JSett wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:40 pm
buckaroo wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 4:00 pm
The nut width is quite narrow as well
Can you measure it for us?
1.6875" (42.86 mm). It's in the specs on the website. I should qualify that the nut "feels" narrow.
I played the XII for an hour through Amplitube. Having owned an electric 12 (a 60s Hagstrom) and recorded with a Danelectro 12 in the past, I already knew that a compressor is a must have for getting great tone. I was focused on getting a bright, classic 12 string tone - think Beatles, Byrds, Searchers, Hollies, etc. It was easily acheivable using Fender amps, especially with the bright switch on.
Just getting the amp at the edge of breakup and dialing back the volume on the guitar put me in the zone.
The bridge pickup is a tiny bit gnarly - not surprising, but a little difficult to tame. I would probably swap the pus with the AV 65s if I was keeping the JM vibe. I'm already predisposed to going the Novak XII pickup route, although I'm not in a hurry to do that.
Just like any acoustic or electric 12-string tuned to concert pitch, it's somewhat difficult to play. However, it is no more difficult to play than any other 12 string I've tried. Playing single note lines near the nut on the EAD strings takes some extra grit, and sounding those hammer ons when playing first position chords takes some extra precision.
All in all, I'm very happy with this out of the box. It was a better out of the box experience than my Squier Bass VI and my CV 60s JM.