Speaking of 12-fretters ... Recommendations?
 

Those who own or have owned (or played) 12-fret acousitcs, what are the best ones you've owned or played? And what is "best" about them?

....i got my first 12 fretter...a D-18S.. back in 1978...since then i've played quite a few and owned several...mostly 00's and 000's..the 12 fret design seems to transcend brand affiliation....everybody makes em these days and they all sound good to me...they have what i would describe as a rich balanced voice....always sounding a bit bigger and deeper than their actual size would suggest...i personally play a Santa Cruz 000 which i think is close in sound to the vintage Martins that it emulates to some degree....very touch responsive and able to hold up to a pretty aggressive playing style....the longer scale combined with the 12 fret design yields a slightly softer and less snappy response than a typical OM...for me though the holy grail of 12 fret design is the Martin 00's of the late twenties....every time i play one i find myself thinking its the best guitar i've ever played....someday i may muster the funds to acquire one...for now i'll just dream on...

Listening to some of your music I think you may find a Huss and Dalton 00-SP to your liking. The balance from low to high is incredible. And although it's not a dreadnaught it produces pretty good volume. I have a Custom with Engleman over Cocobolo. The tone is dry and woody with moderate overtones and really good sustain. Records very well.

Good hunting Rick. I hope you land a good one. :)

Recording King RP-06
 

recording king RP-06 less than $300 bucks fantastic 12 fretter, plays and sounds like a old Martin, I tried some new Martin parlors in the $3000 range they didn't come close in tone or playability to the RP-06....

PM sent.

12ers just have a different vibe. Hard to describe...warmer, vintage looks.

Hi Scriptor (Rick),

First take a little time and watch this you tube vid of the gent who introduced me to 12 fretters - I was opening for him one night when he lent me this guitar - a '69 Martin D35-s.

It took me a long time to find one, by which time I had bought a Bourgeois DS-260 (which was beautiful) but the neck was too small for me, and tried newer Martins and a Santa Cruz D-12. I bought and now own "some" Collings 12 fret dreads and a 0002h.

I declare that they are as close to perfect (for me) as I can imagine, however, I had my '74 Martin reset and re-fretted and it is now in fine playing condition, although has a few honourable marks - no cracks apart from a minor repair to the end of the neck heel.
Only about 1830 made I understand.

I also have a Larrivee SD-50 TSB which is also a very good instrument - and has received good reports as a finger-picker although I am primarily a flat-picker. I was given it by a dealer after returning an unsuccessful H&D.
Both have 1 & 7/8" nutwidth.

I doubt you'd be interested as I am in the UK but both are for sale as I am deeply into my Collings now and have simply run out of room.

Collings guitars if in your budget are well worth investigating. They offer them in 1 & 13/16" nut widths and occasionally in 1 & 3/4" and in 00 (short-scale) and 00 and DS in standard scale. I love 'em !

Duh - forgot to give you the link :


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2kOPWuujW8


Not a great recording, but it may help.

Based on a very early Martin, Huss & Dalton's 00-SP is hard to beat. I love mine.

I recently took delivery of a 12-fret 000 from Alan Carruth. I was looking for something with a lower bout around 15", and not real deep, as this size seems to work well for me (both physically and as a match for my playing style). Originally I was looking for an OM, but went with a 12 fretter, on Alan's recommendation (a bit richer and fuller in the bass). It also works out better for me than a 14 fret because I hold the guitar in kind of a classical style, on the left knee, and with a 14 fret neck it's a bit of a reach to the 1st fret.

The main reason it's best for me is because Alan's guitars, in general, were a good match for what I was looking for tonally and he was able to tweak things to get the 000 he made for me just as I wanted it to be.

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...0/DSC_1610.jpg http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n...0/DSC_1600.jpg

These are very good...

Collings 000-2H
H&D 00-SP
H&D DS-12 Custom
Martin 000-28VS
Collings D2H
Collings D1A
Gibson Jackson Browne model 1

Go for the real deal in 12 frets.

http://www.elderly.com/new_instrumen...D45SAUTH36.htm

Beneteau 000-12c
 

I have a Beneteau 000 12-fret cutaway, Engelmann/Honduran rosewood.

Best thing about the guitar: dynamite, super-fat and loud trebles

You might want to count those frets one more time. :wink:

No, it is, they just used pre-production artwork. From the description...."This model features a 12-fret large body"

Here are a few that come to mind:

Froggy Bottom H-12, A-12, P-12
Collings 001 and 0001
Goodall 12-fret parlor (RP-12, etc)
Collings DS2H (slope-shoulder)