12 String

[jayhawk33]

I am looking to buy a 12-string guitar. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how well the Seagull and Takimine brands hold up compared to one another and also compared to the Guild brand.

[happy-man]

I bought a 12 string about a year ago, and I'll share my experience. I was looking to spend in the $500 range, and I wasn't in a hurry, so I played everything I could get in my hands. I live in Fort Lauderdale, FL, so a had a reasonable number of stores to visit. Also, whenever out of town I'd check out stores.

 

My experience was, that around the $500 price, nothing particularly stood out to me. There were definitely guitars I didn't like at all, like some Fenders I tried, but none stood out as a top contender, the best ones sounded "OK". I don't remember if I tried a Seagull, I was strictly limiting myself to a given price range. I did a lot of side by side comparison. I was probably going to get either a Takamine or a Yamaha (don't remember models), until I ran across a Martin D12X1 at a Guitar Center. Wow... no comparison. They cost $600 new without a case. I got mine a year old with a hard case on eBay for $460 (including shipping). Again, I wasn't in a rush, so I waited for a great deal. It's not built conventionally. The back and sides are Formica, the neck is Stratabond (gun stock material), but the top is a very lightly finished solid spruce. It sounds and plays marvelous. I mic it at open mics, and have NEVER played it without someone commenting on the sound.

 

Everyone's taste is different. Get you hands on as many different guitars as you can. DO NOT judge the D12X1 against a DX1 (if you've every played one). I really dislike DX1s (6 string version). The D12X1 IMHO stands up against any 12 string at any price. I like is better that any Taylor 12 string I've played (in general I like Taylor 6 strings). In fact, the only 12 string I've ever played that I liked better was another Martin that I saw two weeks ago. Don't remember the model, but it was gone the next time I went into the store.

 

Happy hunting.

 

Scott O

[JerseyGuy]

I second the remarks about the Martin D12X-1, which I've played in two shops and also toured the factory in Pa where they're made. Very superior sound out of really second-rate materials except the top. Easy to play.

 

That said, I bought a Seagull 12 a few months back and adore it. It's solid cedar top, cherry lam sides and back, mellow sound. The action might be a bit stiff but just change out the strings. Also, the neck is a bit too wide for some, but it's fine for me. You should get it for about 200 or so less than the Martin and it's just a matter of your taste in sound and playability. Good luck.

[jayhawk33]

thanks a lot for your advice. I've had a fender acoustic 6 string for 12 years now and all of the 12 string fenders i've ever played i haven't liked. i've been wanting a 12 string for quite a while, but haven't been in a real hurry to buy one until i found one that i liked. i will definitely check out the martin one you suggested. i live in kansas and we don't have quite a huge selection as far as music stores to visit, but, if i found one i liked i could always order on the internet...i forget about that.

[Glenn F]

I can't bear the thought of a 'black micarta' fingerboard for the bottom of the line Martin 12s. I had to look that up, and it is plastic. Not for me.

 

I played a couple of Seagull 12s a few weeks ago. My left hand didn't like the neck, at all. Too wide, almost like a classical. My sweat also didn't like the finish on the neck, as I found moving up and down the neck awkward. That having been said, they are surprisingly rich sounding (I used to have a 12 string Norman, with that better than expected resonance).

 

I am looking at, right now, a Larrivee 12 string; A Martin D28-12, and, possibly, the Yamaha LL16-12. Possibly a Taylor 355.

 

I also tried a couple of Yamahas when I checked out the Seagulls, and they were actually electric acoustic models that sounded very weak unplugged.

[USian Pie]

I'm very happy with my Seagull S12 but I agree with Glenn that the neck is huge.

 

Here's a couple youtube recordings of mine. The sound on the recordings is exactly what the guitar sounded like in the room -- nothing was added.

 

 

 

 

[happy-man]

I never even noticed that the D12X1 didn't have a wood fingerboard! When I read that post, I thought "no way!", and ran back to look at it. Sure enough!

 

It is a dream to play. I took it in to work to show a fellow guitarist. He's an electric guitar player (a good one). He played for a while, and afterwords commented that he couldn't believe how easy it was to play. He said normally his hand would be cramped with the amount he played my guitar, but he felt no strain at all.

 

From reading the comments, I'm sure I haven't played a 12 string Seagull. Makes me want to check one out.

 

Scott O

[Terry Allan Hall]

I am looking to buy a 12-string guitar. I was wondering if anyone had any information on how well the Seagull and Takimine brands hold up compared to one another and also compared to the Guild brand.

 

There's a very good reason why Guild (and, to a slightly lesser degree, Taylor) is the choice of almost all serious 12-string players...

 

That being said, Seagulls are OK, but it's hard to predict how long one'll hold up, as they haven't been around all that long, and 12 strings put a serious load of stress on a guitar...many other brand's 12ers aren't able to last more than a few years before developing serious problems.

 

Takamines make great clocks and flower pots...

[Freeman Keller]

The Seagull S12+ gets high marks for a moderately priced 12 over at the Cafe' (scan down, you'll find several threads)

 

http://p082.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm150

 

I'm always concerned about cedar tops, but so far no one is reporting theirs blowing up. I have a friend with one and he has had no problems (always tunes down).

 

Another sleeper that gets a lot of love is the J12-15 if you want to stay with Martins. Altho I have a D12-28 (and my homemade 12), if I were shopping for a new one my first choices would be Guilds and Taylors (but now you are ratcheting the price up considerably).

[KINNORDAVIYD]

I remember playing a Breedlove 12 String (I don't remember the model #), but several of us there, after playing it, had favorable comments. I believe it was in the $500 range.

[Tony Burns]

i have an old Yammie from 1971 - better than any martin ive ever played - back then It was either Yamaha or Guild.