My kids giving me crap about getting a 12-String.

[frankmcr]

Just because a song was recorded with a 12-string doesn't make it "a 12-string song". Just because a song was recorded w/o a 12-string doesn't mean "whoops, can't play that on a 12-string".

Understanding that is a lot more important than trying to understand what anybody means by "that guy".

[ohiopicker]

Since when does a late 40s something man get concerned about what his kids think about his guitar purchases? “Mid-life crisis” guitars? I guess they’re cheaper than red convertibles.

[Brucebubs]

These are my kids!

[dgt178]

"Does the younger generation think 12-strings are gimmicky?"
......who cares what the young'uns think....play away.....

[donlyn]

My kids giving me crap about getting a 12-String

Tell them it's just a passing fad. For me the 12 string fad's lasted over 50 years.

Next time you guys get to a music shop, see if you can find a Taylor 458e-R or a Taylor 858e, both spruce over rosewood 12 string guitars. Play it for them. See if that blows their doors off. It should.

Don
.

[desert2000]

Originally Posted by jpjr50

<snip> I play all the 12-string songs to bother them, Boston's "More Than A Feeling", Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive", I mean come on, that's the test.

<snip>

On the flip side, if you're reading this also leave me some recommendations with price range $800-$1000.

Add "39" by Brian May to that repertoire.

A bit above your stated range, but I see used Taylor 555s for $1200 or so (not mine, of course...).

As a good friend once said, "a 12-string guitar is like a chorus of angels, in a convenient guitar shape".

[pjroberts]

Originally Posted by davidbeinct

The children now love luxury; they have bad manners, contempt for authority; they show disrespect for elders and love chatter in place of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants of their households. They no longer rise when elders enter the room.

Wait ... haven’t I heard that somewhere before? Oh yeah! It was about my generation. And the ones before mine.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by mawmow

..... I sometimes think about a twelve strings, as my wife once said I ahould [sic] get one... but I am a lazy guy and it bothers me to get in tune each time I take a guitar, so a twelve strings... In addition, I play only fingerstyle...

I play only fingerstyle on my 12 string guitar.

[BRVC]

I bought a 12 string at age 20. On the other hand, I’m 71 now.

Anyway, it is only proper to do things that fit our age. If we are older, we can do the old guy things that make us happy.

[Merak]

I LOVE the sound of a 12 string. One of my motivations to learn guitar. I don’t expect my very talented kids to like it, maybe its like German Brick cheese or Limburger, you have to grow up to enjoy it.

[Jeff Scott]

Originally Posted by Merak

...maybe its like German Brick cheese or Limburger, you have to grow up to enjoy it.

I am enjoying some Brick cheese as I write this.

[Paddy1951]

Originally Posted by jpjr50

So I take weekly trips to guitar stores with my teenage boys for guitar safari. Hoping to find a gem somewhere.

My oldest son bought a 1963 Gibson ES125 at a Guitar Center back in 2016 for $1200. That was a steal, it's a fantastic guitar.

So now my son is in the market for an acoustic. He's not into Martin, likes Taylor more and we've owned a few Breedlove's in the past. The search continues.....

While looking I always flock to find a 12-string in tune (very rare). I play all the 12-string songs to bother them, Boston's "More Than A Feeling", Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive", I mean come on, that's the test.

So finally I tell them now I'm ready to pull the trigger on a 12-String when I find one that works for me. Their answer "don't be that guy". Do only older guys play 12-string guitars? The younger generation doesn't play these? I'm in my late 40's....are 12-string guitars mid-life crisis guitars? Does the younger generation think 12-strings are gimmicky?

On the flip side, if you're reading this also leave me some recommendations with price range $800-$1000.

Nothing specifically against your kids.

When it comes to the younger generations they don't know jack about music!

Why would they? Much of today's music is pretty anemic, and that cuts across all genre's.

If a twelve spins your prop, get it!

A 12 adds much flavor. You touched on a number of tunes where a twelve really flavors the music. There are many and the 12 has been doing that for a long time, with many kinds of music.

Ledbelly, Pete Seeger, Leo Kotke, The Byrds, The Moody Blues- on and on.

Get the 12.

[jpjr50]

Originally Posted by Paddy1951

Nothing specifically against your kids.

When it comes to the younger generations they don't know jack about music!

Why would they? Much of today's music is pretty anemic, and that cuts across all genre's.

If a twelve spins your prop, get it!

A 12 adds much flavor. You touched on a number of tunes where a twelve really flavors the music. There are many and the 12 has been doing that for a long time, with many kinds of music.

Ledbelly, Pete Seeger, Leo Kotke, The Byrds, The Moody Blues- on and on.

Get the 12.

Not all kids. My kids don't like new music because most don't even play an instrument. They listen to 70's-80's and a years in the 90's (Foo mostly). We play music trivia so their knowledge is quite extensive.

I didn't say they hated the 12-string, honestly I pretty much annoyed them with it.

Thanks to all the suggestions. I'm still kicking the tires.

[kego]

Funny, I started playing at 5 years old on a hardware store guitar that was virtually unplayable, but after a year or so of trying like heck my dad bought me a 1964 Guild F212. It's a great guitar and was a BEAR for a kid to learn on, but I'm glad I did.

I still have that one as well as a '76 F412. I've always thought that Guild's 12ers were the best of the best and still do. That said, Taylor is making some very nice 12-strings that are incredibly easy to play. I've been amazed at a few of them - and though I do have an old Taylor 310 I picked up dirt cheap from a store that was going out of business I've never really liked their guitars much. But I think they are on to something based on the playability of a couple of their 12-strungs I've played recently!

Good luck with your search!

[guitar george]

Buying a 12-string guitar is something you do in middle age after you divorce the wife, get a perm, buy a sailboat and a high powered motorcycle and have a cute young chick clinging to your arm.
That's all the mid-life crises I can think of.