Inexpensive 12-strings

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

My 12-string is getting in a bit of a bad way. The top was bellied quite badly round the bridge years ago and I corrected that pretty well with a JLD Bridge Doctor. That kept it alive for another few years, but now the top at the neck end is caving in. I've kept it tuned to D with light strings for ages but I think it's time either to fix it or get another one. It's a 1980s Hondo, so not worth much especially in this condition (although it's got a half decent set of Grovers on it), so I'm tempted to have a go at a neck reset myself with a "nothing to lose" attitude, but assuming that fails (I've only neck reset I've done was on a ukulele) I'll be looking at finding another 12-string...

I don't use it THAT much, so wouldn't be wanting to spend more than £250 probably. Should I be looking at the obvious Tanglewoods, Sigmas et al, or is there something else that's good at that sort of money. I'm fine with second hand if I can get something better for the money, but I would like to be able to tune to standard pitch without it becoming a banana.

Any suggestions most welcome

chrisj1602 · February 2015

The Epiphone DR212 is supposed to be quite good and only £149

stimpsonslostson · February 2015

I have a Vintage Brett 12 string. Parlour sized & electroacoustic I LOVE it- I've actually sold all my other acoustics because it suits me perfectly.

Mine was £320 new (with a fitted hard case- it's strangely proportioned so won't fit most standard cases). You might be able to pick one up second hand within budget.

I used to have a Simon & Patrick Cedar 12 (I paid £200 second hand), that was the best sounding guitar I've ever owned… It was HUGE though (both body and neck felt massive), so I sold it on. I wish I'd kept it.

JookyChap · February 2015

If you don't mind a smaller bodied beast, the Vintage (make) Paul Brett 12 strings are excellent. You might get one £250ish on ebay - like this (nowt to do with me, mind)

Spec Here

http://www.jhs.co.uk/VintageACOUSTIC/VE8000PB.jpg

JookyChap · February 2015

Ah, we crossed @stimpsonslostson

stimpsonslostson · February 2015

Great minds think alike? Or fools never differ?

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

Thanks.

@stimpsonslostson, my Hondo is big - copy of a Martin D28 I think - so size doesn't bother me. My 6-string acoustic is a Tanglewood TW133 parlour, so it might be good to stick with a full-size 12-string anyway.

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

Thanks @jookychap, I have heard those Vintages are supposed to be good. Not sure if I want two parlour size guitars though...

I'm not going to rush out and buy or bid on anything yet though - I want to have a go at a neck reset on the Hondo first as it's not got much value, then if I completely screw it up I'll keep/flog the tuners and the bridge doctor and buy something else.

Slightly off-topic, but anybody happen to know what the glue's likely to be in an '80s Hondo? The ukulele I did the neck reset on steamed apart quite easily, but I've read some stuff about some Japanese guitars of around that time using epoxy and being all but impossible to get apart.

Sassafras · February 2015

You could also get a nice Takamine 12. I can't remember the model numbers but they're the EG series acoustics.

2nd hand about £200-250.

JookyChap · February 2015

DartmoorHedgehog said:

Thanks @jookychap, I have heard those Vintages are supposed to be good. Not sure if I want two parlour size guitars though...

I'm not going to rush out and buy or bid on anything yet though - I want to have a go at a neck reset on the Hondo first as it's not got much value, then if I completely screw it up I'll keep/flog the tuners and the bridge doctor and buy something else.

Slightly off-topic, but anybody happen to know what the glue's likely to be in an '80s Hondo? The ukulele I did the neck reset on steamed apart quite easily, but I've read some stuff about some Japanese guitars of around that time using epoxy and being all but impossible to get apart.

@wezV would know better than me, but I took a neck off a Hondo Les Paul and the glue melted with a soldering iron...

6feet7 · February 2015

How about an electric 12 string instead?

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/31844/12-string-les-paul#latest

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

JookyChap said:

@wezV would know better than me, but I took a neck off a Hondo Les Paul and the glue melted with a soldering iron...

Thanks, sounds promising. I've got nothing to lose really, if it works I'll be happy (it sounds really quite good despite being worthless) and if it goes horribly wrong it's not like I've killed anything of any real value.

