Can't Decide

[Ragpicker]

One of the twins arrived at the shop today. The F50R arrived and I was told the F512 was still being made. Problem is, they have "a couple" left over D55's with black pickguards, still unopened in their boxes upstairs.
I've always wanted a twelve string, but all my friends say that they are very limited in real world use. I don't play in a band or anything, heck I don't even strum very much, I play mostly fingerstyle, blues, rag, etc. Should I abort the twins and just take the F50R and pick up a D55 (corona) instead of waiting for the twelve string? How many of you folks really play your 12's alot? Will the novelty wear off in time? Will I get more use from a jumbo and a dread instead?
The dealer left them both in their boxes and just told me to go home and think about it, that he'd wait as long as I needed to decide, no presure. Is this a great dealer or what?
So I guess I'm asking for help deciding.....twins...or cousin's?

 

[West R Lee]

Hey Rag,

Quite a dilema you've got there, but one I think only you can figure out. My 12 gets very limited play, but she was a gift from my wife, so she'll always be with me. Guildmark's get more than limited play and he is a pretty accomplished fingerstylist himself, and he does that on his 12.

Both fine guitars I'm sure, but each has it's place. Sometimes I get in a mood in which only the 12 will comfort me, but for the most part I'm a 6 string type guy.

Good luck to you,
West

 

[dpicker]

Well I haven't been playing long enough to be a very good judge, but in my opinion after hearing the style of playing you do (I think the nice sounds of a guitar). You won’t be happy with the 12 string. I think they sound like strumming a tin can. I had a fender 12 and a takamine 12 and sold both of them and never had any regrets. Good luck

 

[Graham]

Opinions will definitely vary on this.

I had a 12, a Seagull, Cedar top very mellow beautiful tone. I sold it because I didn't play it that often. Now, not right this minute, but I do want another 12, a Guild of course. Not that it will get a lot of play either, but when it calls, the sound of a 12 is magical.

That being said, my DV-52 is simply amazing. It is the only dread anyone would need, so a D-55 to match your F-50 would suffice in that area. I'm even toying with the idea of parting with one of my D-25s, because 3 dreads just don't get used around here and I flat out love the big one too much to spend much time at the moment with the others.

Decisions, decisions, you can't loose with your options though.

 

[West R Lee]

Rag, have you posted a clip of yourself picking?

West

 

[Guildmark]

Thanks for the gracious compliment, West. I concur with you that it's a personal thing. Which is why I will never understand why a 12-string is not everyone's primary guitar. :wink:

"...very limited in real world use" - :?: I would respectfully suggest to your friends, Rag, to expand their world.

Please excuse me, but if you've "always wanted one", you're paying for it, and you are the one going to be playing it ("not in a band") - you may tell your "friends" that Guildmark said they may stuff it.

If I had to be left with only one guitar - it would need to be a 12. Period.

 

[6L6]

Life without a good 12 String is really not worth living.

So, rather than commit suicide, I'd encourage you to get both a 6 and a 12.

I often play my F-412 (and the '70 Martin D-12-20 that preceeded it) at Open Mics around San Francisco. You can just see the smiles all around when you pull a 12 out of the case. People love listening to 'em and I sure love playing them.

Cheers,

6


'06 D-55
'07 D-40BJ
'07 F-412
'74 D-40
'98 Martin D-45V
'98 Collings D-1
'03 Taylor 214
'66 Rickenbacker 360-12

 

[FNG]

Get the 12 string. Then go in a take a hard look at the Corona D-55s. Play them. If one speaks to you, then play the old "Geez it;s a Corona, no resale, not like a new Tacoma, blah blah waa waa" and walk out with a new D-55 for a killer price. He might be willing to move on the price since you just bought two brand new guitars, and he probably would love to move those guitars out. Can't hurt. If that don't work, sulk out, but then come back in a couple weeks and try again. :lol: 8)

 

[dreadnut]

I tend to agree with FNG, I like his angle, plus you end up with 3 guitars

My F-512 gets limited play, but when it does get played it sounds like a whole orchestra. I can't do Zepelin's "Goin' To California" without it anymore, it just doesn't sound right. It's an awesome axe, and even tho I don't play mine a lot, it takes me to a new place when I do. Gotta agree with Guildmark there. Get that F-512

Also gotta agree with Graham "my DV-52 is all the dreadnaught I'll ever need." But for 25 years before that, the only dread I owned was my D-25M. It runs a real close second to the DV-52. I guess what I'm suggesting is that you shop the vintage market for a dread, lots of beauties out there. Just today on ebay, a dead mint '75 D-25C with original hsc went for $831. It was a thing of beauty, you could tell by the photos. And you can still get a nice DV-52 for around $1,000.00

 

[J45dale]

Well I can be of no help at all! Because I have spent most of today picking a Corona D55....Hard to beat, and no desire to be without.
But at the same time Gas is really starting to build to a critical level for a
F-412. :shock:
Heres a thought, get another credit card and get both :twisted:
Dale.

 

[Ragpicker]

First I'd like to thank everyone who took the time to reply, and for their suggestions and advice. I just got back from the local shop after playing their F412, JF30-12, F50R and D55 for about an hour :roll:
Couldn't stay longer, had the dog in the car.
The JF30-12 was ok, I just felt my JF30 sounded better, so I moved on.
The F412 was kinda hard to play for about 15 minutes, then it started feeling better, maybe I just changed my type of playing. It loved Gordon Lightfoot stuff :wink:
The D55 was next, it was flawless and sounded, well like a dread. Thats not a bad thing, its just after playing three jumbo's, it sounded a little lacking all around. (which I know isn't the case with D55's)
I picked up the F50R, the salesguy said he put on new strings this week.
Oh My God :shock: The base was like a piano, the mids like a choir, and the highs like Angels singing. I could feel it rumble in my chest at the slightest touch of the strings. I know what your saying, its a six string fool :wink: Right then and there I made my mind up. Twins it is!
If the 12 string sounds good as the F50R, I'll die with these two.
Maybe I won't play it alot....maybe I can't play it as well....but as a couple of you folks were nice enough to point out, people do smile when they come out of the case, I was one of those people. And besides, who in their right mind would split up twins?
I just hope the 12 comes with the correct pickguard (see rant thread), and has a bone nut, saddle and pins.
Time will tell.
Thanks again for the kick in the butt.
RP