12 Fretted Guitars You/ve Tried and Loved

[Pura Vida]

Maybe it's the angle or lighting.  It looks less asymmetrical in other photos.  But I can understand how it could be a concern for someone, especially at that price point.

[Zissou Intern]

Didn‘t want to highjack the thread with the 00-18, and JF album, sorry.

I actually wanted to ask about 12fret OMs, anyone played one? Not too many in the wild….

I played a Larrivee 12fret Vintage OM (gorgeous sunburst I recall) a long while back, remember liking it. But haven‘t had enough time nor was I specifically looking for one so didn‘t pay too much attention actually.

At the risk of seeming to only promote Guild, they did build an Orpheum 12 fret OM at the same time they built the slope shoulders. It is another Ren Ferguson design, and like all Orpheums, it has and Adirondack top and all hide glue construction. I have seen them in 6 and 12 string and rosewood or mahogany. Not many of them around to be certain. 

https://reverb.com/item/45535034-guild-o...tural-2014

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Surprising to find the rather unsymmetrical top colouring on a guitar of this price. Can't see it impacting on sound or playability but maybe on resale value.

https://peachguitars.2dimg.com/106/_48a2...edae13.jpg

Maybe it only appeared gradually after construction and sale to the retailer. Or maybe they got a good discount.

Alan, that's runout on the top. It comes from the top wood billets being sawn, not split. Some people don't mind it, and some people hate it. There was a recent thread on the Martin Forum about a D28A '41 with runout. It is 7 pages long and counting...
https://umgf.com/d-28-authentic-1941-wit...15836.html

[AlanSam]

Keith - thanks for the input. I will follow up on the 'runout' link - I am that kind of a geek!

[AlanSam]

Dan - I know a couple of Alvarez Hog 12 fretters have been mentioned previously on this thread, but has this all solid wood Alvarez OM been brought to your attention;- https://www.americanmusical.com/alvarez-...66SHB-LIST
I've never played one myself.

[vashondan]

Dan - I know a couple of Alvarez Hog 12 fretters have been mentioned previously on this thread, but has this all solid wood Alvarez OM been brought to your attention;- https://www.americanmusical.com/alvarez-...66SHB-LIST
I've never played one myself.

Sounds nice Alan.  Have heard lots of good about the Alvarez Masterworks.  This one is a 14 fretter.  I'll keep it on my list for all hog guitars though.  Nice price!

[AlanSam]

Dan - I know a couple of Alvarez Hog 12 fretters have been mentioned previously on this thread, but has this all solid wood Alvarez OM been brought to your attention;- https://www.americanmusical.com/alvarez-...66SHB-LIST
I've never played one myself.

Sounds nice Alan.  Have heard lots of good about the Alvarez Masterworks.  This one is a 14 fretter.  I'll keep it on my list for all hog guitars though.  Nice price!  

oops - my mistake Dan. The one I was thinking about is a Parlor: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Alvarez/MPA...-Guitar.gc
but you've probably already seen it.

[Vapour]

Vapour I know what you mean about getting larger body guitars that end up rarely getting played. Lately locally I've been looking into trading my E20 OM SB for another 00 sized guitar. I looked at & played a 00-17S whiskey sunset Martin 12 fret. I really liked the guitar but started thinking if I made that deal I'd have four mahogany b & s 00's.  What I would prefer is another E20 model but in a 00 with of course rosewood. Perfect situation would be to have two Eastman 12 fret 00's and my Martin 14 fret 00's. Also I still can order a Santa Cruz 12 fret 00 that I've been procrastinating on for a couple of months since I got the green light on. Maybe when I go to Santa Cruz for XMAS knowing that Sylvan Music is nearby things could change. That is also known as GAS.

You're right.  After playing my 00's so much lately going to the OM feels like a big step up in size for the first few minutes.  I've been close to pulling the trigger on an E20oo several times as well in the past few months.  If I'd seen one in person I probably would have.  I'm sure a Santa Cruz would sound amazing.

[vashondan]

Dan - I know a couple of Alvarez Hog 12 fretters have been mentioned previously on this thread, but has this all solid wood Alvarez OM been brought to your attention;- https://www.americanmusical.com/alvarez-...66SHB-LIST
I've never played one myself.

Sounds nice Alan.  Have heard lots of good about the Alvarez Masterworks.  This one is a 14 fretter.  I'll keep it on my list for all hog guitars though.  Nice price!   

oops - my mistake Dan. The one I was thinking about is a Parlor: https://www.guitarcenter.com/Alvarez/MPA...-Guitar.gc
but you've probably already seen it. 

Nope, hadn't seen it.  Thanks!

[Zissou Intern]

Dan, if you like the D18 MLO neck, you should get along well with the D15S neck. They haven't made them in standard production for several years, but they are still around. Mine left last December, only because I now prefer fuller profile necks. They run about $1200-1300 these days.

[AlanSam]

A few weeks ago I had my eyes set on a Martin 00-18 1931 Authentic and almost bought it. Apart from the price, the factors which put me off buying it are, in no particular order:-
'V' neck profile - not for me,
Uneven stain on sound board - ugly, and possible adverse impact on resale value,
Lack of a 'Martin' logo on the front (it has one on the back - which is period correct),
and perhaps most of all a period correct ebony neck reinforcement, rather than a metal truss. Bit of a high value  gamble in environments with a variable RH - i.e. most environments.
It is what it is, a pretty exact replica and I would really love to play one. It might play and sound amazing, but I think most people buying one of these will be buying it as a curio.

https://peachguitars.2dimg.com/1/_48a267...edae13.jpg