Any downsides to 12 fretters?

[Chasjax]

To quote the master, Jean, himself "There are no ifs and buts about it: the 12-fret guitar is a better guitar than a 14-fret.  It's the truth.  That's why classical guitars are 12-fret."  (from "Acoustic" magazine, Winter 2013)

Chas

[B0WIE]

To quote the master, Jean, himself "There are no ifs and buts about it: the 12-fret guitar is a better guitar than a 14-fret.  It's the truth.  That's why classical guitars are 12-fret."  (from "Acoustic" magazine, Winter 2013)

Chas

Wow, nice find. Very bold statement, though I'd have to agree. In fact, I'd even say the classical is a better guitar than the steel string though, I spend more time playing steel strings. That sustain on the high strings is so much fun.

[Queequeg]

I gotta my 14 fretters.
Even my nylon string (hybrid) is 14 clear to the body.
I've sold off all my 12 fretters.

[StringPicker6]

I just realized that Willie Nelson's guitar Trigger is a 12-fretter. Good stuff!

[William2]

I think 12-fretters are great and I have one. But when I go to practice, I usually pick up a 14-fret guitar. So much of what I play requires the whole neck and it is just easier on a 14-fret instrument. If you play the classical repertoire, you know that a lot of what is done is doable on a 12-fret instrument. But how about a bar at the 12th fret with other fingers being held down. I also prefer that more immediate sound of a 14-fret guitar as opposed to that open sound of a 12-fret instrument. Even if I went to a smaller guitar, I'd go with a 14-fret connection. Proportionally I like the looks of a 12-fret instrument. But I equally like the looks of a short scale 14-fret connection. In fact, this is what I am thinking about for a last instrument and my current interest in rag time transcriptions. I have three short scale 14-fret instruments in mind, and Adi / rosewood combo, a spruce / mahogany combo, or an all-hog instrument. 

[teh]

William,

You can alleviate the barring of a chord at the 12th fret by adding a cutaway. I realize that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. When Larrivee was still building classical guitars, they used to make a cutaway; I think it was an L-30 but I have to check an old catalog and I'm not home.

My 12 string LV-03 has a Venetian cutaway and I liked it so much I added a Venetian cutaway to my 12 fret, 6 string Forum VI (LSV-03) which has a 25.5" scale. Larrivee also offers a Venetian cutaway on the 24.75 short scale 24 series in both the LV and OMV body shapes. I thought about adding a cutaway to both guitars for a long time before placing my orders but I'm glad I did it. My two L bodied Larrivees are the only two acoustic guitars I own with a cutaway. I also prefer Venetian over Florentine for two reasons:

1) The rounded bend of the Venetian cutaway is more visually consistent with the shape and natural curves of the guitar as opposed to the sharp edge on Florentine.
2) The Venetian cutaway is less expensive. I paid less than $300 to add a VC to either of my guitars.

While I think cutaways aesthetically look better on the L, LS AND OM bodies, I think they look less appealing on a dreadnought or a smaller bodied acoustic. Someone can correct me but I think it's harder to make a cutaway on a 00 or smaller body shapes.

[William2]

William,

You can alleviate the barring of a chord at the 12th fret by adding a cutaway. I realize that's not everyone's cup of tea, but I like it. When Larrivee was still building classical guitars, they used to make a cutaway; I think it was an L-30 but I have to check an old catalog and I'm not home.

I just can't stand the look of a cutaway instrument. And I prefer the bridge placement sound of a 14-fret instrument. It also seems like most of the players I've seen playing acoustic guitar use a 14-fret instrument. One of the players I liked as a kid was Laurindo Almeida. He published a number of arrangements for solo guitar. One of those that I play ends with the player arpeggiating a C major chord in first position, then moving to 8th position, and finally ending with the C chord barred at the 12th fret and ending on a high G. This I can do with a 14-fret instrument. I think most of what I play works well on a dreadnought as do these new ragtime pieces. But I am curious if these pieces might sound more idiomatic on smaller instrument. By the way, Laurindo played a non-cutaway in his earlier career and later went to a cutaway classical. That cutaway never sounded as good as his concert instrument,

[BlueBowman]

That's a cool quote from JCL, and one I certainly agree with.

I can't improve on what's already been said, but I think of 14-fret guitars as having more "cut," while 12-fretters are more "full" and "musical." Head-to-head tonally, I'll bet on the 12-fret guitar every time. But, as ever, what tool do you need for the job?! I love a 14-fretter for certain styles. I also find them to be more do-it-all guitars. But, IMO, nothing beats the tone of a well-made 12-fret guitar.

[cc407]

That's a cool quote from JCL, and one I certainly agree with.

I can't improve on what's already been said, but I think of 14-fret guitars as having more "cut," while 12-fretters are more "full" and "musical." Head-to-head tonally, I'll bet on the 12-fret guitar every time. But, as ever, what tool do you need for the job?! I love a 14-fretter for certain styles. I also find them to be more do-it-all guitars. But, IMO, nothing beats the tone of a well-made 12-fret guitar.

This. I have, and love, both. Steel AND nylon.

[mbooe]

A 12-fretter is like a hybrid classical guitar with steel strings. I love them. I think of them as almost a different instrument, though. I'd never use a pick on one. They allow for a piano-like note articulation.