NGD: It's a Twelver

grayn · September 2022

I've owned a few twelvers over the years and my interest in them has ebbed and flowed. I think it's the fact that I have never really got the best from them. My fault not theirs, of course. I did gig, playing solely 12-string, quite a number of times, in a 3 piece. A simple set-up of Yamaha CPX 700 ii 12er, through a tiny but brillaint sounding and remarkably loud, Acus combo.

That was the last time I owned a twelver. But recently I have been listening to some obscure, Scandanavian folk music.

All Nordic, dark, gothic and pagan. Great stuff. Anyway I have been playing to some of it, on my bodhran but wanted also to play

melodies and accompaniments. At the same time I have been continuing my love of prog metal and had recently got an electric, to play in Drop-C tuning. Which I really took to. Then it dawned on me, Drop-C would probably sound ace on a twelver and may well fit rather nicely, with that dark scandi stuff.

So I did my usual and scoured the web for just about every 12-string acoustic on the planet, in my limited budget. I'd sort of decided on a pre-owned one, at Hobgoblin but it was in Bristol, too far to visit and I really like to try before I buy. So I rang my old mate Tony, at Aire Valley Guitars and he had just one twelver in, a Guild F-2512E. Mmmmm, it was new but at a really good price, so I popped over this afternoon, to take a look.

This Guild is a jumbo and quite a whopper. Solid spruce top, with laminated maple B & S. When I picked it up it was very in tune and in standard tuning. I was impressed but immediately set about putting it in Drop-C. Now as you might imagine, with a big rounded body and maple B & S, this guitar starts out with a big sound. Plenty of bottom end and sparkle on top. Add to that, the Drop-C tuning and this guitar sounded symphonic. And not all boom and twang either. There is enough middle in there to hear note separation. Not all mushy, like some jumbos. Added to that, the Guild/Fishman AP1 with Sonicore pickup was more than decent. Far better than I was expecting on a guitar at this price. I have had far pricier electros, with quite poor sounding pickups, so I wasn't expecting much but I was so pleasantly surprised at how good the Guild sounded through A fender acoustic combo and again, when I got it home. Infact I even put the 12er through an effects unit, with some very subtle chorus and tasty delay. It created some wonderful sounds. Grand, yet ethereal at the same time. Boy have I had some fun with this guitar, in the few hours I have owned it. And to add the cherry on the cake, Tony had a second-hand Gator hard case that fitted the Guild like a glove. Blimey! The only thing that could have been better, are the tuners. They stay in tune and don't slip but they tend to be uneven in operation, with some turns not effecting tuning, on occasion. Not bad enough to put me off the guitar but probably the only weak link I could find. But again, for the price, I think this twelver is remarkable.

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Mellish · September 2022

Looks a good un mate.

Congrats

guitarjack66 · October 2022

I've always fancied a 12 string but i hear so many scary stories about looking after them,tuning etc and it puts me off a bit.

TheBigDipper · October 2022

I almost bought a Guild 12 string jumbo (forget the model number, but yours looks very similar IIRC) instead of the Stonebridge (Furch) one I ended up with. A wider fretboard was the reason, as they both sounded fabulous, so I'm sure your new one is great. Enjoy!

TheMadMick · October 2022

Never played a poor Guild and that one looks very like on we acquired not so long ago. It was amazing value for money even if not very pretty. I know what you mean about the tuners but they seem to keep going.

Enjoy!!!

drofluf · October 2022

guitarjack66 said:

I've always fancied a 12 string but i hear so many scary stories about looking after them,tuning etc and it puts me off a bit.

I wouldn’t be scared; you need to be more precise on the tuning but if it’s well set up tuning is no harder. Likewise if you’re concerned about the high tension tune down a tone and use a capo if required. I like the down tuned sound of a 12 string.

Mellish · October 2022

Don Partridge used a twelve.

He had a hit with "Rosie", remember?

grayn · October 2022

I think most modern twelvers can take standard tuning, without problems. Just keep the strings light.

usedtobe · October 2022

Love the sound of a 12er, but hate playing them..

Soupman · October 2022

@Mellish Don Partridge also used a kazoo, but I don't hear you endorsing that.....

Mellish · October 2022

@Soupman ; AND a bass drum and a tambourine and harmonica.

But i thought of others by not hogging the thread........

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NGD: It's a Twelver

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