12-String Alternatives

[fatcat]

Please forgive me if my post has offended you,Mr.Wilczynski but the thread title is "12-String Alternatives "which would seem to include all types.

["You'll never know what you missed."] I was able to hold, fondle, smell, play ,and covet the acoustics at the DCM confluence.I have never seen anything as fine as those, and probably never will again considering their rarity.
The Mitchell is an acceptable daily driver.
Peace on Earth.

[jingle_jangle]

No offense intended, no offense taken, Don.

Peace on earth indeed.

I am happy that you're OK with the Mitchell. And, maybe, someday, eh, Don?

[tennis_nick]

To fill the gap, The 12 String Riviera is still being made, but as an Elitist Model. click on the elitist tab of the Epiphone website to see it

[lennon211]

The only version of the Riviera being produced now is the Nick Valensi Riviera. There are no 12's being made.

[brianeharmonjr]

If you're looking for something cheap to try, a brand called Jay Turser makes a model called a Hawk-12. A friend of mine bought one because he couldn't pony-up the cash for a rick, and they aren't too bad. The necks are a little wider than I would like, but not bad. It is a solid-body, 2 humbuckers, 2 volume and 1 tone, 3-way switch, coil tap, with a stop tailpiece and tune-o-matic bridge. I believe they sell for around $300. Here's the url, but be aware it looks better in person:
http://www.jayturser.com/jt-hawk-12.php

Also, fender makes a pretty good 12 string strat:
http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0278900566

[firstbassman]

UPDATE –

[Brian, please check start of thread. One of the requirements was hollow body.

And yes, the name of the Thread is "12-String Alternatives." However I stated that what I was looking for was an alternative to my 360/12, which is electric of course.]

Since the only available one locally to try was the Dean, that was the one I got.
Here is a very quick review.

As you can see from the photo below, it is a smaller sized instrument than a 360. It is about the body size of a Les Paul. The sound-holes are traditional “f” shape and not the cat-eye style than is shown on the online website photos that Dean supplies. I don’t know why there is a difference. It is a set-in neck (the previous Dean 12 was bolt-on) and comes with a pair of humbucker pickups (in that two-tone ugly style).

With both pickups selected and the tone selector in the middle, the sound is very booming (especially on the low strings) with very long sustain. (Not RIC 360/12 like at all!)

The sound with just the neck pickup, as far as I’m concerned, is useless. Way too dark.

With the bridge pickup only and the treble boosted all the way up, the sound is much more to my liking and closer to the sound I’m used to with my 360/12. Not there at all but getting closer.

With the amp settings changed to mimic the jangle sound, the output of the Sarasota is finally within the realm of acceptable. To my ears anyway.

For a third of a price of a 360/12 (w/ toasters) and with a wide 1 ¾-inch neck, it fulfills a basic requirement. Haven’t tried it with a band yet, and I haven’t tried recording it yet. We shall see.

[lennon211]

I'd think that the usual people in the 12 string market would want covers on their HB's. I'm not a fan of that zebra style at all, on any guitar. Good luck with the alternate.

[sir_andrew_of_left_coast]

Here's a dubious endorsement for Eastwood... LOL

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h6gGsoQm5tE

[kiramdear]

I'm checking out my partner's ten-year old Dean Sarasota 12 right now. This one's Korean made. I concur with the previous review and add that I find it very playable all the way up the board, despite the wide neck, even before it's been properly set up. Neck is nice, solid, nice smooth board, and it stays very well in tune. Six-string saddles' intonation is good enough, action is good but could be set up even better. Fit and finish are remarkably good and I like the zebras. It has horrible neck dive but that's the only fault I've found with it (besides the plastic finish). The fake flamey top is actually quite lovely. This one has cats' eye sound holes and amber sunburst finish. I might buy it at a very nice price from him ($350).

[deaconblues]

Here's a dubious endorsement for Eastwood... LOL

http://youtube.com/watch?v=h6gGsoQm5tE

... love me some Bubbles!

The Eastwood would be my pick. Classic looks, plays well, w-i-d-e neck for those who like that kinda thing, and it's a hollowbody.

[paologregorio]

http://www.phantomguitars.com/ - Nice copies of the Vox Phantom and Teardrop guitars.

http://www.eastwoodguitars.com/ - They offer a couple of semi-hollow 12's as well.

I think if it was me, I'd troll around e-bay and craigslist until I found a reissue Danelctro 12. Supernice guitars for the money.

I'd say go for the Phantom Guitars Teardrop Hollowbody 12-you'll like the neck, and you can even get one with a whammy bar!!!!