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Topic: 12-string guitar recommendations? |
Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 15 Feb 2018 7:57 am |
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I have just found out that I'll need a 12-string acoustic guitar for an upcoming show ('Mamma Mia').
Has anybody got a recommendation for a low-priced but adequate instrument? I don't care for them so I want to spend as little as I can get away with. It would probably go to the back of the closet once the contract's finished.
Any ideas, please?
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Bill McCloskey
From:
Nanuet, NY
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Posted 15 Feb 2018 8:22 am
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I have a fantastic Martin D28 12 string from 1972. Amazing action and pickup installed. Let me know if you are interested.
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Check out the Steel Guitar Union Hall Facebook group for you daily dose of Steel https://www.facebook.com/groups/steelguitarunionhall |
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Richard Smelker
From:
Winters.Texas, USA
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Posted 15 Feb 2018 9:39 am
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I have a Luna Trinity 12 string that has beautiful tone and sounds great amplified. If you look at Musicians friend they have models from $250 to the $600 range. My trinity model plays like butter. nice small neck and stays in tune (it has a built in tuner). The trinity model was about $450 when I bought it.
Just my opinion and my 2 cents!
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Richard Smelker
assorted 6 & 12 string guitars, a Pedalmaster D10 8+5 to play on, a Roland Cube 80Xl, a Peavey 130, Digitech digital Delay, distortion pedal, Melotron pedal, Keyboards and a MOYO pedal.
A new DAW system that I'm using to create a Christian music CD of original songs. Ordained Minister, Riding for the Brand of Jesus Christ. |
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David Gertschen
From:
Phoenix, Arizona
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 15 Feb 2018 10:53 am
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| Check Craigslist for an old Ovation. Often available, somewhat indestructible except for the predictable top cracks. Sometimes a Piezo and prehistoric preamp. And don't pay much. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 15 Feb 2018 3:43 pm
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Richard:
Thanks - I see there's a Luna that sells for $199! Exactly what I'm looking for.
Bill:
I'm sure your Martin is very nice - will you take $199 for it? 
Thanks, everyone.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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ajm
From:
Los Angeles
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Posted 16 Feb 2018 8:50 am
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Here is my "alt-recommendation".
Do a search for a pedal called a Digitech Mosaic.
There are a few YT videos.
I needed a 12 string for a song that I was recording a while back.
A friend lent me his cheap Danelectro.
Despite playing a 6 string for decades, try as I might I never did get comfortable with the 12.
I finally gave up and used a chorus.
Give the Mosaic a look.
Before you get one, make sure that it works with whatever guitar type (electric or acoustic) you are going to be using with it. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 16 Feb 2018 9:19 am
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| Quote: |
I finally gave up and used a chorus
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The success of the Chorus, back in the late seventies, had to do with making a six- string sound almost like a twelve- string .
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 16 Feb 2018 9:24 am
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Nice idea, chaps, but the Music Director will expect me to turn up with all the instruments that the 'book' calls for.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 16 Feb 2018 9:44 am
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Roger you would really make an impression with this one.
_________________
Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Godfrey Arthur
From:
3rd Rock
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Posted 1 Mar 2018 8:28 pm
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Thing about 12's is if fingering them is comfortable for you. Some are easier to fret than others, like a Taylor.
You would have to demo the lower budget ones to see if you don't get cramps playing them after a few minutes or if they stay in tune enough through a few tunes.
They are not all created equal.
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ShoBud The Pro 1
YES it's my REAL NAME!
Ezekiel 33:7 |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 1 Mar 2018 8:42 pm
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I saw one of those '80s Takamine 'lawsuit' 12-strings on Reverb. Probably a decent guitar - the 6-strings were terrific.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 Mar 2018 12:10 am
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| Godfrey Arthur wrote: |
Thing about 12's is if fingering them is comfortable for you. Some are easier to fret than others, like a Taylor.
You would have to demo the lower budget ones to see if you don't get cramps playing them after a few minutes or if they stay in tune enough through a few tunes.