@6feet7, I'm not really looking for an electric, but thanks anyway

JookyChap · February 2015

Actually that was mis-leading, I had a soldering iron resting on a knife against the joint, so the iron heated the knife - heated the joint - melted the glue. Didn't set fire to the neck that way

Alnico · February 2015

My local shop has a lovely Tanglewood 12 string for £189 brand new. It's been reduced in a sale, it was still there last Saturday.

Music Centre, Bedford......01234 346206

Their website has an online shop, it might be on there but if you give them a call speak to Ross or Brice and tell them 'Andy' told you about it.

Gru · February 2015

I thought @hobbio had one for sale in the classifieds (unless it's sold). Might be worth a look.

hobbio · February 2015

@Gru I sold it mate, @Alnico is the new owner. Thanks for thinking about me though!

strtdv · February 2015

I almost bought a reissue fender villager off someone on here, still regret not getting it

Octahedron · February 2015

Try Cort.

They're often overlooked and not for any good reason.

I have an MR710F, and I had a matching MR710F 12 string for a while.

Honestly when I didn't like my Tanglewood parlour anymore I actually nearly just bought a 2nd matching Cort so I could have one in standard tuning, one in altered tunings and the 12 string to complete the family.

Sadly I sold the 12-string.

I was in a shop the other day and picked up a 12 string to play - just a "nobody's" brand here in Aus called Tribute. $298 Aussie sheets. Not bad. I don't like their 6-string dread but their 12 sure had a nice full sound and a decent tone for the price tag.

I nearly, nearly bought one. Heck I might still. As much as I love solo acoustic 6 string I love that depth and the additional sonic dimensions afforded by the extra 6 strings!!

Long live the 12 string.

Try Cort. And good luck in your quest!

usedtobe · February 2015

Can you not get a pedal that makes a 6 sound like a 12, these days..? Then you wouldn't have to endure playing a 12...No offence - I just never could get on with a 12..

Sassafras · February 2015

I don't think any pedal could sound like a decent 12 in full song.

I know chorus is supposed to approximate the sound but to my ears it fails miserably.

Octahedron · February 2015

I've not heard of one specifically for that purpose. But I've seen one which was a chorus pedal with a 12-string setting on it.

I still don't feel modulation (pedals or otherwise) are really up to the job. Nothing beats the real thing.

Shame that you can't get along with it.

Watching some YouTube videos has only further inspired my build up of GAS for one

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

I don't think anything sounds quite like an acoustic 12-string. I can't imagine myself having an electric 12 but I find the acoustic one useful (although I couldn't justify owning an expensive one).

I agree Cort are often good value - I've got a Cort bass that was cheap but plays very well.

Thanks again for the suggestions folks. I'm having a go at patching up my Hondo at the moment but if that fails I'll be following up some of your leads.

Monkeybone · February 2015

usedtobe;521749" said:
Can you not get a pedal that makes a 6 sound like a 12, these days..? Then you wouldn't have to endure playing a 12...No offence - I just never could get on with a 12..

The Digitech Mosaic is marketed as a 12 string in pedal form, whether it works or not is another question.

erky32 · February 2015

Two days ago I received a Takamine GJ72CE-12NAT, bought for around £260 at Thomann (they appear to have sold out now!).

Havent even plugged it in yet, but it's some guitar for the price, a built in tuner (essential!!) with 3 band EQ plus all the other stage gizmos. Its very highly laquered but feels absolutely bombproof. Nice neck, good low action and the 10-47 strings are managable. Its a big bodied jumbo, but that is reflected with its big sound. Its my 3rd 12-er, .....40+ years ago as a student and having a Framus 12, but I really wanted a strat!!.... so again 20 yrs ago got a Yam' APX 12, but since I never bothered singing then it didnt have a great future, so it went .....now I do a lot more singing and have been totally smitten by John Butler Trio , so we'll see how this new experiment goes!

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

Thanks @erky32 - sounds good. I'm trying to patch up my Hondo at the moment with a new top, but if I fail miserably I may still be after a new 12.

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Inexpensive 12-strings

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