Members kwakatak Posted March 30, 2015 Members Share Posted March 30, 2015 My retired mother is a shopaholic when it comes to antiques and flea markets. She informed me that she picked up an Epiphone 12 string for $120 for my birthday. She says it's "not scratched" up and that the case is a hard shell type that has red velour. She couldn't read what model it was on the label but how many models can there be? If it's a DR212 will it have a solid top? Will it explode in my lap and blow up my junk? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted March 30, 2015 Members Share Posted March 30, 2015 Extra goats for extra strings Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted March 30, 2015 Members Share Posted March 30, 2015 The Epiphone web site says "Select spruce" which means laminated. I doubt it's a DR212 though as that's a relatively recent model. It's more likely an older guitar so it may not be in great structural condition. Then again, it could be a gem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted March 31, 2015 Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 I think she got rooked. That's a lot of money for any used Epiphone 12-string. I think that was the most popular 12-string around at the turn of the 70's because it was so cheaply had. The one I remember that was common had a bolt-on neck similar to an electric guitar neck. Everyone I knew bought them and used them as 6-strings. They filled a need. I think they were FT-160's, or some such model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members recordingtrack1 Posted March 31, 2015 Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 It is a gift from mom. It's a gem! Got it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Temple of Light Posted March 31, 2015 Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 Could be an AJ-18S-12 NA which is an early 2000's version of the acoustic dreadnaught uncutaway 12 string,in which case it would be a keeper... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted March 31, 2015 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 Yup. That's me mum. Always out for a good rookin'. ;0) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted March 31, 2015 Author Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 But of course. This isn't the first time, but it troubles me that she still makes ill-informed decisions without asking for advice. She's brought home similar finds in the past that usually aren't in the best of shape. I'm hoping this one is at least playable. She once brought home an old electric guitar with no nut or saddle. This one at least plays but she thought I'd get a good indicator of its tone over my cell phone. I asked her to read the label inside but naturally she's been too stubborn to get glasses. *face palm* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted March 31, 2015 Members Share Posted March 31, 2015 Well, if it's a POS you get to test drive your luthier chops, if it's a keeper then there's those playing chops to exercise as well. Win-win, I suppose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted April 1, 2015 Author Members Share Posted April 1, 2015 I went to the local Guitar Center to see if they had a DR212 in stock and they didn't, but they did have a J45 knock-off. It had a laminated top and thin tone. OTOH the MMV and 000-MMV were stunning as usual - both with minty fresh strings too. I've said it before and I'll say it again: they outshine the HD-28 AND the HD-28V. I'd be sorely tempted to trade in TWO of my guitars for either of those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarcapo Posted April 2, 2015 Members Share Posted April 2, 2015 Personally I LIKE a bolt-on neck. So easy to shim and get some nice low action...especially on a 12 string. The lam top can also be nice taming all that jangle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted April 2, 2015 Members Share Posted April 2, 2015 Personally I LIKE a bolt-on neck. So easy to shim and get some nice low action...especially on a 12 string. The lam top can also be nice taming all that jangle. And that's pretty much what everyone did but I don't remember anyone playing them as 12-string guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted April 2, 2015 Members Share Posted April 2, 2015 Personally, I do remember guys playing them as intended but Epiphone 12-strings were in the minority. Most 12-strings back in the day were Yamaha or Alvarez with an occasional Harmony. I saw a used Eko in a pawn shop. But my Sakura was a definite outlier. With luck, this one will be worth keeping even if it needs some TLC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted April 3, 2015 Author Members Share Posted April 3, 2015 OK, I saw the bill of sale. It's an older model: FT-160N with the natural finish. Most likely it's a 1970s model with a lam top and a bolt on neck. I probably won't see it until sometime this summer but I'm really wondering what kind of condition it's in now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Idunno Posted April 3, 2015 Members Share Posted April 3, 2015 I have plenty of time learning to play on one of those. Nothing to write home about but, like the Chevy Vega, it's now a classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony Burns Posted April 5, 2015 Members Share Posted April 5, 2015 You have a very special mom their - Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted April 6, 2015 Author Members Share Posted April 6, 2015 Yes, I do. Our family is pretty small so she's all I ever had so she spoiled the crap out of me buying several guitars at garage sales, flea markets, etc. She's also the one who made me take lessons when I was a kid. She knows my tastes have gotten more expensive but she hasn't educated herself as to why - but that doesn't matter. My last 70's era beater lasted me a good long time. I'm hoping that this one has similar staying power. