In the 80's I was an Army Chaplain and when they assigned me to Germany it was too much of a hassle to take my D-28 with me. When I finally got settled in I realized that I missed my guitar so I went out on the economy and found a 12-string Lowden. That was the start of my love affair with 12-string guitars. I have five now . . . six if I include the Lowden . . . which has seen better days.