Why no new Emmons 12 string guitars?

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 26 Aug 2003 4:50 pm

Emmons does not offer a 12 string guitar. Emmons used to make 12 string push pull guitars. I believe most other steel guitar companies offer 12 string models. Hmmmmm?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 26 Aug 2003 4:58 pm

I asked them this question at St. Louis a couple years ago. At that time they said they were way behind on their 10 string orders and have only had a few requests for 12 string guitars anyway.

Bowie Martin · Post by **Bowie Martin** » 26 Aug 2003 5:15 pm

Ron has more orders for single and double ten string models that he can keep up with, so I imagine setting up to run 12 string models is just not in his best interest until the demand increases. Even Emmons' still hand builds each one "one at a time". Availability is built upon demand, and he just must not have the demand.

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 26 Aug 2003 8:02 pm

There is other builders making money selling lots of S12 guitars. And they are getting more popular every day.

I suppose they are glad that Emmons is NOT building 12 string guitars....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

[This message was edited by Al Marcus on 26 August 2003 at 09:04 PM.]

RON PRESTON · Post by **RON PRESTON** » 27 Aug 2003 3:22 am

Ron would have to make (or find) the 12 string body jigs and everything else that is needed to build them. I know lots of Folks have ask to have one built for them, but, there is a whole lot of changes and setups that would have to take place. And, Yes, Ron is SWAMPED just to keep up with D10 and S10 orders. If I remember right, The jigs for the 12 strings are in the basement of the factory. I remember seeing a TON of 12 (and 10) string bodies stacked up to the moon and all kinds of parts, tools, and changers and jigs in the basement also.

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 27 Aug 2003 5:10 pm

Thanks for the replys. Maybe Emmons will consider the 12 string model in their product line in the future.

Lenny

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 27 Aug 2003 5:36 pm

They're not popular enough. Sadly, the S10 and D10 still outsell the S12's by about 15 to 1, and the D12's by about 50 to 1.

Bobbe Seymour · Post by **Bobbe Seymour** » 27 Aug 2003 6:13 pm

Donny, how about 50 to one and 300 to one?
Seroiusly , I try to stock 12s all the time, but you are correct, the D-12s are sloooow movers. I'd rather go to a double 8 string, Just me, I can't count to 12.

Chick Donner · Post by **Chick Donner** » 28 Aug 2003 6:22 am

Bobbe!!!! After all the nice things you said about my D12 PP in Indiana!

Seriously, I haven't talked to Ron Jr about it, but the last owners seemed to say, "here's what we build - take it or leave it." Seems lots of folks have "left it."

Tommy Minniear · Post by **Tommy Minniear** » 28 Aug 2003 7:12 am

I can vouch for Chick's Emmons P/P D-12, I heard it in Indiana: sounded great!

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Tommy Minniear
www.ntsga.com

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 28 Aug 2003 7:49 am

Ron-That is correct, if Emmons is swamped with orders. Why change, and make a S12?

MSA was way ahead of their time. They put their S10's and S12's on the same body. Also their D10's and D12's on the same body. This eliminated a lot of mfg costs and stocking so many different guitar bodies. Check it out. Smart move.....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 28 Aug 2003 8:02 am

Well Bobbe, I was just tryin' to be nice! You wouldn't want me to give anybody a "complex" now, would ya?

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 28 Aug 2003 8:09 am

They put their S10's and S12's on the same body. Also their D10's and D12's on the same body.

Just to clarify, MSA did that in the early 70's, and the early Dekley's copied that idea. As people became more size and weight conscious, MSA and Dekley went to different body sizes for 10's and 12's.

Also, MSA does not currently make a D-12 Millennium.

James Quackenbush · Post by **James Quackenbush** » 28 Aug 2003 12:34 pm

Geeeeeeeez !! All this when I decide to switch over to a 12 string ??.... I guess if dealers don't have a lot of 12 sting steels to sell, I guess this means that you can't get a great deal on them either ??....Supply and demand ..
Hmmmmmmm !!...

Jim Smith · Post by **Jim Smith** » 28 Aug 2003 12:54 pm

New 12 string guitars do cost more than comparable 10 string guitars, and used 12 string Universals sell for more than used 10 stringers, mostly because of the extra hardware. However, in the used market for double necks, D-12's can almost always be found for less than D-10's, because of the popularity of D-10's, I suppose.

As a D-12 player for over 30 years, this works out very well for me!

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Jim Smith jimsmith94@comcast.net
-=Dekley D-12 10&12=-
-=Fessenden D-12 9&9=-
-=Emmons D-12 push pull 9&4 (soon to be 9&9)=-
Stereo Steel rig w/Boss GX-700
IVL SteelRider w/JV-880

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 29 Aug 2003 5:03 am

James,
Unless your heart is set on an all-pull Emmons 12-string, you should have NO TROUBLE locating a good used instrument. The new S-12's are less expensive in general than D-10's and are available from most other mfgrs. The Emmons p/p 12's are great too -- I'll keep mine forever. I made the change more than 25 years ago and have never (hardly) looked back. Having the range of a guitar -- especially down to the low E -- is very useful and the 6th side of the tuning is all there. Good luck -- EMail me if you want to discuss further or have trouble locating a guitar.

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Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 1 Sep 2003 6:21 am

sorry guys,couldn`t resist...

D-12 is a special instrument,I loved it,it looks great and sounds,well,amazing but it is a pain in the

for me to transfer from D-10 to D-12 ,I even wanted to sell it on the Ebay, and few times I changed my mind and closed the auction early because didn`t have a heart to sell this instrument.Fortunaly I play only once a week (if that much) so I can fiddle and piddle with D-12 until I learn it.Last time I played, my wife said I was doing great and she couldn`t see me having any problems with this D-12 ,good thing is that people don`t hear things we players do ,because I heard some very strange notes coming out of that D-12,but it was fun,it`s getting better every time.D-12 are nice,same as D-10 only with a couple more strings and distraction is mostly visual (at least that is case with me)and once you get used to seeing 4 strings below your tumb instead 2 you will be just fine.I hope so anyway.
DB

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[This message was edited by Damir Besic on 01 September 2003 at 07:24 AM.]

Al Marcus · Post by **Al Marcus** » 2 Sep 2003 10:59 am

I have seen many MSA guitars over the years and have never seen a D10 or S10 that didn't have 2 extra places on the key head and room on the changer for 2 more fingers to go to 12 string when requested.

I also remember MSA had the Holes for the crossrods all punched for 10 pedals and all the crossrods could be used for either neck. Now that is efficiency and smart MFG...So if a guy want a S12 instead of S10 , they just added the 2 tuning pegs on the keyhead, and 2 more fingers on the changer.
And to decrease MFG costs even further,They could have just as well had just one 12 string pickup and put it on S10 ar D10 too. Why not? .....al

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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 2 Sep 2003 11:46 am

Damir:
That is a very pretty picture of the Emmons D-12 guitar. It must be something to see in person.

Al Marcus:

You are correct about the manufacturing process and making universal parts to accomodate various models.

Damir Besic · Post by **Damir Besic** » 2 Sep 2003 4:52 pm

Len,this guitar is restored to perfect condition by Bobbe and his crew.It looks great and it sounds even better...

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