Which 12 string in 2019?

[6L6]

IF you can find one, a Guild F-312NT is as good as it gets.

My '71 is simply off-the-charts GREAT and I feel extremely lucky to own it.

It's worth the search to find one.

[Mark L]

Lots of good advice above.

I play 12 strings. To what’s been said, I’ll add to strongly consider an Emerald X20-12. I love my wooden 12’s, but the carbon fiber Emerald is what gets played.

I also have a Rainsong WS3000, but they’re no longer made and hence rare.

The benefits (strength, stability, consistency) of CF are many, and magnified on an instrument like a 12 string, or Baritone.

My current wood 12 favorite is a Martin Custom Shop all mahogany J or 0000 size. A wonderful instrument.

Good luck on your quest.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by donlyn

Which 12 string in 2019?




May I recommend the Taylor 458e-R ? I have had a used one for over a year, and it is a fine sounding instrument. The 'R' is for the Rosewood back and sides, and with the big Grand Orchestra body, it's a 12 string player's dream.

Yes it's a bit bigger than the Taylor Grand Symphony models you mentioned, but it still comfortable to play seated. At the very least, you should check out the 456ce-R, which is the rosewood version of the model you mentioned. For me, the change from Ovangkol to Rosewood makes a huge difference. As far as I know, the ovangkol version 456ce is discontinued, but maybe still available used.

Don
.

Did you play the 458e ovangkul? I stumbled across one a year or so back, but thankfully my wallet didn't fall out of my pocket because it would have followed me home and I'd still be sleeping on the couch with it. Excellent guitar.

[rmp]

For about a grand the Guild F-1512E is a good option.

Sounds great, and "Canon" loud. I'd plan on getting it setup if you go new.

[KevWind]

I tend to like Taylor and Breedlove 12 strings both have a range of decent 12's from lesser expensive to higher priced . Personally lean towards the mid high to high end

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by jayhawk

... Finally, don’t overlook Breedloves. I think there 12 strings are very underrated...

Like this mint rosewood jewel which is consigned to the shop that I bought it from:
https://www.stringinstruments.com/p-...lus-w-hsc.aspx
High-res photos:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fp23q6lh1...uQQb7hrja?dl=0

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Neil K Walk

Did you play the 458e ovangkul? I stumbled across one a year or so back, but thankfully my wallet didn't fall out of my pocket because it would have followed me home and I'd still be sleeping on the couch with it. Excellent guitar.

Yes. I've played a number of ovangkol guitars and liked most of them. It's just that to my ears, the rosewood versions are superior. Ovangkol is supposed to be sonically similar to rosewood, but different. I think rosewood may produce more overtones and sustain compared to a similar ovangkol model. Depends on what you like.

Don
.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by WildBill82

Yet, I love the sound of one. And any time I play a good Martin 12-string I'm instantly hit by "Yes, that's what it should sound like." It's the sound I've heard on every Tom Petty and (original) Leo Kottke album, it's a shimmering sound that's both dynamic and balanced.

If you are listening to early Kottke you are not hearing a Martin. By the way, do you know why Kottkes 1st LP has an armadillo the cover?

[guitarwebguy]

By all means, try Breedlove (I have a custom 12 cedar/zircote that is amazing tone wise and have a masterclass for sale on reverb (also amazing) I have owned a lot of 12 strings over the last 50 years and thought I had needed my search but then came across Emerald and have a custom x20-12 on order .... a good 12 string is worth putting the $ into

[pastorchuck]

Check out Larrivee before you decide. I love my C-45

[Freddy3rd]

Recently purchased the Martin HD12-28. Compared to my Guild F512 it has the same volume but more sustain and that added tone that only a Martin has.

[guitarxan]

Go Martin or Guild

I have had several 12 strings in my life....

Epiphone FT160.....Best playing guitar I ever had until the neck bolts pulled right out of the neck......gave it away

Guild F112.......too young and stupid to realize that a lifting bridge could be fixed and the guitar set up... traded it for a Guild Dsomething 6 string made of cherry, which was later stolen

Yamaha FG412......not a fan....gave it away

And my current 12 string.....Taylor 150e....meh.....after initially liking it, I realized I settled for it and it wasn’t worth the $650 I paid for it.

I really want a nice 12 string so I will wait till I can afford a Guild F512 or Martin HD-12 28. And I want a new one, with a 12 string I don’t want to inherit someone else’s problem.

[RP]

Originally Posted by donlyn

Which 12 string in 2019? May I recommend the Taylor 458e-R ? I have had a used one for over a year, and it is a fine sounding instrument. The 'R' is for the Rosewood back and sides, and with the big Grand Orchestra body, it's a 12 string player's dream...Don

I realized several months ago that a Taylor 12-string would be joining the Porter family, and it was suggested to me by my learned AGF colleagues that bigger was better when it came to 12-string guitars. Since Don wasn't about to let loose of that fine 458-R that I sold him last year, I let my fingers do the walking and found an amazing Taylor 858. Just picked it up Tuesday, and it's an awesome 12-string...

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Shredmaster007

Anyone have any recent experience with any of these models?

Songwriter 12 is quite nice. It's not quite a match for my Guild jumbos though.

[Shredmaster007]

Thought I'd give an update: I got a pretty sweet Taylor 356ce from Sweetwater today! Flawless guitar, sounds most excellent. Really nice plugged straight into my S1 Pro.

I played the 362ce in person and thought that the short scale made it kind of difficult to play (which I usually like as my only other guitar is a J45 with a 1-11/16th nut)

I've been borrowing my friend's Taylor 150e and like it a lot too, much louder than the 356ce but not close to the fit/finish/refined sound and not as comfortable. That said I think the 150e is a really good guitar.

I played the cheap Martin 12 string and didn't like it all - and the next step up Martin has a small body and narrow nut.

I thought about the cheaper Guilds, but the electronics that aren't apart of the strap button / end block are a deal breaker for me.

I was close to getting a Gibson again, but really like the idea of easy neck resets on a 12 string.

Cheers!