Sometimes I really want a 12-string...

[Silence Dogood]

...then it goes away.   For a while. 

I seem to go back and forth on this a lot.  I think of how nice a 12 would sound on certain songs; then I pick up my 6-string and play and think, "Ah, this is fine.  Who needs a 12-string?"   

One day last year (or maybe it was way earlier this year) I even went to my rat-hole and took out several 100 dollar bills and went to a guitar shop. I played a nice 12-string for a good hour, and even took it up to the counter with the intention of leaving my 100 dollar bills there in its stead.  But (I think) it came down to around $30 I wasn't willing to budge on and I walked, glad to still have my rat-hole money, but I still have no 12-string. 

Now I find myself looking up 12s online once more and the urge is getting strong again.  This morning I was seriously considering an older Taylor 355 12-er that I found for a good price.

Do you have a 12-string?   How often do you play it?  Was it worth it to you, even if you only play it occasionally? 

[unclrob]

I have owned a 12 string of some sort or another since the 70's{anyone  remember the 70's}.In the 70's I had 6 at once most being Lawsuit from Japan.In the 80's I found jumbo Guild and that was it.In the 2000's I started adding Larrivee's an 09koa and a OM03 both I wish I keep.When my Guild jumbo Died I bought a Seagul which I never bonded with.I gave it to  my duo partner and bought a Guild jumbo from China which felt and sounded like my old Guild and I happy.
As to why a 12 string well its the sonic tone that ad a life to a tune thats missing to my ear.I tune to pitch and in open D or G tuning.As a player I find its a useful tool.

[ducktrapper]

I have a couple. One electric and one acoustic and, no, I don't play them often. They're there when they're needed, however. My advice is find a cheap used one. My Washburn cost $200.00 and it works fine. The Yamaha Pacifica cost more but I use the electric 12 more. It's very nice.     

[Queequeg]

The trouble with 12-strings is you spend half your time tuning, and the other half playing out-of-tune.

(With apologies for a very old joke.)

[unclrob]

The trouble with 12-strings is you spend half your time tuning, and the other half playing out-of-tune.

(With apologies for a very old joke.)

[Rockysdad]

I picked up one of those Guild D1212's a couple or few years ago, all Mahogany Dred.

It was cheap, but it sounds and plays really well. It takes care of my 12 string itch.

If you can find one to try, do it.

[eded]

Love/Hate relationship with 12's here.  I've been through a bunch...  love the sound, I get one, get tired of it (scale and body size mostly with acoustics), and get rid of it. Electrics are persnickety...  I once had a 66 Fender Electric XII.  That was the one guitar in my life that "got away".  Other electric 12's just don't have "it".  I did play a Reverend 12 strings recently that was really really nice.  Sometime I want to try a Viellette Avante...  short scale, small body.  

Ed

[Silence Dogood]

The one I almost bought a while back was one of the Chinese Guild jumbos.  It was nice and sounded good, but it was very light and I was concerned about it holding up for the long haul (I tend to keep stuff for a long time).  Entirely possible that such a fear was unfounded though.  Hindsight I'm glad I didn't get it.  But still I want a 12-string sometimes.

[mike in lytle]

If you don't enjoy having chickens, you will HATE having a 12 string.
Mike

[unclrob]

The one I almost bought a while back was one of the Chinese Guild jumbos.  It was nice and sounded good, but it was very light and I was concerned about it holding up for the long haul (I tend to keep stuff for a long time).  Entirely possible that such a fear was unfounded though.  Hindsight I'm glad I didn't get it.  But still I want a 12-string sometimes.

I have the made in China one after I bought mine my duo partner bought one.Well made guitar action is great play's in tune up the neck.I almost bought the jumbo jr which is an OM in a jumbo shape but a lefty L10koa l came my way still thinking of getting one.

I use a 12 string on8 of the 30 or so tune's in the Keith and Barefoot Rob duo and Gene Lloye duo I'm up to 5 tunes.

[eded]

The one I almost bought a while back was one of the Chinese Guild jumbos.  It was nice and sounded good, but it was very light and I was concerned about it holding up for the long haul (I tend to keep stuff for a long time).  Entirely possible that such a fear was unfounded though.  Hindsight I'm glad I didn't get it.  But still I want a 12-string sometimes.

You need a friend with a 12 string...  lol

[AZLiberty]

I have a few, have owned a few more.

