Smaller bodied 12 string?

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In case you're interested in dreadnoughts, I just got my hands on a used GAD G212E, and it's been treating me very kindly. I'm very much a novice, but it sounds great to me: in all of the videos I saw when I was researching it, it seemed a lot more resonant than the newer, all-mahogany dreads (D-1212/D-125-12). They're no longer being produced, but they pop up on Reverb a fair amount, usually between 600-800.
 

MLBob

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I purchased a Gibson Hummingbird Progressive 12 because
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it had the the most comfortable neck for me. I had a glorious JF 30 -12, but like you, it was getting painful for me to play.
 

portsider

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I'm still trolling but I may just learn to play sitting down and hang on to Blondie. A more stage friendly guitar would be nice, but this baby is glorious.
6tVGS3T.jpeg
 

chazmo

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Well, if you can find a way to get comfortable with the jumbo, then there's certainly nothing wrong with that decision! :) I actually find that long sessions sitting down can be uncomfortable. A stool is your best bet for that as you can adjust the height of your knees pretty easily.

Anyway, good luck in the ongoing hunt.
 

beecee

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Surprised Al hasn't chimed in on the classical position...

And yes that is a fine F-412
 

adorshki

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Well donnylang offered to buy my f412 and I sold it to him so I’m really looking now.
F212/312=16" lower bout jumbo shape, derived from F47; F112=15" lower bout jumbo shape derived from F30. ;)

Beecee mentioned I'm a fanatic for playing in classical position, but even that's not a cure-all, since my dreads have become a little stressful if I play for more than about a half hour now, and my F65ce (16" lower bout jumbo) has become my go-to for comfort.

Also I realize classical position isn't always compatible with performing, depending on the venue and other things.

Good luck with the hunt!
 

specie

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Well, for a small 12er for $6-700, you're prob. going with a GAD F212- hard to find, though they show up periodically. The other imports, the 1512 and 2512, are big. For classic 60s 12-strings, I love the F-212 but they are more like 1500-2k for one that is in decent condition. The f112 is cheaper, but doesn't have (to me) that big, rich sound.
 

portsider

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My one GAD was a OM size GAD30. Really nice player and sounded really nice, but it didn't "feel" right. I mean the sound not the physical guitar. When I play an acoustic I like I get kind of a "recoil" of the sound coming back at me, more tactile than audible.
Anyway that sort of scared me off of GADs.
I'll try the F112 and see how it goes. There's something that happens to the old Guilds over the years that makes them sonic delights.
 

12 string

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F-112s have a lightning fast response and very brilliant tone. They're great guitars.

' Strang
 

Westerly Wood

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I used to think about the smaller body Guild 12 strings too, that is till I heard a sound clip of an LTGer who just bought a Guild G312, so dreadnaught, like think D50-12 basically is what it is. I probably now would only look for a Guild dread 12er now :)
 

Westerly Wood

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Oh, I know that guy! :)

sorry man, my short term memory is so bad, and i kind of knew it was you but was not 100% :)

but your G312 sound clip and pics pretty much shored up my long time contention that the only Guild 12 string i would want is a dread Guild 12 string.
 

wolfpapa

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I had a Seagull s-12 that I really liked, I sold it to get a JF30-12. While the JF-12 has a rich, responsive, clear guitar tone, it's just too big for me to comfortably play for long periods of time. I wish I had the Seagull back.
 

portsider

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I received my F112. It’s so much smaller and lighter it’s kind of a shock. The sound is so different from the jumbo I’m used to that I’ll have to alter my approach. I think when I get it worked out I’ll be able to play more nuanced music on it.
The guitar (a 1973) is in really good shape no top bulge at all. The saddle is low but not too low. The guitar is playable all up the neck .
I’m going to be working with this baby a lot so we can get to know each
 
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