2 Twelvers Reviewed and Compared

he Faith FV12TB Venus Trembesi 12 and the Yamaha CPX700II-12

I have recently acquired 2, 12-string, electro-acoustic guitars.
For specs, pics and initial impressions, see the attached:
acousticsoundboard.co.uk/thread/4625/oh-god-another-ngd
acousticsoundboard.co.uk/thread/4539/ngd-twelver

I've had a lot more time to play them both, acoustically, amped up, solo and with my trio.
At home, playing solo or with recordings, I almost always play acoustically.
With the trio, is has to be through an amp (Acus).
Well, we have a percussionist.

I've already covered the aesthetics, on my NGD threads.
Suffice to say, I like both their looks.
Yet despite the Faith's superior spec. and classier woods/finish,
overall, I slightly prefer the Yamaha's appearance.
It's spruce has a golden hue and the bound fingerboard and headstock just work, visually.

Sonically, I've brought the 2 twelvers a little closer.
They now both have Elixir Nanoweb (10-47) strings on.
I've also had the action tweaked downward, on the Faith.
This has brought them as close as is possible, IMO.
Both have strong acoustic tones, with plenty of body, sparkle and warmth.
The all-solid wood construction of the Faith gives it the edge on volume, projection and separation.
I'm of the opinion that the twelver is a very different instrument from a 6-stringer.
Technique and musical approach, really need to be thought through, to bring the best out.
Like wise the woods used, kind of have a differing effect.
So it's not so easy to recognise their strengths.
The Faith's Trembesi is one of those woods that supposed to fall between mahogany and rosewood.
To my ears (mostly honed on 6-stringers) is sounds closer to walnut.
The Yamaha's nato (a poor man's mahogany, IMO) is laminated.
But it does a top job, combined with the solid spruce top.
Good design/construction, I guess.
Purely, acoustically, The Faith definitely has the edge.

Electronically, both guitars have good quality pickups and pre-amps.
Both pre-amps have volume, EQ, tuner and anti-feedback controls.
EQ wise, the Yamaha wins, having bass middle and treble.
The Faith has no middle.
The Yamaha's anti-feedback slider is also more accurate than the Faith's on/off phase switch.
Both have accurate and effective electronic tuners and volume controls.
Pickup wise, the Faith has the Shadow Nanoflex, undersaddle transducer.
Kind of, an improved piezo design.
The Yamaha has 2 under soundboard transducers.

Through my Acus amp, with all EQ controls set to 12 o'clock (flat) on guitars and amp.
The Yamaha has a far superior sound.
Fuller, more balanced and most importantly, most natural sounding.
I always thought the Nanoflex was a vast improvement on standard piezo pickups.
And it is.
But the Yamaha's transducers take it to another level of quality.
All the EQ tweaking in the world, doesn't get the Shadow close to the Yamaha.

Now I've got the action and strings very similar, on both guitars.
I can really compare their feel.
Tha Faith has very slightly wider string spacing, with all the benefits that brings.
More room to manoeuvre.
The Yamaha plays a little smoother.
I'd have to give evens on the feel/playability.
Many would prefer the Faith, I guess.

Overall then, they're both fine twelvers, IMO.
I bought the Faith whilst looking for a back-up, for the Yamaha.
It cost 50% more, however.
It's worked out very well though.
Amped up, the Yamaha wins, hands down.
Acoustically, the Faith wins out.
Both bases covered, with fine support acts.