
|
Post by 007 on Jan 12, 2015 20:54:50 GMT
Ok at earwighoney suggestion I am starting my thread about a 12 string guitars I have seen/played a Taylor 150E 12 string at a new price of £587 I am currently saving up. In the meantime what else could you recommend that I might like Must have/be Easy to play Brightish with nice round bass notes Would consider a cutaway although I am aware of the weight build arguments on these Second hand considered So what do you think
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2015 21:02:27 GMT
There's a Vintage Paul Brett (VE8000PB-12) in the classifieds section. I have one of these.
This is my second 12 string guitar; the first being on old Yamaha. I am still "getting acquainted" with the Vintage. Stunningly good value IMHO. A nice size and easy to play too
|
|
007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
|
Post by 007 on Jan 12, 2015 22:13:15 GMT
I know this guitar I played one like it at HB a few years ago its a nice good value guitar but a bit of a thin sound IMHO but I might have another look and listen
|
|
|
Post by earwighoney on Jan 12, 2015 23:21:43 GMT
I know this guitar I played one like it at HB a few years ago its a nice good value guitar but a bit of a thin sound IMHO but I might have another look and listen The PB-12 is a nice guitar to play but it's sound won't be as big as other 12's (compared to dreads as it has a much smaller body. 12 strings are tricky beasts to play at the best of times, and I'm of the belief the best 12 isn't the one which sounds the best but the one which is the easiest to play. Taylor 12's are famous for the playability, and the 150e is a nice guitar. I really liked the GA3-12 which is now discontinued and I think second hand they'd crop up for £700-800 perhaps? 12's are prone to neck resets more so than 6 strings and I myself would prefer to buy a 12 under warranty unless it was a Taylor or another company that has a guitar with a bolt on neck. I don't know what kind of playing style 007 has, are you a picker or a strummer? I myself really like the Guild 12's, and the D125-12 is a nice guitar. All solid, but it has a Mahogany top which I think suits the strummer more than the fingerpicker. The new Yamaha LL-16-12 ARE is all solid and comes with on board electrics, a bit more expensive than the Taylor though. It's string spacing isn't as wide as the Taylor or Guild, which if you're a strummer isn't too bad a thing. I think the new ARE series Yamahas are superb guitars, really liked all of the ones I've played. I quite liked the cheapest Sigma 12 as well. Not upto the others above but for just over £200 it's a great buy. Good luck with the search 007!
|
|
007
C.O.G.
Posts: 2,601
My main instrument is: 1965 Hagstrom H45E
|
Post by 007 on Jan 13, 2015 9:20:24 GMT
Some very helpful comments here earwighoney thank you for your trouble. I would say I am a strummer trying to fingerpick. I agree with you about the neck and the plus for me with the Taylor is that and its playability. I may have a look at the Guild and a second hand Taylor GA3-12
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 13, 2015 10:34:12 GMT
My mate has a really nice old Guild 12 string - 70s I think. By pure coincidence I was listening to this on the bus this morning - always puts a smile on my face
|
|
|
Post by earwighoney on Jan 13, 2015 12:04:03 GMT
Some very helpful comments here earwighoney thank you for your trouble. I would say I am a strummer trying to fingerpick. I agree with you about the neck and the plus for me with the Taylor is that and its playability. I may have a look at the Guild and a second hand Taylor GA3-12 Pleased to be of service! I forgot to mention Breedlove. Not the best sounding, or best priced and quite individual in experience but I found their 12's the easiest to play. They have the best design when it comes to ease of play, more so than Taylors IMO. Something to keep an eye out for is saddle spacing for 12's, when it's too narrow the strings are going to be too close together and it can be pretty tricky to fingerpick. I really like wider string spacing at the saddle but with the pairs of strings as close as is possible; I think this is a really important factor as if the pairs of strings are really far apart it can be really difficult to fret. Old Guild 12's are the best sounding, but generally command fairly low second hand prices as they are really expensive to repair if they need a neck reset. I think 80's dread 12's Guilds are my favourite of the American guitars, built heavy and like tanks but have a really characteristic sound. The 12's have a meaty, refined but balanced bass unlike any other 12, but aren't the easiest to play.
|
|
|
Post by sigmadel on Jan 16, 2015 9:34:29 GMT
I tried many 12 strings during my year plus hunt . I had a full time job at the time with good pay so price wasn't that much of an issue with £1300 in mind for my budget . I realised that wouldn't get me into the hand built league but decent factory or even higher end second hand instruments . The one I ended up with was an Adam Black 0512ce . Yes I know its ha ha cheap crap , well let me tell you this . Out of the Guild , Taylor , Norman , Seagull , Takamine , Fender and loads more that is played over 14 months off searching it was hands down the best . Acoustic magazine reviewed the guitar around 4-5 yrs ago and they couldn't beleive the price . It holds tune for weeks (seriously) has a superbly easy to play action (I've only once tweaked the truss rod) . The sound is amazing and in DADGAD or C tunings it sounds like a bloody cannon . The point I'm trying in a long round about way of saying is this . Don't just go for the fancy name on the headstock , try budget brands too , like Vintage , Sigma , Freshman etc..too . You might find yourself getting twice the guitar for your cash .
|
|
|
Post by vince on Jan 16, 2015 12:26:56 GMT
Top advice from Earwighoney - potential gems in the lower price ranges for sure - but you'd definitely want to try them first to avoid the oft stated: 'buy cheap - buy twice' maxim re: 12's
As a lefty, I found my 12-string options a bit more limited and was in sight-unseen territory. As I had the money at the time (different story these days) I ended up going down the 'get the best, most playable one you can afford' route. After much research and weighing up I decided that the Larrivee L03R-12 was the one for me (I already owned a Larrivee and was confident in the build quality and playability - and I've never been much of a one for Taylors). String spacing is pretty wide for a 12 but once you flip round the two G strings it's surprisingly adaptable as a fingerpicker. Lovely tone and great projection too (If I had to choose again though, I might have gone for the mahogany /sitka version instead of rosewood though).
It always amazes me how Larrivee's always enter late into any online discussion about 12 strings and the L body probably gets overlooked a bit (I realise this may sound like I'm just defending my own choice here, but they are seriously good). I'd also be curious to try a Furch or BSG 12 string. Those Czech guys have certainly found the price/quality sweet spot in the UK/EU market (no affiliation - but a possible future owner if financial circumstances continue to prevent me commissioning something from a UK luthier).
|
|
|
Post by earwighoney on Jan 16, 2015 13:12:16 GMT
Good advice from Del and Vince,
Del's right, the most expensive guitar doesn't make the best one, it's about finding the one that speaks to you the most. I've been playing a Squier Tele that was £150 that I like more than any other. I myself would have got the Sigma DM-12 1ST opposed to the Guild 12 I have; the Guild is a nicer guitar but not in proportion to what I I paid and how much I play the Guild.
Vince makes a good point about the Larry's, great guitars that seem to go under the radar, especially for leftys (they have symmetric bracing so can be switched for leftys) as he does for the Furchs which are well priced as well, I myself think their builds quality is equal to that of a Taylor of sorts, and you can get all solid for the price of the laminate compared to a Taylor.
Another brand I completely forgot which I believe is near enough unbeatable at the price range is the Faith Naked Series Venus 12. All solid with a cutaway and electrics for around £450, bolt on neck too. I've not read a bad word about the Faith Naked Series guitars, all superb.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Jan 16, 2015 14:30:01 GMT
Never got on with them. 6 stings just about does my head in. The thought of doubling the problem is just to painful to contemplate :-)
|
|