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Post by Taildragger on Nov 4, 2020 21:28:27 GMT -5
Have had a Yamaha and a beautiful old, slot-head, jumbo Martin over the years, but sold them off. Can't recall the model number of the Martin, but it was made during the 1940s or 1950s. Loved the sound but wasn't willing to put up with the tuning/re-stringing hassles to get it. Now I just have one of those Digitech "Mosaic" pedals to get me "in the ballpark" when I want a 12-string-"ish" sound. I know it's really not a substitute for the real thing, but it's good enough for my purposes. Not sure Martin made a 12-string in the '40's or '50's... You appear to be correct:
That surprises me. After looking at images of Martin 12-strings, I think mine may have been a D12-35, which didn't go into production til the mid 1960s. That really surprises me and leads me to believe that the one I had must've been "rode hard and put up wet" before I bought it second-hand, because it looked quite old and well-used when it came into my hands around 1973 or so.
Thanks for the correction.
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Post by modbus on Nov 5, 2020 9:08:06 GMT -5
Always loved the sound of a 12 string. One day a friend of mine's dad commented on 12 strings. " You spend half of the time tuning them up and the other half of the time playing them out of tune" Kind of had a bit of a point about that I guess but they sure do fit certain guitar work with a sound you just can't get anywhere else.
I have a Yamaha acoustic twelve string, and that's very true. I usually end up taking off the second set and just play it as a 6 string. I really like the wide fretboard when I do that.
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Post by 6l6 on Nov 8, 2020 11:49:56 GMT -5
My '71 Guild F-312NT goes to my grave with me. Incredible guitar that I play often.
6
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Post by Lefty Rev on Nov 11, 2020 11:24:22 GMT -5
My '71 Guild F-312NT goes to my grave with me. Incredible guitar that I play often. 6 That's saying something - considering some of the other high-end guitars you have!!! |
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Post by oldfartbassplayrwalt on Feb 25, 2021 20:18:30 GMT -5
Wow wish I had that g7th capo back in the 60s.
I had to glue little rubber shims onto the rubber bar
of my elastic capo, to press the octave strings.
And of course my cheapo-cheapo Kent had to be tuned down
3 semitones, so the capo became a non-movable fixture on the 3rd fret,
just so I could do byrds/beatles/hollies riffs for my band...
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Post by 6l6 on Feb 26, 2021 19:38:13 GMT -5
For the past 55+ years I've been playing I've rarely been without a good 12 string in my stash. There are many songs I cover where nothing else will do! This is a pic of my incredible 1971 Guild F-312NT that goes with me to the grave.  |
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 27, 2021 6:38:44 GMT -5
Gorgeous guitar, 6, obviously well played. Thanks for the photo!
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Mar 1, 2021 11:05:41 GMT -5
I have an ancient Suzuki 12 dread that is chunky and clunky, but sounds pretty good for the $50 second-hand I gave for it back in the 80s.
It needs new strings and I should play it more, but I have other nicer guitars and they demand my attention more, it seems.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Mar 1, 2021 15:44:57 GMT -5
I have an ancient Suzuki 12 dread that is chunky and clunky, but sounds pretty good for the $50 second-hand I gave for it back in the 80s. You really should pull it out and post pics - sounds like an interesting, quirky off-the-wall find! |
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Post by bluzcat on Mar 2, 2021 22:36:09 GMT -5
For the past 55+ years I've been playing I've rarely been without a good 12 string in my stash. There are many songs I cover where nothing else will do! This is a pic of my incredible 1971 Guild F-312NT that goes with me to the grave. A friend has a Guild F-412 that he adores. He’s had it since ‘78. |
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Post by LTB on Mar 3, 2021 5:20:53 GMT -5
For the past 55+ years I've been playing I've rarely been without a good 12 string in my stash. There are many songs I cover where nothing else will do! This is a pic of my incredible 1971 Guild F-312NT that goes with me to the grave. A friend has a Guild F-412 that he adores. He’s had it since ‘78. That is beautiful bluzcat! Very nice guitar. When Carol and I got married 42 years ago she had a 12 string ( can’t remember brand) made in Japan in 70’s. I wish still had it. Not as nice as your Guild but decent. |
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Post by bluzcat on Mar 3, 2021 13:59:07 GMT -5
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Post by LTB on Mar 3, 2021 18:15:42 GMT -5
Oh ok, thanks Btw: the mahogany 6 string Guild looks like mom’s 79 Tak F-349 |
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Post by bluzcat on Mar 3, 2021 21:20:36 GMT -5
I think it’s a GAD 125...only 7 years old on that one he says.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2022 11:29:55 GMT -5
Yeah, just bought another 1 a couple weeks ago. Martin Grand J-16E 12 string. I do play it in an acoustic ensemble, maybe as much as 30% of songs. I've had so many in my day, love the sound, but I get rid of them cuz they are just "another thing" to mess with, then miss them. I need help.