They are not all created equal. |
Those are some wise words. A poorly made 12-string will make you miserable. Takamine is a good lower end choice. |
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Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
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Posted 2 Mar 2018 12:53 am
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| Roger, the $300 to $400 Fender 12 strings are nice guitars. Check one out, I'm sure they would do the trick. |
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Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
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Posted 2 Mar 2018 12:54 am
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| Roger, the $300 to $400 Fender 12 strings are nice guitars. Check one out, I'm sure they would do the trick. The Takamine's are really nice, but they will cost more. |
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Per Berner
From:
Skövde, Sweden
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 7:58 am
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I got a brand new Takamine jumbo 12 (EG 523) for about $700 including our whopping 25% sales tax. Flame maple back and sides, solid sitka top, ebony fretboard and bridge, split saddle, a really good mic system and a built-in tuner – and it sounds really good amplified or not, plenty loud, well balanced with that elusive 12-string shimmer. Also stays in tune well.
All cheaper models that I tried at the time sounded very dull and lifeless in comparison, and were not as easy to play. And the same goes for a lot of more expensive ones! A bit of a cut-price Taylor, IMHO.
I've also got an asymmetric Brazilian Giannini 12-string, which is an absolute beast to play...but it looks cool!
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 8:30 am
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I still haven't pulled the trigger on a 12-string. But next week I'll have to - rehearsals start early-April.
I'm sure the Takamine is more than adequate but it's more than I want to spend. Anything I pay is money lost. I don't want a 12-string but I need one. Once the gig's over the guitar will lie in the closet. $700 is too much to ignore.
Unfortunately the score reveals that maybe 25% of the guitar book is on 12-string so comfort is a consideration. It's a dilemma.
Thanks, everyone, for your responses.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 8:58 am
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| Roger Rettig wrote: |
| Unfortunately the score reveals that maybe 25% of the guitar book is on 12-string so comfort is a consideration. It's a dilemma. |
Make sure you save up 20 bucks for a 12-string capo then. You don’t want to be playing barre chords in Eb. |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 9:23 am
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Good idea, Fred! Will do....
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Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 7:44 pm
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| And a secret, hidden virtue(?): A couple of times now, I've been presented with a serious "need" for acoustic open-tuned slide guitar parts. And in both cases, I found that a cheap(ish) 12-string guitar with 6 strings on it was ideal. You can use heavy guage, like 13-56 ELECTRIC strings on it without it folding up like cardboard and it's LOUD AS HELL! - always a virtue! One was an Epiphone, one was... distant mists of time, mebbe a Fender? If the spare tuners rattle you cram in some paper or tape or something. I actually found I preferred that sound to that of a dobro, which as we all know, it's sole virtue is it's LOUD AS HE... wait a minute... reset... |
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Per Berner
From:
Skövde, Sweden
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Posted 8 Mar 2018 11:00 pm
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A second hand Takamine must be possible to find for... I'm guessing... 400 bucks? And it would still be worth the same when you don't need it anymore.
...Or what about just putting "Nashville Tuning" strings on a regular 6-string (= the thin strings from a 12-string set, maybe in a tad beefier gauges)? That gives you much of the 12-string sound, but clearer and even more shimmering. At no cost at all.
(A couple of years ago I built an OM-sized acoustic with separate replaceable bridge saddles, which allows for correct intonation with regular strings as well as hi-strung. Works perfectly...) |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 9 Mar 2018 5:11 am
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I refer you to my earlier post in this thread.
The music director will expect me to turn up with all the instruments that the book calls for.
_________________
Roger Rettig - Emmons D10s, Quilter TT-12, B-bender Teles and old Martins.
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 9 Mar 2018 7:51 am
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Get the musical director drunk, Roger and he will see double strings 
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Fender Kingman, Sierra Crown D-10, Evans Amplifier, Soup Cube. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 9 Mar 2018 8:24 am
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| How many nights will you have to play for nothing to pay for this (unwanted) acquisition? Sounds like it's time to head for the pawnshops.... |
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