What is your favorite 12-fret acoustic ?

[Brushwood]

For me it's between my 000-18 Norman Blake and my 00-18H Geoff Muldaur Martin's. The NB has an Italian Alpine Spruce top and the GM has an Adirondack top. Both very unique and special in their design and sound.

[rsmillbern]

I have a Waterloo WL-K and a Taylor 362ce (12 string) thar both play and sound great to my ear.

[Silly Moustache]

12 fretters ? You asked this whilst I was asleep? How Dare you!

Hmph!

These are :

1. Collings DS2h, 2. Collings DS1, 3. Santa Cruz "RS"

[Silly Moustache]

Wait, there's more:

1. Collings 0002h,
2. Hockey 0028,
3. Martin D12-20 Custom and Harmony H1270

[Silly Moustache]

1. Collings DS1ASB, 2. Waterloo WL-12, Gosdon Weissenborn

[Silly Moustache]

They are all my favourites!

[00Buck]

I currently have a Martin D-18vs, a Taylor 12 Fret (dating back to when they only made one and call it that- rosewood), a Blueridge 371, an Eastman E10-P and enjoy them all. My favorite is an Eastman E20-00. I haven't played the others much since I got it back in May or June. Comfortable, pretty, balanced and sweet.

[Mr. Paul]

I enjoy 12 fretters in S, M and L sizes. Sometimes I think the 12 fret dread is the perfect design for a guitar. Lots of different builders make great ones.

[ziapack]

Originally Posted by Cypress Knee

Martin Norman Blake 000-28

That is one stunning guitar, does it play as great at it looks?

[goufousdoufous]

I really enjoy my Martin 00015SM.

[raysachs]

I've only owned two, and they're my two current acoustic guitars. The oft-mentioned and much loved Martin 000-15SM, a very traditional looking mahogany 12-fretter with a slotted headstock. And an Emerald X7, an ultra-modern carbon fiber 12-fret. I love 'em both but don't have any other's to compare them to. I can compare the Martin to it's 14 fret brother, the 000-15M, which I also owned for a couple of years. And it's down to personal taste, but I vastly prefer the 12-fret SM version. Just a mellower, fuller tone, but still with plenty of bark when you push it. Not that there was ANYthing wrong with the 14 fret version, but they're definitely different guitars...

unnamed by Ray, on Flickr

-Ray

[jaymarsch]

My favorite 12 fretter is my custom Wingert E deep body grand concert. It is sweet with a nice bass and very satisfying trebles. It is German Spruce/Cocobolo so very warm and responsive with good sustain. Since it is rosewood, it does have slightly scooped mids but it does not sound unbalanced. It is great for fingerstyle and light strumming so it fits my playing style very well.

I have an Alvarez all mahogany 12 fret parlor that is more like a 00 - it has more mid-range and is a great little blues box, among other things. It is lively and has a nice focused, clear tone.

Lots of variety among 12 fret guitars depending on the builder, bracing and other variables.

Best,
Jayne

[Doranged]

I have a Taylor 562 CE which is now the only guitar that I play out of my collection the small size and a great tone and the playability make this the guitar that I play all the time. My first all mahogany guitar.

[mcmars]

waterloo wl-k for a vibrant ringing tone you can feel in your left hand and arm, but know you are restricted to 11 gauge strings due to the ultra light X braced construction. That can be a good thing for many who want a very responsive guitar that works well to delicate fingerstyle and is super easy to play. Probably not good for strummer, unless you are very light with the pick, never tried to be honest.

Waterloo wl-s for next best thing, that may be better all purpose guitar, picking or strumming, with great tone from ladder bracing that still resonates forever. and a bit heavier build, so 12's work just fine.

I go back and forth with the pair, but keep the wl-k tbar at home due to concerns about the lighter build/tbar which may or may not be justified. The WL-S TR I use for travel or gigs or plug in with a K&K. I really enjoy the WL-K with fresh strings for the beautiful tone, ease of playing (light strings) and it seems to help with finding creative new arrangements and music for new songs.

For festival jamming, when I have concerns about security and worries about offering my guitar to someone that might just trash the top in one song, I bring along a 2017 gretsch china made G9521 appalachian burst 00 slothead. It has been the best affordable 12 fret slothead guitar I have ever found. Gretsch calls it a 000, but seems like a deep 00 to me?? It is beautiful in looks and always gets comments, but sounds really good and plays well with "perfect" intonation to my ear. I remember the first person who asked to play it this year, back when it was new at the first festival I attended this year, scratched it all up with huge long flatpick stokes. Now it has a ton of scratches, swirls and other abuse on the top from a bunch of festivals and jams, but it a joy to play. So glad I did not trash my waterloos, but bummer gretsch has decided to discontinue this line of great guitars. Nice to have a guitar I can lay down in the dirt and not worry about, but still look forward to play. It also survived 2 (6) day river trips this summer flawlessly, one with hot temps and other below freezing. Maybe I got lucky on this one, only one I have played.

[AndrewG]

Martin CEO-5.

https://www.guitar-list.com/martin/a...pecial-edition