Best sounding 12-string I ever had was my Larrivee  D-03R-12.   Sold it because I am really not a Dreadnought kind of guy.
Had a Guild D-4-12 for a while.  That thing was a beast.  Sold it because I am not really a Dread kind of guy.

The Taylor is ok, but it sounds like a Taylor, kind of thin and ethereal.  Great neck, easy to play, but no "thump"
The Rainsong is a lot better.  Really wish it had a truss rod though, I keep it tuned down 1/2 step.
My Guild F-212 is 47 years old, and really needs a neck reset.

If you don't mind a Dreadnought, the Guild D1212 or the Martin X-series are both nice instruments.

If you want something a bit smaller, then I really like whatever Breedlove's current import series is.  Breedlove tends to change series names every Tuesday, so...

Also Alvarez has an interesting one in their Artist Series (Solid Top, laminate back/sides) with an arm bevel that I think sounds pretty decent at the price.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Alvarez/Artist-Series-Grand-Auditorium-Acoustic-Electric-12-String-Guitar.gc

[ducktrapper]

To be my boring self, it kind of depends on what you're willing to spend. It is not hard to spend a lot of money and end up with a very nice guitar. Hard not to these days unless you're very unlucky. To me, however, getting a nice guitar and NOT spending a lot of money is the trick. Especially for a niche instrument that you won't play that often. 

[Silence Dogood]

Every cheaper 12-string I've ever heard sounded like a cheap guitar.  Most times all I can hear is just strings and no wood.   So if I ever get one I'll get a good one.  I've always liked Taylor 12s and Guilds, but the USA Guilds are almost $4k new.  That, to me, is insane.  I've seen several Larrivee 12s online for $1500-$1800, and some for much less.  That means one could buy at least two and sometimes three of them for the price of one US-made Guild.

[Mikeymac]

I've never owned a Larrivee 12-string, but I've tried out a few, and have always been impressed...they're pretty consistently good.

There was on L-05/12 many years ago (at Mass Street Music in Lawrence, KS) that was incredible...

[Mikeymac]

...current reality:

I didn't own a 12-string for at least two decades, then a couple years ago got the itch and bought a used Takamine - very nice guitar and a great, all solid-wood, made in Japan value.

Then I got the itch for a Martin, and started watching Reverb. A used 16-Series popped up for about the same value as the Takamine, so I bit (and sold the Takamine after comparing the two). The Tak was brighter, the Martin warmer. And - the Martin was actually easier to play (both at standard pitch/tuning)! That was a pleasant surprise!

I used it for worship a couple weeks ago, and, once again, someone said how much they enjoy it when the 12-string comes out. This past week it was one of our male singers who said it really made the songs sound great.

[Silence Dogood]

I like Takamines a lot, but I strongly dislike the barn door EQ panels.  If I could find one sans electronics, I would seriously consider it. 

[ducktrapper]

Every cheaper 12-string I've ever heard sounded like a cheap guitar.  Most times all I can hear is just strings and no wood.   So if I ever get one I'll get a good one.  I've always liked Taylor 12s and Guilds, but the USA Guilds are almost $4k new.  That, to me, is insane.  I've seen several Larrivee 12s online for $1500-$1800, and some for much less.  That means one could buy at least two and sometimes three of them for the price of one US-made Guild.

Guitars do not have to be (more) expensive to sound good or to play well. That's why, 45 years ago, I got into Larrivées in the first place. How times change! Anyway, it's the fingers not the strings. 

[Silence Dogood]

Guitars do not have to be (more) expensive to sound good or to play well. That's why, 45 years ago, I got into Larrivées in the first place. How times change! Anyway, it's the fingers not the strings. 

I agree with the spirit of your post, and for the record I love cheap guitars and by nature tend to root for the underdog (one of the reasons I chose Larrivee).  But I still have never heard a cheap 12-string that didn't sound thin and, well, cheap.  Lots of jangle but no bottom end or character   If I ever ran across a cheap one that sounded good, I'd be happy to be proven wrong. 

[mike in lytle]

I seem to go back and forth on this a lot.  I think of how nice a 12 would sound on certain songs; then I pick up my 6-string and play and think, "Ah, this is fine.  Who needs a 12-string?" 

So what is it exactly you think you want to do on a 12 string?
Cause you are going to be unhappy with it if it just lies around not played and then you pick it up and expect satisfaction.
Mike