DG-160 12 String from Rondo?

[SquierJosh]

I've always liked the idea of a 12 string as a rhythm guitar in my songs, but I wouldn't play it enough to justify spending even $500 on one. Has anyone played a SX DG-160 12 string from Rondo? For $79, I know it's not going to be super terrific, but does it stay in tune long enough to record for 3-4 minutes? Is the sound and playability decent?

 

Thanks, Josh

[daklander]

I would guess on a guitar that cheap, not only would the fit and finish be pretty suspect but, more importantly, the setup is likely to be really bad. I'm betting the intonation would not be very good and I'm betting the thing would be hard to play, even dropped down a step.

Do you have some you can demo? If so and you find one that plays well, it would be the one to buy, regardless of fit and finish though fit can sometimes be an issue to playing.

[SquierJosh]

I don't have anything locally I can try out. I could care less about the finish, only that it stays in tune and sounds "ok." I would assume I could adjust the neck and get a better nut to improve sound and playability a little bit?

 

 

I would guess on a guitar that cheap, not only would the fit and finish be pretty suspect but, more importantly, the setup is likely to be really bad. I'm betting the intonation would not be very good and I'm betting the thing would be hard to play, even dropped down a step. Do you have some you can demo? If so and you find one that plays well, it would be the one to buy, regardless of fit and finish though fit can sometimes be an issue to playing.

 

[Hudman]

12 decent tuners cost more than the guitar.

 

Save your money and buy something better.

[SquierJosh]

But according to several people on this message board, even if you spend lots of $$ on a 12 string, they bow and put pressure on the neck and require expensive fixes every few years. Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a new $80 guitar every 2-3 years?

 

12 decent tuners cost more than the guitar. Save your money and buy something better.

[babablowfish]

But according to several people on this message board, even if you spend lots of $$ on a 12 string, they bow and put pressure on the neck and require expensive fixes every few years. Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a new $80 guitar every 2-3 years?

 

 

If you use light guage strings and tune down and otherwise take care of it, a well built 12 string should last a hell of a lot longer than "a few years."

 

I am all for getting a bargain but there is a difference between inexpensive and cheap.

 

Still, all that said, if you want to get a guitar that you have never tried and which is so cheap that it is likely to be of questionable quality and durability, then go for it. Please get back to us and let us know how it all worked out for you.

[daklander]

But according to several people on this message board, even if you spend lots of $$ on a 12 string, they bow and put pressure on the neck and require expensive fixes every few years. Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a new $80 guitar every 2-3 years?

 

I comes down to simply how good an instrument you want. Certainly you can buy something uber-cheap and spend money changing things and setting things up. Even if you do the work yourself, what's your time worth? You would likely be spending quite some time doing to the guitar what it needs as well as spending additional money. So, you buy the guitar for $80.00, put a set of decent tuners on it for about $150.00, another $15.00 or $20.00 for nut and saddle. Then, what ever $s for fret dressing files and stones. Now you add in your time, even conservatively, another $100.00. OK, now you have invested $350.00 in an $80.00 guitar. That $350.00 will buy a much better instrument, new or used, and one that you can probably actually have your hands on prior to purchasing it. You can also very likely find a decent used 12 stringer in a pawn shop, yard sale or somewhere else for just a little more than the $80.00 as well.

Seems like a slam dunk to me.

[Freeman Keller]

But according to several people on this message board, even if you spend lots of $$ on a 12 string, they bow and put pressure on the neck and require expensive fixes every few years. Wouldn't it be easier to just buy a new $80 guitar every 2-3 years?

 

 

Could you point me to those people and the posts where they say that? I will argue that a well built 12 string will not have those problems any sooner that any other well built guitar - say 25 or 30 years, plus with the warranty you'll be covered when it is time to have it fixed. But then, what do I know?

[babablowfish]

But then, what do I know?

 

 

Now that is funny.

[Terry Allan Hall]

If your budget is that tight, look for a used "name brand" 12string...it's surprising what's out there if you take the time to search 'em out...

 

One example: I found a Yamaha FG230 for one of my students a few months ago at a flea market for $50 w/ hsc...all it needed to play wonderfully was a new set of strings and the bridge saddle sanded down about 1/16'".