Who has a 12 String?

[BoogieMKIIA]

I recently got my Taylor 12 string back from a neck reset / rebolt, new strings and am really loving playing it. Do any of you enjoy playing 12 string, acoustic or electric?

I got mine from eBay last second bid. The guy had it custom built and apparently only played it a few times. Was sweating that I could be getting a dog, but all as advertised.

Taylor GS Custom (big), fine grained Sitka top, mahogany sides and back, ebony board and faceplate. Subtle trim items like ivroid binding and ebony trus rod cover.

Some may not like the Taylor sound, I think this 12 string sounds great with the abundant highs. Plenty of lows from the big body, very responsive to strumming pressure. Plus neck resets are no too expensive.

[HSB0531]

While I do have a 12-string it's a bass.  But, many years ago I got to play a Taylor 12-string acoustic for a good hour, and I really liked the sound as well as the neck feel.

[murkat]

I always wanted a Guild jumbo 12. They just sounded so good. Ive had electric 12’s, but non never surpassed my late 70’s BC Rich Bich 10 string.

[django49]

I still have both a Newport and a Duo-Tone 12ver. Great instruments! I more recently picked up a used Breedlove acoustic electric 12ver for fun. I am sure there are "better" ones, but it is a lot of guitar for $400.

[cmatthes]

I've got a few electric 12s and an amazing Guild Jumbo.  I love 'em.  I got a Rickenbacker 360/12 back in the mid-80s, but eventually moved that along because it was honestly, miserable to play, despite sounding great.  I've had the 12-string bug since then though.

I got an Eclipse XII 30 years ago, which allowed me to move my Rick guilt-free, as it was a better playing guitar and I could get the Rickenbacker sounds needed...and more.  I sold that here and ended up turning that into this gorgeous Newport 12:

I had one of these that I ordered new in the '90s and foolishly sold - it was way too fun:  

Since I kinda missed that, I had an opportunity to have a cool Cali Doubleneck built at the Hamer shop when they got a couple of super lightweight 22" Mahogany boards in stock.  This is actually the very last serial numbered guitar stamped in New Hartford in April, 2014: 

I built this one out of boredom and lots of spare parts during the Pandemic (yes...it's PLAID):

I always find the need to keep a 12 String Bass (or two) around, just because.  
 

The Guild is a 1991 JF-65-12 that my wife bought me from Gil Southworth as a law school graduation present.  It's a CANNON!  Bob Powers kindly added the DTAR in the New Hartford Guild shop a dozen or so years ago, and it's just incredible through a board:

 

[geoff_hartwell]

That sunburst Newport 12 is Killer!

[crunchee]

A 12-string MIJ Epiphone acoustic was one of my first guitars back in the late '70s, but I've mostly had electric 12's off and on since then on an irregular basis, I kinda have a love/hate relationship with those.  Lately, I've actually been thinking about stringing up one of my electrics to 'Nashville' (AKA 'High Strung') tuning; has anybody here done that, and if so, what did you think of the results?

 

 

Edited October 6, 2025 by crunchee

[BoogieMKIIA]

Years ago, a friend had the top of the line Guild rosewood/spruce with all the bling. Amazing instrument in every way.

[hamerhead]

Chris wins.....again......

'94 Eclipse:

Forgotten Goya:

Bottom-of-the-line Taylor:

IYV strung in Nashville tuning (well, not in this picture...):

..... sounds great. It's perfect for giving doubled parts an added shimmer or to make a chorus section pop. It's extremely effective without the tuning headaches. Highly recommended. My recently-acquired T-51F will probably end up with it.

And even the low-end Taylors still have that sound (which - to me - sounds like Jimmy Page's recorded acoustics). Very lush. I like it a lot.

 

 

[Hbom]

This one's been out on loan for a while. One of the best guitars I've ever played.

[tommy p]

I bought these two guitars on the same day probably 20 years ago when I decided I needed an acoustic.  I went in for this used Martin which I had had my eye on for a while and walked out with both that and a new Guild 12-string.  I've only pulled the Guild out to put humidifiers in the case, and change the strings about once a year.  I would play 12-string songs for an hour and then back in the case it went.  It still has the film on the pickguard.  It's going to be in my next wave of "For Sale" posts.

Edited October 7, 2025 by tommy p

[BruceM]

Playing a jumbo acoustic 12 is where I first heard the term tone cannon.  Strummed loudly, they can cover up a whole lot of other acoustic guitars.

[Dutchman]

I've got 2 lovely 12vrs!

Newport with Birdseye Top and Veillette Gryphon. The Gryphon is high strung and sounds like a mandolin. Plays like a guitar. Really fun instrument.

 

Edited October 7, 2025 by Dutchman

[Brooks]

On 10/6/2025 at 12:07 AM, cmatthes said:

...because it was honestly, miserable to play, despite sounding great. 

 

THIS, as it pertains to 12 strings, acoustics, fretless, and baritones. I tried, I really did...

[crunchee]

If anybody thinks a 12-string is hard to keep in tune, try this one with the trem (no affiliation):

Ventures 12-String '60s – Dave's Guitar Shop

 

[crunchee]

Stumbled upon this while web surfin' last night, hadn't heard anything about this RI here in The States yet...prices are in Euros on the Framus website below, so they ain't cheap:

The legendary Hootenanny guitar - Played by John Lennon

 

 

Edited October 17, 2025 by crunchee

[BoogieMKIIA]

On 10/10/2025 at 2:05 PM, Brooks said:

 

THIS, as it pertains to 12 strings, acoustics, fretless, and baritones. I tried, I really did...

My Taylor is very easy to fret, especially after the neck reset. Not like a standard six string but not so far removed. Bigger hands and playing a lot to maintain strength helps. If you only play electric with Super Slinky’s, will be a challenge. Couldn’t play it all night long!

Another great 12 string acoustic is Larrivee. Willcutt used to have several and were on par with Taylor. I recall the smaller body models sounded surprisingly good, comfortable to hold. No information how stable the set neck joint would be over the years. I got a Larrivee parlor in 2003 that is still solid.

[Camstone]

When I do acoustic gigs, I bring along my Takamine EN20-12 jumbo. It's a great guitar.

At electric gigs, I always bring a 12 and use it on a few tunes. I used to use a Duesenberg Duocat 12, but a few years back, I bought an Eastwood NSH12, which is a Japanese knockoff of an Epiphone Casino. It's killer and has a very wide flat neck. I like it better than the Dusenberg. I owned a Strat 12 for a while, but I never really bonded with it and moved it along.

 

Can't find a pic of the Eastwood, but here's the Duocat.