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Post by HeavyDuty on Feb 3, 2022 6:22:58 GMT -5
I’m just a hack on guitar, but I love the sound of a 12. I had a 660/12 for a few years but sold it to my guitarist, but my Rainsong WS-3000 isn’t going anywhere. I’ve had a few other acoustic 12s over the years, now gone - a Martin/Sigma dread, and a Godin thinbody.
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 4, 2022 10:15:02 GMT -5
I've had 2, a Takamine knock-off and a nice Yairi DY-80. Both long gone.
When I get the urge to own a 12'er, I go down to the local guitar store and play one for about 20 minutes. And it passes.
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Jim622
Halfnote
Posts: 82
Age: 58
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Post by Jim622 on Feb 8, 2022 11:42:59 GMT -5
Guilty! I had a Yamaha FG440-12 I picked up in a pawnshop for $200 several years ago that I stupidly sold. This year I picked up another Yamaha (APX7??) acoustic electric with a cutaway and smaller, slimmer body. Decent instrument, but no one says "WOW!" about this one. I still have my 440 from high school. Damn! 43 years ago. It's still in the rotation, gets pulled out every month or so, I still enjoy it. 12 strings can be nice to add when recording. I don't have any recent experience with them, but Yamaha used to make some decent affordable axes. I don't think mine was much more than $200 then. |
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Post by Rick Knight on Feb 8, 2022 13:20:29 GMT -5
I've had a couple of electric 12s over the years (none currently) but never an acoustic 12. Having recently decided that I prefer acoustics with smaller bodies than dreadnoughts, are there good smaller bodied 12s? Volume is not my primary concern.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2022 12:36:26 GMT -5
I've had a couple of electric 12s over the years (none currently) but never an acoustic 12. Having recently decided that I prefer acoustics with smaller bodies than dreadnoughts, are there good smaller bodied 12s? Volume is not my primary concern. I just picked up a Martin Grand J-16E 12 string. Wide body, 000 depth. Very ergonomically pleasing. |
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Post by Ragtop on Feb 12, 2022 7:20:24 GMT -5
I've had a couple of electric 12s over the years (none currently) but never an acoustic 12. Having recently decided that I prefer acoustics with smaller bodies than dreadnoughts, are there good smaller bodied 12s? Volume is not my primary concern. Looks like Ibanez makes a small-bodied 12-string. There are a couple for sale on Denver Craigslist, I believe. denver.craigslist.org/msg/d/englewood-ibanez-mahogany-e-12-string/7443032277.html |
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Post by larryguitar54 on Feb 12, 2022 22:10:51 GMT -5
I've always been a huge fan of 12 strings and have both a Yairi DY80 and Rickenbacker 660/12. It is an acquired taste but I keep one on the rack in my living room. I resolved to keep it tuned at least a half step down and liberally capo at the 2nd fret. There is a trick to tuning them. You really have to develop the ability to tune as open strings rather than the 5th fret relative method. Also because you tend to grip harder you have to adjust for that too.
But I attended a couple Leo Kottke shows early in life and I was forever hooked. Then when LZ III came out I got a song book and deconstructed those tune. For a long time I was the only guy I knew who played a 12 string in alternate tunings. Because there was nobody else I had to learn on my own. It resulted in my own style.
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Post by hushnel on Feb 21, 2022 10:03:06 GMT -5
I never owned one, my brother got his Framus 12 string the same Christmas I got my first bass, in 1964. We were living in Germany at the time. Both of us still have these instruments and play them. Every time I visit my brother he hands me his Framus 12 and a package of new strings. He’s really more of a percussionist.
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