Wood for 12 string gits?

[teh]

Lots of good opinions and discussion here.

An older Guild or Martin (D-35 or D-20 12 string) would be optimal. I love Leo but you have to want to play just like him and be tuned down all the time to get and keep that signature sound. I opted for a special order Larrivee for three reasons:

1) Quality - Second to none, Wood choice, tone and playability must be experienced to be understood
2) Options - Venetian Cutaway and Mahogany top
3) Value - The cost of my Larrivee LV-03 (New) left me with enough cash to apply toward the purchase of my Martin OM-35

It's no accident that the Larrivee series always ends up in the top of the rankings in Acoustic Guitar Magazine and receives accolades from other forum members. You really have to find a way to play one for yourself.

Trinity Guitars has two new Larrivee 12 strings (L-05 and L-03), a used L-03 all mahogany (just like mine w/o a cutaway) and a Taylor and having played all four, I would have no reservations about any of them but you should contact Jim for his opinion and ask about his return policy.

On the used page, he also has a great HD-35 (I can't believe the price on this one) and a Gibson Hummingbird from the 60s. None of these guitars should survive the holiday buying season and if you played either of these, you would forget about a 12 string altogether. Happy hunting.

[ncognito]

Penner--

With your shoulder concerns, maybe you should consider the Stella type 12s like Paul Geremia plays.  They are known for a very loud, yet compressed sound, and come in different sizes.  He plays alot of intricate old time blues like Leadbelly, Reverend Gary Davis...

         DAVE

[pennerblue]

TEH-

You're a lucky man to be so close to Trinity.  I'm curious about a hog-top 12er.
Can you attempt to differentiate it from spruce.  I have a hog-top FIII, so I'm not clueless, I'm just not sure about the ADDED DIMENSION of 6 more strings and how that comes into play.

PS:  You're right about the bargains on those Martins (maybe Scott will buy them)

[Zohn]

Just another bean added to the mix: (it certainly caught my eye) 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Larrivee-12-String-Jumbo-Acoustic-Guitar-Model-J-10-12_W0QQitemZ230400644258QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item35a4f2d4a2

[obe-wan]

PS:  You're right about the bargains on those Martins (maybe Scott will buy them)

Shhhh!  There already on to me!

Cheers, Scott.

[pennerblue]

Just another bean added to the mix: (it certainly caught my eye) 
http://cgi.ebay.com/Larrivee-12-String-Jumbo-Acoustic-Guitar-Model-J-10-12_W0QQitemZ230400644258QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item35a4f2d4a2

That's a beauty but about 200% of my budget...Thanks though.

[unclrob]

As far as jumbo's being a shoulder problem its not the bout size{17"} is the depth of the guitar.In the late 80's Guild had a 4" depth and a 4 3/4" depth.My JF30/12 is the 4" modal and I have no shoulder problem with it.My Guild JF30 and my J05 are the 4 3/4 depth after about 15 minutes I have to put them up as my shoulder will start a revolt causing me to punch myself in the head.

[teh]

Pennerblue:

I was in North Carolina this week and just got home and remembered how much I hate flying. Normally I drive so I can stop by two or three guitar shops on my way down and back.

In answer to your question, I am not very good at articulating sound difference but I'll give it a shot.

1) For about two years, I played a lot of 12 strings (all with spruce tops) and many of them had a really nice jangle but almost all of them were a little over the top for me on the brightness scale.

2) When I discovered Larrivees (My first Larrivee was a maple parlor) I noticed that there seemed be a higher than average number mahogany topped 6 string Larrivees and I liked the sound on most of the ones I played.

3) I played two or three Larrivee Mahogany 12 strings with Spruce Tops (L body and D body 03 series and L body 05 series) as well as several Taylors (300, 400 and 500 series) but I thought the Larrivees sounded and played better to me. I asked Jim what a hog top 12 string would sound like. This guitar rings and resonates without the twang and has a really balanced tone to my ear. I think the hog top tones down the treble without sacrificing clarity.

I was ready to pull the trigger and then Jim Holler told me he could order me a mahogany topped venetian cutaway in either the 03 or the 05 series. My 50th birthday rolled around, my wife and kids (3 sons, 3 daughter-in-laws) surprised me with a box that was full of $50 bills ($1,400 worth to be exact) acquired from all seven of them collectively saving and rolling their loose change for a year.

I ended up with a LV-03 MT 12 string and Jim installed a bone saddle and L.R. Baggs pickup. I also ended up with an archtop case at no extra charge and the rest is history.

On a side note: I have been listening to Gordon Lightfoot since 1970 and he has always played a Gibson B-45 (Dread) for strumming (We also share the same birth day but I am 17 years younger). I have been listening to Leo Kottke since 1973 he always favored big bodied guitars for both his hard strumming/finger picking.  The L body gives me the perfect alternative to a dread and a jumbo and handles strumming and finger picking including altered tunings.

Leo once said that the difference between a 12 string and a 6 string is like the difference between an organ and a piano. I like that analogy and I like hearing an Organ with all the stops pulled as well as a piano.

Hope this helps.

[PortHueneme]

teh,
   Happy Birthday, mine is also the 17th, older than you, younger than Gordon Lightfoot.