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted July 9, 2015 Author Members Share Posted July 9, 2015 Jeez. I totally forgot about this thread. I still haven't seen the guitar and realized that my mom is coming to visit next week. LOL! I wonder if she'll remember to bring it? We're both pretty forgetful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted July 13, 2015 Members Share Posted July 13, 2015 My retired mother is a shopaholic when it comes to antiques and flea markets. She informed me that she picked up an Epiphone 12 string for $120 for my birthday. She says it's "not scratched" up and that the case is a hard shell type that has red velour. She couldn't read what model it was on the label but how many models can there be? If it's a DR212 will it have a solid top? Will it explode in my lap and blow up my junk? Kevlar man...With the rise of the Asian Tiger economies and all that global warming, a Kevlar jock strap is just about mandatory. You're taking a real chance w/o one. Personally, I use welder's gloves, goggles and a German WẂI battle helmet too, just to be on the safe side. Stock up on life and health insurance and enjoy your new guitar day. Congratulations. Another new hazard has been discovered. Terrorists are rigging up accordions as IUD's*. Give one a squeeze and ka blam! Don't let it happen to you. ----------- *Improvised explosive devices, not intra uterine device. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted July 15, 2015 Author Members Share Posted July 15, 2015 Mom came to visit and brought the guitar. It's in extremely sad shape. The neck angle is so degraded that the upper transverse brace acted as a fulcrum and warped the top so badly that the rim of the sound hole is warped from the fretboard extension dipping into it. We're talking about a neck angle of about -30 degrees; the action at the 12th fret is about an inch high. The top is sunken so bad in places that I can actually see the outline of the braces. Naturally there is a belly behind the bridge and the wings of the bridge itself have separated from the top. About the only thing that saved this guitar was that it has a laminated top so it didn't split under the string tension and heat stress. Is the guitar salvageable? I don't know. I certainly wouldn't pay to have it repaired and I certainly can't sell it in the shape that it's in. The only bright side is that the finish is intact; there are no cracks. I'm thinking that the first thing I need to do is find a way to get that neck off and actually leave the guitar out of its case and set it on a stand in my basement which has been around 60% RH. Poor mom. Her bubble is burst. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 15, 2015 Members Share Posted July 15, 2015 Is it by chance one of the old early 70's models with the bolt-on neck? If so, it might be salvageable with shims or some such. But given your dismay I'm guessing not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted July 15, 2015 Author Members Share Posted July 15, 2015 I believe it actually is a bolt on neck that's not too dissimilar to the one on my Stratocaster given that there's no heel whatsoever and the neck seems to be laying in a slot carved in the top. Sorry I can't take pictures as my iPhone is currently drying out but I did a search online and found this listing on Elderly's site. Mine has the "natural" finish (hence the N instead of the sunburst) but this guitar suffers from the same exact condition down to the rippling of the soundhole: http://www.elderly.com/items/26U-1584.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted July 15, 2015 Share Posted July 15, 2015 Yeah, the one in the link is a bolt-on neck, and if yours is in that shape (or worse), it's going to need a lot of work... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted July 17, 2015 Author Members Share Posted July 17, 2015 Yeah. The soundhole on mine looks a little better; no cracking at all. Just the frowny face. Looking inside, I'm wondering where the bolts are. The neck block inside looks to be about twice the size of the typical Martin. First things first, I need to steam off the bridge. I'm really amazed at how sunken the top is in places too, though. PS: it has a zero fret. I've been wanting to get a close look at one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 17, 2015 Members Share Posted July 17, 2015 . . . I'm wondering where the bolts are. The neck block inside looks to be about twice the size of the typical Martin. . . . http://forum.gibson.com/index.php?/t...h-broken-neck/. That should get you started at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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