Two Videos - Martin 2018 HD35 and Vintage Stateboro 12

Enjoyed those, Ben, thanks!

re Paul's 12er - You commented on the string spacings with it being hard to hit both strings of a pair cleanly - that particular 12er looked to have weird string spacing at the bridge, the strings of each pair being quite widely spaced with less/insufficient space between the pairs - fine for strumming, less so for fingerstyle. The guitar pictured in Guitarist mag review a while ago did not seem to be quite like that, having a more "normal" spacing though Vintage's own website pictures look similar to the spacing on your review. However, with the trapeze tailpice/moveable bridge as per this guitar it should be easy enough to fettle the saddle to bring the two strings in each pair closer together, making for greater space between each pair and hence easier and more accurate fingerstyle and flatpicking.

You're spot on about light playing styles not being ideal for fingerstyle on this (and on Paul's original 12er for Vintage which I have). They benefit from a thumbpick especially, and a firm enough technique to ensure that both strings within each pair are struck evenly. Tuning down (even further than D-D as in the vid) is a must to get that old-time growl - I like C#-C# with slightly heavier strings on my older PB 12er with the lowest pair often down again to B. ie dropped D down 3 frets. Brings out more bass. The usual "polite" and careful plucking and damping tends not to work too well - just hit the thing and let everything sustain and even rattle. Your "bag of spanners" comment is spot on! Great fun.

Looking forward to the next vid!

Keith