Is this a good deal for a 12-string?

[dmak]

Takamine EG523C12 Jumbo 12-String Cutaway Acoustic Guitar

 

Does anyone know about the TK4NT preamp? I haven't found too much on it - even in the User Review forums.

 

Picture of guitar

 

Does Takamine make their Preamps interchangeable - for instance - down the road can I put in a Graph-Ex preamp instead.

 

Overall the guitar seems nice. Solid spruce top and flamed maple back and sides. Plastic nut and bridge, but that is not really too bad.

 

Thoughts on this Takamine?

[Terry Allan Hall]

I'd stay aware from lower quality 12-strings, as they tend to self-destruct after a while...moving up to a quality 12-er may mean waiting/saving a little more, but, ultimately, you'll end up w/ a guitar that you'll enjoy for many, many years.

 

If you'll consider buying a used guitar, you can find a Guild F-212 or F-412 for about the same $$$ or just a bit more. For just a bit more than that, you might find a used Taylor 355 or 455 or a Larrivee J-03-12...probably take some serious lookin', but they're out there! (A friend recently lucked onto a 355 for $725 w/hsc!)

 

Just my $.02 and best of luck shopping!

[sonik]

I too am interested in this guitar. I played one for over an hour at GC the other day. Felt good, sounded good, and the price is right.

 

So whats the problem?

 

Also how do cheap guitars (if 500 dollar guitars are cheap) self destruct?

 

 

I have a cheapo yamaha from the 60's and it hasn't blown apart yet...

 

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by sonik777 I too am interested in this guitar. I played one for over an hour at GC the other day. Felt good, sounded good, and the price is right. So whats the problem? Also how do cheap guitars (if 500 dollar guitars are cheap) self destruct? I have a cheapo yamaha from the 60's and it hasn't blown apart yet...

 

12-stringed guitars put a lot of strain on the neck and the bridge...almost 2X the pressure of an equivalent 6-string.

 

The ONLY 12-strings I've ever owned that held up to long term usage has been my Guilds and my Taylors (although I did get about 5 good years out of a Yamaha FG-260 in the mid - to late-70's and have a cheap Korean 12 that I tune "Nashville style" and keep in my home studio).

 

I've owned two Gibsons (B-45 and J-200-12...in both cases the necks bowed repeatedly), a Martin (D-12-28...face split), a Takamine (don't recall the model # but it might've been a 370...it survived about 5 months on the road before the bridge came off), an Ovation Glen Campbell 12 (warped neck), and a few others.

 

Mind you, I use fairly light strings (.047 - .010) and never tune higher than standard, but few companies make a truly good 12-string...

 

Trust me, a less than stellar 12-string, like a Guild or a Taylor, is just a crap-shoot!