Acoustic 12 Strings - What are your favorites?

[Unicorn Warrior]

I am not well versed in acoustic instruments but it's something that I am getting more and more into. Have been wanting to get a 12 stringer to beef up live sets as well as potential studio use/song writing

Looking for something tighter and not so bass heavy as I feel that a lot of low end can sound sloppy with a 12. Quality and playability are primary and I want to get the most bang for my buck. I'll say that my budget varies from $500-$1500. It's a large range, I know.

What do you use?

[Unicorn Warrior]

Just realized I posted in miscellaneous

Can an admin move to non-offset guitar talk

[Larry Mal]

I'm glad you asked, I've been thinking to do a little write up on my twelve string. I have a Taylor GA3-12, and it's nothing short of an amazing guitar and they don't cost a lot of money.

All solid wood, made in the states, ebony fingerboard, it's Taylor's Grand Auditorium shape, so not too huge.

Just look how happy I am playing mine!



I just put on a bone saddle on the thing.

You can find them for like $800 all day long, and it's a tremendous deal. Really. I could not imagine a better twelve string at any price.

[Unicorn Warrior]

Lol all work and no play makes Larry a dull boy

But seriously..thanks for that tip. Definitely one to put on my radar. I've never owned a Taylor

[Larry Mal]

They take the 12 string very seriously, according to them. I'm inclined to believe it. Look into it, I guess.

[PorkyPrimeCut]

Check out new Guild 12s too.

I've tried a few now, the most recent of which was incredible.

[MrFingers]

When it comes to acoustic 12-strings, Guild are impossible to ignore. The new ones (both the USA-made and the cheaper GAD/Westerly PacRim) are truly stellar in feel & sound, especially the Jumbo-models.

When you go vintage, the Yamaha ones from the 1970's with the slotted headstock are also nice sounding & playing instruments. Just be aware that the FG260 is critically underbraced.

[UlricvonCatalyst]

If you're after the sparkle without the low end and are mainly looking at rhythm strumming you might consider stringing up a 6-string Nashville style. Imagine only having to keep six strings in tune rather than twelve!

[Unicorn Warrior]

If you're after the sparkle without the low end and are mainly looking at rhythm strumming you might consider stringing up a 6-string Nashville style. Imagine only having to keep six strings in tune rather than twelve!

Yes, I used a Nashville strung guitar in the studio. I loved how it turned out. Only thing is that I want to use it to hold down the rhythm live sometimes and a Nashville would be too much thin for that on its own. In a recording situation, you're right..the 6 strings are much easier to manage and control for layers vs a 12

[Larry Mal]

I used to own a Wechter guitar that was specifically designed for Nashville tuning. I wish I still had it, maybe I'll get another some day.

[marqueemoon]

For cheap Seagull is good.

Depending on the guitar’s place in the band I’d look at stringing a regular acoustic in Nashville tuning. Tuning 12 strings live is a pain in the ass.

[Larry Mal]

Stringing twelve strings is a pain in the ass, also.

Not sure if you can see from that amazing photo of me, but I put locking tuners on my Taylor GA3-12 like I do all my guitars, and for whatever reason I could only source real Schaller tuners as a direct replacement for the ones that Taylor put on there (using the same form factor). That cost me a little under $200 for the whole set, I considered it to be worth it since I absolutely love this twelve string guitar and view expense as no obstacle regarding making it be the best guitar it can be.

I doubt that makes any difference here, I'm weird about locking tuners, but they sure do make a nice difference with a twelve string model. The headstock can be a little tight, and whatever can give even the slightest advantage towards holding the tuning is worth pursuing if you ask me.

Like I say I recently got a Taylor brand compensated bone saddle, so each string is at what is supposed to be the proper specific length.

I did this Monday, and it still has the fresh strings settling in, so I'm not going to tell you that it did what it says it would yet but it certainly doesn't seem any worse. This bone saddle brightened this guitar up a lot from the Tusq one, from what I can tell. Like I say, fresh strings and all that. I'm not 100% sure how I feel about that so far.

I'm getting a little off track here, but I thought maybe some of this might be helpful in some way.

I did used to own a Seagull 12 string. I was not very skilled at setting guitars up at that point but I found it very hard to play. Obviously, 12 string guitars are harder to play to a degree, but what hooked me about this Taylor 12 string was that all of a sudden I had found one that wasn't really harder to play than a six string.

That was all I needed to see, I bought it on the spot. I can barre on it, play somewhat complicated chords on it, I can play up and down the neck. In some ways it plays a little easier than my other acoustics since I use lighter strings on there (.11s vs. 12s).

Taylors are known for their incredible playability and I am not one to disagree. I love Taylors for that, and the other chief thing they are known for is their bolt on necks.

And yeah, I did take advantage of that with my 12-string, I had the neck pulled and a shim put in. It made a great playing guitar even better.

[øøøøøøø]

Guild is the alpha and omega of acoustic 12 strings

[jakeisjake]

For cheap Seagull is good.

Depending on the guitar’s place in the band I’d look at stringing a regular acoustic in Nashville tuning. Tuning 12 strings live is a pain in the ass.

i had one for about 7 or 8 years...it was a great guitar.

[jakeisjake]

funny, i just took the Yahama 12 string we have out and was playing it...it's under $500 and plays and sounds pretty good.