Any 12 string love?

[headsup]

 

Checking to see who's got 12.?

And if there's any knowledge of an LS or CS 12 string build/owners with thoughts to share on the matter

Heck, even a direction to point me in to see or audition such a beast?

And.........

GO!!!   

[B0WIE]

I have one, a Larrivee D, though I admit it's mostly there to fill a specific purpose. A lot of guys enjoy playing a 12 for hours, but, that's not me.
I think Larrivee 12 strings have an advantage over others because they're very articulate and tight. Never boomy, never shrill. I like them better than Martin or Taylor 12 strings.

[mike in lytle]

Checking to see who's got 12.?
And if there's any knowledge of an LS or CS 12 string build/owners with thoughts to share on the matter
Heck, even a direction to point me in to see or audition such a beast

No knowledge of LS, CS, or even OM 12 strings, but have direct personal experience with L-03-12 in mahogany and rosewood, having owned the hog and have now the RW.
Go with RW no matter what, the hog version is WAY too bright. The RW is so satisfying it cannot be adequately described. The first Larrivee I ever liked was an L-09-12.
You cannot set them up too low. If you can bar an F chord it's about right. Larrivee 12 strings are not beasts.
And also have a 71 Martin D-12-28 (junk) and early 80's Daion 12 string.
Mike

[teh]

I ordered a custom 12 string Larrivee in November 2005 based off a stock L03 model. Upgrades included Venetian cutaway, mahogany top, back and sides, bone nut and saddle, archtop case and Jim Holler installed a pickup. I had the guitar in my hands by Valentines Day in February 2006 and 16 plus years later, this guitar has come into its own.

I keep mine strung with light gauge strings and recently had the guitar setup tweaked and it sounds great. Leo Kottke once compared the difference between a 6 string and 12 string with the difference between a piano and an organ.

My satisfaction with this guitar was a key factor in my decision to jump on the Forum VI bandwagon last June and am I glad I did. For several years, I contemplated ordering a 6 string version of my 12 string. John's announcement that they had enough Moonwood Spruce and walnut to make 19 FVI guitars was a welcome turn of events. I now have a slightly smaller version of my 12 string with unique wood and a 12 fret neck.

I did play one all mahogany 12 string (non-cutaway) a few years back but have yet to see another with a Venetian cutaway.

Admittedly, a 12 string is a niche guitar but then again, so is my Parlor. Songs like Canadian Railroad Trilogy, Early Morning Rain (Gordon Lightfoot), Darcy Farrow (John Denver) and Louise (Leo Kottke) just sound better on a 12 string.

These comments are based on 16 years of playing this guitar as a rank amateur with a 66 year old set of ears

[unclrob]

I have had an L09 koa 12 and an OM03 12 both were wonderful BUT My Guild JF30 just was the stuff and tone I wanted.That 12 died about 4 years ago I have since replaced it with a MIC Guild that is as close as I could get to my USA 1989 Guild 12.The OM03 12 was the best 12 from Larrivee that I ever played.


Keep smilin and keep dancin   

[headsup]

OM03 12???!!!!



now we're talking'!!!

[unclrob]

Really the next best thing to my Guild.I was looking for an OM03/12 when my 89 Guild died.Went the MIC route when I saw the Guild and for under $300 I had to take the chance.I happy with it.

[eded]

Admittedly, a 12 string is a niche guitar but then again, so is my Parlor.

For me, my parlor(s) are not niche at all.  After getting used to my original O-01, all the bigger body guitars got sold off.

I had an inexpensive small body 12 string.  It was a super short scale 22 3/4' scale.  It sounded surprisingly good for the few hundred bucks I paid.  It needed a bunch of tweaks (fret ends sticking out, fret leveling, etc.) but it was playable.  I wanted to make a new nut and saddle and set it up for Nashville tuning.  A buddy came back to town and was looking for a cheap guitar so I gave it to him and he plays it with 6 strings.  I may get it back one day.  I wonder what the Larrivee team could do with a parlor sized 12 string.  Short scale and 12 fret neck join.  I haven't put the $$ together to even ask.

Ed

[headsup]

Just for the record, I have a mint Larrivee L-42, which is the mate to an L-10, both built in Victoria in 1980-81, no serial numbers, no truss rod .

I don't take them out to gigs.
so....
Presently, I'm auditioning a lovely little cutaway made not to far from where I live.

Art & Luther is one of the Godin brands.
they use locally sourced wild cherry and grow a LOT of it.
pressure treated cedar tops with Adi bracing.
and a very good sounding pick up system with built in tuner & EQ.
and of course activating the tuner kills the main out signal.

hard to find fault with that.
add in the fact that it has very low easy to play action ALL THE WAY up the neck.

I certainly use the upper frets above the body join.
small body and very comfy.

Extremely attractive price point, and solid warranty.

Local bricks and mortar store run by a fellow musician in my little town.

Certainly tics all the right boxes.
Running it through it's paces, home studio, gigging PA etc.

[Rockysdad]

Really like that L body 12er.

I've got one of the Guild D1212, all Mahogany dreads, pretty good as far as I'm concerned, it's no F-512, but it doesn't need to be.

I'd really like to get an L body Rosewood 12er, then I'd be all done with GAS. 

[unclrob]

I really like the A+L stuff.Looks nice.Let us know how it does.

[headsup]

I've been in the studio with headphones on and the A & L. for the last THREE hours
what a party!

I dialed in some chorus, a bit of delay, and the tiniest bit of compression.

did serious neck travel, playing every position up the neck I could (usually i stop at the D) an octave above the second fret, but reaching extra notes with baby finger is fun as well.

The low action all the way up the neck, makes this an easy task.
intonation is surprisingly VERY good, because of the low action.

altering tunings ( Drop D/ double drop D took seconds, and the tension change didn't effect the tuning, rather staggering,

the pick up system is very responsive, in fact a bit too responsive, had to dial out some low end.
I believe the transducer in affixed to the top, or some of it is, so it doesn't respond as a standard piezo.

The tuner is handy as a reference, but not great, and a tad slow....

again, except for the limited 2 band EQ, (which my other outboard gear can deal with) I'm pretty much sold on this puppy.

In fact, I can't seem to put it down, it's begging me to challenge it with tunings, alternate fingering, weird dissonant chords etc.

it just shines.

mind you climbing into the headphone place at night, can sometimes, be deceiving...

I realize that my above post makes no mention of sound.

the acoustic sound of this guitar is anything but a  Larrivee.
As a small body, made with laminate back and sides, its punchy enough, and bright, decent protection, with limited depth.

My search for a gigging  12 string is directed to live shows, to have fun and experiment.

small body comfort, intonation, stable tuning, ease of playability, accessibility, trouble free sound- over rides bragging rights and beauty.
besides, I already have that, lots.