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12 String Advice


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So - I've been thinking about buying a 12 string acoustic.    I have heard they can be quite temperamental, particularly the lower priced ones.   Does anyone have any experience they would care to share? Things to watch out for?   Recommendations?   I'm not looking to spend a fortune, because I know this one will likely live in the case more than it gets played.    But at the same time, I don't want to cheap out and end up with something that I am going to hate.    The Taylor 150E seems to have good reviews for a moderately priced guitar.   Thoughts?

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@William Nelson I have been thinking of a 12 string for quite a while now, but I haven't purchased one yet. I would say the Taylor 150e is a good choice, and I have considered it. Unfortunately there is the guitar I could afford, or the guitar I really want. For me I would like to purchase the Taylor 562ce. The 562ce is significantly more money, but it is very highly rated. The design of the 562ce makes it easier to play, and it is obviously a high quality guitar. I know what your saying about maybe the guitar sitting in the case because it isn't the first guitar you pick up, but what if the 12 string is so good you want to pick it up more often? Martin also has a low end 12 string, but I did not like the layered neck material at least on the one I tried. Another option is to check out used ones at your local music store.  

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Hi William, welcome to the forum. I purchased a Seagull S12 and I have been very pleased with it. It has a cedar top, cherrywood back and sides. The first year of play sounded very bright but as the guitar aged it mellowed and the cedar top changed to a darker shade. Now three years old, it sounds great, especially some of the Gordon Lightfoot songs. Even in our Canadian temperature and humidity swings, this guitar stays in tune, it's built like a tank. The price point will be at the lower end of the 12 String scale but don't dismiss it as being cheap, it is a fine addition to any guitar stable.

Henk

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Thanks @Oldjock and @Randy120     I’ve seen some pretty good reviews of Seagull guitars as well.    I just don’t find many of them around here.    I haven’t played any of the lower end Martins but a couple of friends of mine haven’t been too complimentary of them.     I’m sure I could find something on Reverb or Sweetwater but I like to touch and feel what I am buying.    Besides it gives me an excuse to haunt the guitar stores in Memphis and Nashville.   

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@William Nelson, I'm glad you received the couple responses you did.  I love the sound of a 12 string guitar and one is probably going to be on my shopping list at some point.  (Not soon.  There are a couple other items on that list first.)  So I was counting on this thread being educational for me.

When you hadn't received any responses at first I was about ready to bump this.  But, thankfully, Randy and Henk responded with a couple informative posts.

And besides, I like the way you think!  "it gives me an excuse to haunt the guitar stores"😉😎

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@William Nelson You live near Nashville time to get busy!

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@Randy120   Since I play guitar and my wife has taken up the violin, trips to Nashville can get pretty expensive!      @matonanjin Remind me to ask about your PRS Paul’s sometime.   That is also on my list and I’m trying to decide whether to get the SE or bite the bullet and spring for the core.    Oh yes, I do see a nice 12 string hollow body on the PRS site also.  I’m sure that one would be awesome for an electric!

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1 hour ago, William Nelson said:

 @matonanjin Remind me to ask about your PRS Paul’s sometime.   That is also on my list and I’m trying to decide whether to get the SE or bite the bullet and spring for the core.    ...

Ask anytime you want and ask anything you want!  I, I'm sure you suspect, love talking guitars and especially love talking about my PRS guitars!😂😎

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William, I see two topics here: one about a 12-string and another about the bigger picture of which guitars might make up a decent and varied collection for you. You have already had some helpful advice regarding a 12-string so can I pick up on the second topic?

After many years of playing just one my curiosity grew, as I see it has with you in your reply above, and I went through a phase of buying a range of guitars. Eventually I got to the point where I had 20 guitars. After a while I started to realise that some of these guitars were, in my hands, far better than others. Once I was certain, I sold the guitars that were not ideal for me - but no doubt would be ideal for someone else. I am intentionally not mentioning which brands or models I kept and which I sold as your experience will produce different results to mine. I would encourage you to enjoy the searching, the experimenting, the buying and selling as I have ended up with just a few guitars that I know are clearly the best ones for me and I can now look at other guitars knowing that I am content not to be thinking about what out there might be even better for me. I hope you have a great journey of discovery and end up as happy and content as I am - and do let us know which 12-string you opt for.

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Thanks @Randy120     That new Taylor looks really nice.     Gonna get my Shane’s on one the next time I am at Gruhns.     And yes @Fretless the search is half the fun!

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Have you considered the other "T", Takamine?

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@fray I have looked at some of the Takamine’s on line.    Look like great guitars but haven’t tried them out yet.     

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