Choosing a 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Date: Sat, 31 Jul 2004 21:47:26 -0700
Subject: 12 string guitars for rhythm playing

Greetings,

Glad to assist if I can:

What 12 string would you recommend if cost is not the major consideration
looking for a great sounding instrument to play background rhythm guitar
with a Christian praise and worship band?

I have a small bodied Breedlove 12-string that has a superb and very balanced tone. I also love the Larrivee's...they have a superb tonal range...

If I couldn't settle on a new Breedlove or Larrivee, I would personally look for a '70's Guild or Martin 12-string. Only for ease of play, Martins can be pretty difficult to set up. And, the Guild's were notorious for having bubbled tops behind the bridge.

They have great lead 6 acoustic and lead electric and bass, but nobody to
chime in behind the scenes since they also do not have a good keyboard.
At my level I could provide lots of "fill" as well as extra volume when appropriate.

Most definitely...a 12-string, tuned perfectly with an electronic tuner, has a very full orchestra-like sound...that's not even achievable with two to three 6 strings...I believe that the octave strings add the right tenor level string instrument to fill voids where instruments with typical tonal range always seem to lack. Need I say, I'm a 12-string guitar and 12-string banjo fan...

So need an istrument that is definitely musical, but also distinct, plus must be easy
to play and bar etc for clean sound...

For ergonomics and ease of play, a contemporary...newer 12-string is the way to go...bar chords on vintage 12-strings can, generally speaking, be next to impossible to accomplish.

Hope something here helps...if you'd like more info on a Breedlove or Larrivee 12-string, please call James @ 888-209-8434...

Mickey

my previous breedlove cedar/walnut jumbo was "too jangly" and my previous
Goodall jumbo spruce/mahogany was too soft and muddled.Tom Petty?
or a 9 series rosewood Taylor?
I am an intermediate level with a critical ear
thanks
dr h