Why not a NS Jetstar 12-string

[matsickma]

I was looking at the NS Jetstar the other day and thought with the longscale neck and the 6 in a side headstock it would make a nice platform for a 12 string. Add the DeArmonds and set the strings up with like a Rick and it would be a nice addition to the NS line of guitars.

Any opnions? I may just keep an eye out for a used NS Jetstar. I wonder if the truss rod will have sufficient "threads" to accomodate the tension of a 12-strings?
M

 

[matsickma]

Oops. Typo in title. Jetstar.

 

[shihan]

I think the market for electric 12 strings is probably pretty small. Guild already has one model, I don’t know if another would make sense.
Cool idea, though!

 

[Bill Ashton]

If you look backwards, at one point there actually was a DeArmond solid body 12 string...surprised you missed it!

 

[fronobulax]

Oops. Typo in title. Jetstar.

Fixed. You're welcome.

 

[SFIV1967]

...at one point there actually was a DeArmond solid body 12 string...

Started 1999. The S-73-12. DeArmond had some cool models like the 7 string "Sevenstar".

Ralf

 

[matsickma]

I do recognize the market for a another electric 12-string is pretty small. I was suprised to find just how many guitar companies make solid body electrics!
The idea came to me by looking at the headstock and realizing how easy it would be to add additional tuners. Plus with the Dearmond pickups back in production it would be a cinch to come out with a solidbody electric at a low price point.
M

 

[matsickma]

Thanks Frono!

It's hard to believe that 20 years have passed since the DeArmond guitars were released and the eventual "blowout" sales of those instruments! Those Guild "clones" was what got me back into guitars!

I still own the first DeArmond I purchased...a red Starfire Special except I installed a set of vintage Franz pickups on it at a time when vintage Franz was the only option.

I also kept the S7312 in the same color as the picture posted.

The Thunderbird guitar shape was always a fascination of mine since I was a kid and knew of an older kid with a transparent green Thunderbird!
That being the case I have held on to all the DeArmond Thunderbird style guitars except the bass and naturally now regret selling it!

Red Jetstar, green Jetstar Special, green Bajo Jet, blue 7-Star (like picture above) but the black Jetstar bass was sold.
I really though it was cool that the different models were produced.

BTW...if I recall the BajoJet was developed for the Lovin Spoonfulls singer, song writer and strummer John Sebastian. I remember reading that the Guild Nashville custom shop development his guitar. He chose that body shape because of being iconically associated with the Lovin Spoonfulls from Zal's Yanovosky days of his Guild Thunderbird.

Does anyone else remember or add credibility to the impetus behind the initial Bajo Jet?
M

 

[mavuser]

fender has an electric 12 string currently/recently. it's a jagg/master looking type of thing. i actually picked one up and quickly concluded an acoustic Guild 12 like an F-112, or something cool like Grot's or Jane's FS-46-12, or really any Guild 12, with electronics, was a much better idea. have personally yet to try a SF-12. I think I would like it, but I don't know. the Fender was weird. my demo was over fast.

 

[matsickma]

I do remember Johnny Winters playing a Fender Electric XII at times. Kind of looked like a Jaguar/Jazz Master shape. My understanding is he had it strung with only six strings. I saw a reference that he used it at Woodstock but never saw his performance.
M

 

[SFIV1967]

BTW...if I recall the BajoJet was developed for the Lovin Spoonfulls singer, song writer and strummer John Sebastian. I remember reading that the Guild Nashville custom shop development his guitar. He chose that body shape because of being iconically associated with the Lovin Spoonfulls from Zal's Yanovosky days of his Guild Thunderbird.
Does anyone else remember or add credibility to the impetus behind the initial Bajo Jet?

Bajo-Jets need love too

If I'm reading this info correctly you may be able to set the DeArmond Bajo Jet and it's 30" scale neck to function like a Fender VI bass if the Fender strings are not so fat that they can't connect to the tuners. M

letstalkguild.com

Ralf

 

[mavuser]

there is also a Gibson 12-string Les Paul. at first, there were only 2 or 3 of them in the world, of which Warren Haynes owned one. at some point however I believe they made a run of them, not sure how big, small, limited, unlimited, etc. i'd probably go for one of those before a SF-12 or a Fender-12 for me personally, if the price were anywhere near comparable (even add a reasonable premium for the Les Paul made in USA over a new fender or Guild import)

 

[SFIV1967]

there is also a Gibson 12-string Les Paul.

They came out in 2012 in three finishes of Heritage Cherry Sunburst, Goldtop and Ebony Black.

Gibson Announces the Les Paul Traditional 12-String

Nashville, TN (September 14, 2012) -- Gibson USA merges its 12-string expertise with a legendary electric for what might be the most powerful-sounding and best-playing rendition of the breed ever

www.premierguitar.com

Ralf

 

[SFIV1967]

But a Les Paul is a Les Paul... and the DeArmond S-73-12 looks way cooler!

Ralf

 

[matsickma]

I do remember being quite suprised seeing Warren Haynes playing his Cherry Sunburst 12-string Les Paul two years ago!
I owned a Fender Coronodo XII in my late years of HS. Traded my Jetstar S50 plus $50 for it.
Not a very good guitar. The Starfire XII that I owned 10+ years ago was a lot better guitar. The Fender Coronodo wasn't in the same league.
The DeArmond S7312 is a great guitar for the money. It does have a bit of a top headedness when playing but it can be managed. The nice thing about the DeArmond 12-string is the neck is wider than a Starfire so it can be played in the open position easier than a Starfire.
The narrow neck issue would like be a problem on a NS Jetstar.
M

 

[Bonneville88]

I like mine

 

[matsickma]

The green S7312 is a strinking beauty. My brother had one of that color and I had the natural. I should have traded with him before he sold his!

I'm looking at the bridge on that S7312. It's not a stock DeArmond bridge. Did you upgrade the bridge or was the bridge upgrade done by a previous owner?
I'm curious who made that bridge?
M

 

[Bonneville88]

Good eye matt! That mod was done on the recommendation of Jon Ferber, who's now running Skip Goez's
shop in St. Louis. It's a Duesenberg bridge, installed for the sake of improved intonation.

Duesenberg Duesenberg 12-String Bridge Chrom, M4, Abst. 73,5mm fav...

Duesenberg 12-String Bridge Chrome, M4, Abst. 73,5mm

www.musicstore.com

 

[Bonneville88]

Correction, looks like it might have been this one

Duesenberg 12-String Bridge

www.rockinger.com

 

[matsickma]

That is a cool bridge! Never saw one with 12 individual adjustable saddles.
Thanks!
M