So tell me about your 13 fretter.

[TBman]

The happy place between 12 and 14 (non-cutaway)? Do you get the warmth of a 12 fret but a little more wriggle room? Do you wish it was a 14? or a 12? Why? What are the pros and cons in your opinion?

[The Bard Rocks]

Most of my guitars are 14 fretters. I feel most comfortable with them. i do have a 12 fretter and have slowly concluded I don't like it as much. not because it sounds poor (it sounds great), but because it brings my left hand too close to my body at the start, and also because if I use a capo, I feel the need for more frets.

I have a 13 fretter however and don't feel nearly so cramped and limited as I do on my 12. Go figure.

Tonally, I know what folks say, but those nuances escape my hearing. But I do feel that 13 frets is an excellent compromise between a full length fingerboard and optimal placement of the sound hole.

[Rosewood99]

I'll tell you in about three months as I have a 13-fret build in progress. I've always hoped it would be a good compromise.

[Doubleneck]

Blackbird Lucky 13 only 13 fret carbon fiber Guitar I hnow of. Had one for a while good guitars.

[Brucebubs]

I have one Barry and it's a fine guitar but I wouldn't go out of my way to find another one.
If I ordered a custom build it would be a 14 fret.

[DanR]

My Halcyon NL-00 is a 13 fretter. Sound-wise, it's hard for me to tell what difference there would be between other configurations. Playing-wise, I like having access to that extra fret and I don't currently play anything where I would want access to one more extra fret.

[ukejon]

Both of my Hatcher guitars are 13 fret designs. Gives me the overall scale that I find most comfortable (24.75") and oddly enough the 13th fret attachment at the body now looks right to my eye when I'm playing up the neck. As for the tonal effect, that probably has far less to do with the number of frets and far more to do with the maker and materials.

[jaylynch@yahoo.]

I have a Simon Fay and a Beneteau 13 fret, both OM body style. They feel more comfortable with the shorter neck and fretboard. They are also short scale, Fay - 24" & Beneteau is 24 3/4". I don't hear any shortcomings in tone.

[Earl49]

My only 13-fretter is a Blackbird Lucky 13 in carbon fiber, so I cannot comment on the tonal differences between 12 and 14 in wood. L13 has a neck with little or no heel, so I can easily reach as high as I need to without a cutaway - unlike on twelve fret instruments. Otherwise my guitars are 14 fret, and most have cutaways. I really do reach up to the 15th and sometimes the 17th fret.

In our house there are two twelve fret guitars, a parlor and an Ovation resonator prototype, and they get the least play time. I do recall test driving a Santa Cruz H13 a long time ago that was pretty awesome. It was just way above my budget at that time.

[El Conquistador]

I have 3 13 fret guitars, all luthier built. They are everything people say about them. They do have the extra oomph that a 12 fret has, plus that extra fret is all I have ever needed. I will continue to spec 13 fret guitars in the future.

Steve

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by TBman

The happy place between 12 and 14 (non-cutaway)? Do you get the warmth of a 12 fret but a little more wriggle room? Do you wish it was a 14? or a 12? Why? What are the pros and cons in your opinion?

It's my favorite configuration, especially Nick Lucas/Deep 00 bodied. I currently have 2, a McAlister and a Caldwell. I can find no "cons" in either as they are comfortable and responsive.

[BrunoBlack]

I own one, an h13 from SCGC. It took quite an unusual amount of time for me to "fall" for this guitar, but it has become a favorite. Santa Cruz indicates the historical precedent for this classic shape was the Gibson ‘Nick Lucas Special’ from the 1920’s. The claim made by SCGC is:

"SCGC’s concept for the H-13 is to achieve power beyond what would be expected in a small-bodied guitar. Two fundamental lutherie tricks make this possible: a longer string length (more downward pressure at the saddle) and more air space via a deeper body (increased volume and bass response). To place the bridge in the optimal position for power and maintain the longer string length, the neck needs to join the body at the 13th fret.

Who am I to argue? In any event this is a special guitar. It's beautiful and is a terrific sounding guitar that is very easy to handle, with plenty of power to spare.

[RRuskin]

Originally Posted by Haasome

I own one, an h13 from SCGC. It took quite an unusual amount of time for me to "fall" for this guitar, but it has become a favorite. Santa Cruz indicates the historical precedent for this classic shape was the Gibson ‘Nick Lucas Special’ from the 1920’s. The claim made by SCGC is:

"SCGC’s concept for the H-13 is to achieve power beyond what would be expected in a small-bodied guitar. Two fundamental lutherie tricks make this possible: a longer string length (more downward pressure at the saddle) and more air space via a deeper body (increased volume and bass response). To place the bridge in the optimal position for power and maintain the longer string length, the neck needs to join the body at the 13th fret.

Who am I to argue? In any event this is a special guitar. It's beautiful and is a terrific sounding guitar that is very easy to handle, with plenty of power to spare.

FYI - "H" stands for Paul Hostetter, a Detroit native and friend who had been championing the design for decades. He was finally able to convince Santa Cruz to build them. I owned #13 from the 1st run, a German/Brazilian example with "haircut" head stock from 1987 to 2005.

[BrunoBlack]

Originally Posted by RRuskin

FYI - "H" stands for Paul Hostetter, a Detroit native and friend who had been championing the design for decades. He was finally able to convince Santa Cruz to build them. I owned #13 from the 1st run, a German/Brazilian example with "haircut" head stock from 1987 to 2005.

Thanks for that. Mine is #1588.

[mercy]

I have been playing guitars for 60 years and to change to a 13 fret would confuse the heck out of me. The added tone would be barely worth the extra cost and for me not at all cause I think guitars have enough bass as it is. What they lack is enough treble. I think that is due to the leader in the guitar marked, Martin having a bassy sound to all the strings. I suppose if I was a strummer I might not think that way but as a fingerstyle player I want stronger melody.