Suggestions for decent value for money 12-string

McToot · April 2020

Another bored, lockdown, aimless post.

Trying not to spend money in case my job goes up in flames (it's OK so far and I'm busier than ever but I work in financial services data so the more fin-serv companies are hit in the wallet the more shaky our business gets), but you know, a boy needs toys.

Besides, I reckon I'm saving £40 a week on Pret sarnies and breakfast butties so why not treat myself.

So I'm idly considering a 12-string because I love the sound of them (hate the idea of stringing the buggers, tho).

What would be a decent place to look for lower end but decent guitars: Sigma, Vintage, Epi??

My only other acoustic is a l'Arrive Dread so I know I'm not able to get anything as nice as that...

drofluf · April 2020

There was a Faith 12 sting in the classifieds recently I think?

brojangles · April 2020

I went out and tried a bunch of cheaper 12 strings the other year and ended up with a Yamaha FG820-12. Yamaha acoustics always seem a bit heavily built to me but in the case of a 12 string I thought that was probably a bonus.

Andy79 · April 2020

Trouble with the cheaper ones, they are generally very over built to help with the massive string tension.

The Paul Brett Statesboro is surprisingly good.

70s Yamaha FG 12s are cheap and cool IF you can find one with a usable neck angle

Whistler · April 2020

My first 12-string was exactly as Andy79 descibes cheaper 12-string guitars

I have a Faith 12-string (and no, it's not for sale), bought new 9 years ago, and rate it as among the best I have played.

McToot · April 2020

drofluf said:

There was a Faith 12 sting in the classifieds recently I think?

Thanks - yes. It's still there and did catch my eye. Ideally something a little more budget I think, though it is quite tempting (I wish they would put proper fret markers in tho)

Thanks for the other suggestions. I'll do some diggin...

drofluf · April 2020

I'll admit to being a Faith fan as I have 2 but initially I thought the lack of fret markers would bother me but I soon got used to it. I found that I was only using the ones on the neck anyway.

Now if only they'd put a 12th fret marker on the Lyra...

Jontommy · April 2020

I had a Cort Earth 70/12 for a while.
For a cheapy it was nice.

i paid under £100 for it used. Flipped it a few months later but wish I kept it now.

ICBM · April 2020

The good news is that you can usually get away with a much cheaper 12-string than a 6 - the key sound is the bright jangle, and even cheap ones do that well. I can't really help that much with specific models since I don't come across many, but when I have, there's one thing I would always do with a 12-string...

Tune it down to D and capo it at the 2nd if you need normal tuning. They always sound better like that to me, and you can go up a string gauge as well if you like. Early 12-strings were designed to be tuned like that because light gauge strings weren't available back then, but it's still just as valid today.

Andy79 · April 2020

The old Stella 12s only had 3 ladder top braces and the bridge plate along with a 26 1/2 scale length and strings like rats tails. Tuned to C or B they sound utterly fantastic.
When they were originally sold there was a warning not to tune them to E for very obvious reasons.
The later 60s Harmony ones are surprisingly similar in noise and can still be had for a relative snip.

Kittyfrisk · April 2020

I have a 1980's EKO Ranger XII. Owned from new, never selling, even though it's just a 'cheap' guitar.
So, I thought I should try something more 'refined' a while back & picked up a Lag Tramontane GLA T200D 12CE.
Cedar top, Mahogany etc. It's light, sweet, responsive, easy to play.... and yet I always go back to the EKO.
Go figure...

domforr · April 2020

If you can find one I would recommend a Daion Mugen 12 string built by Yamaki in the 80's. It really is a lovely guitar.

pintspiller · April 2020

I concur withe the Eko comment. A few mates had Eko acoustics. Very solid and sound nice.

ICBM · April 2020

pintspiller said:

I concur withe the Eko comment. A few mates had Eko acoustics. Very solid and sound nice.

Yes, I had one too - it weighed a ton but actually sounded great. Eko 6-strings can vary a lot, from really a bit dead-sounding to surprisingly nice, but the 12s seem more consistently good - possibly the extra strings help to overcome the somewhat overbuilt body construction more easily.

The bolt-on neck and adjustable bridge, which are usually considered tone-robbing weaknesses on classic acoustics, are a big advantage on a 12-string too, since it means you can always get the action nice and low without needing to do woodwork.

hollywoodrox · April 2020

Gear4music

Kittyfrisk · April 2020

The bolt-on neck and adjustable bridge, which are usually considered tone-robbing weaknesses on classic acoustics, are a big advantage on a 12-string too, since it means you can always get the action nice and low without needing to do woodwork.

@ICBM ;; Very much agree about the fine adjustment possibilities.
Mine has an action as good or better than many electrics & despite being strung to full pitch permanently, has never moved or flexed in decades.
Unusual in that it has never had a scratchplate fitted from new.

https://www.fetishguitars.com/eko/eko-ranger/

Revolting1 · April 2020

Worth looking at secondhand Simon&Patrick

I particularly like their Cedar tops - not managed to find a bad one yet.

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Suggestions for decent value for money 12-string

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