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Post by lonelyjelly on Feb 8, 2021 20:15:48 GMT
Hello everyone,
I've very generously been leant this guitar for a few days to try out with the option to buy it. I haven't played many 12 strings, especially with a slide but it seems fairly comfy. Excuse the playing but what do think about the guitar? It's an all laminate Epiphone PR-650 12 from the late 70's or early 80's. 48mm nut and 59mm spacing at the saddle. Sloped shoulder. Action at the 12th fret is 2.5mm on the treble, 3mm on the bass.
What do you reckon y'all, buy or jog on?
Cheers, Lew
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Post by bonzo on Feb 8, 2021 23:36:29 GMT
Nice playing Lew. What's not to like? 12 strings are a lot of fun to play and that one sounds pretty good!
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Post by purpleorange on Feb 9, 2021 0:33:07 GMT
It looks like bit of fun, just make sure that you get it for a reasonable price so you can get your money back out of it when you need to move it on in the future,
Is it made in Japan?
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Post by pete1951 on Feb 9, 2021 8:57:49 GMT
Is it a screw-on neck? Usually these are good players (they are plywood no not a massive sound). The screw-on neck is very easy to adjust, so no neck reset needed if the top ‘bellies up’ , just a quick shim. Check the neck block ( if this is one of the screw-on necks) this can come loose from the top /sides , on the photo yours looks fine. Pete
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 9, 2021 9:06:33 GMT
Nice sounding guitar and nice touch. At first I thought you were playing Willie Harris' Never Drive A Stranger From Your door, but then you went into Willie McTell.
It's not the guitar that has the sound you are looking for, it is the player.
Shine On Michael
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Post by SoloBill on Feb 9, 2021 9:44:50 GMT
Hi, It doesn't sound like there is much bass or resonance/complexity to the sound (compared to my Fender 12 string). The sound is not very rounded but it depends what sound you want, the sound of that particular guitar will cut through a mix and at least sometimes is going to be exactly what you need. Bill
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Post by Andymccann on Feb 9, 2021 11:57:27 GMT
Love changing blues, love that. Don’t love the guitar though. Sorry
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Post by slide496 on Feb 9, 2021 13:00:10 GMT
Positive reaction here. I like your playing and think its a good match to that specific guitar, I think you sound really good on it and it records well - if you get a modern 12 string for McTell type music IMHO you may have to overlook a lack of receptivity for modern, or the epiphone brand from people into roots music. I got a Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat, which I think I do well with - it's not too hard to play - and people on youtube seem to like the demo of it as its picked up 6000 views, but I did have one or two roots players flame me for it.
Even if you don't intend to work on material you play on a 6 string I would check it out to see if the action is agreeable etc for non slide or if it's just good for slide, though and find out the brand and string weight you currently have.
Good luck, Harriet
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Post by bonzo on Feb 9, 2021 14:04:22 GMT
Good advice Harriet. String gauge and tunings make a big difference obviously, but maybe even more so with a 12 string, especially for sliding and blues. Neil at Newtone sorted me out with a set of suitably gauged strings for my 12 string tricone reso. It can shake the walls in C or even B open tunings.
Best wishes to you all, John
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2021 14:04:31 GMT
Sounds good to me TT
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Post by thebluesbear( al) on Feb 9, 2021 14:18:06 GMT
Hi While its in the hands of the player as opposed to the guitar id buy it, especially if its made in Japan , in the 70s and 80s Japan made some really fine flat tops and 12 strings , ill give you all a idea i have several top end yamahas mainly 6 strings
When i was last over there i paid something like 170 euro for two really great acoustic guitars , whats my point ? IMHO Japan made some really great acoustics if that 12 is made in japan id say snap it up
BTW , nice playing
Just my 2 cents worth
al
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Post by pete1951 on Feb 9, 2021 14:56:30 GMT
Yamaha, in particular, were very good in the early 70s at making cheap (and some higher end) guitars. One reason their acoustics were so good was the ply they used at the time. Usually 60s and 70s cheap guitars used a fine grained spruce as a thin layer over cheap hardwood, Yamaha used spruce as the centre layer, which gave a much better tone. Not sure when this practice stopped but all ( cheap ) ‘ Yamahas I have seen over the last few years have been Spruce/ hardwood/ spruce. I think Epiphones at the time were also hardwood centre ply. This means they are strong, but not particularly resonant Pete
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Post by blueshome1 on Feb 9, 2021 16:07:29 GMT
Not that early sound from that guitar. If you want go cheap find a Harmony 12 string from the 50s or 60s. Solid wood and ladder braced. Tune down to C to get near that McTell sound. Alternatively go the whole hog and order a Fraulini with a long scale to really hit the spot.
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Post by blueshome1 on Feb 9, 2021 16:07:52 GMT
Not that early sound from that guitar. If you want go cheap find a Harmony 12 string from the 50s or 60s. Solid wood and ladder braced. Tune down to C to get near that McTell sound. Alternatively go the whole hog and order a Fraulini with a long scale to really hit the spot.
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Post by lonelyjelly on Feb 9, 2021 19:44:59 GMT
Thanks all for your comments and advice. I really appreciate it. I'm gonna do another vid of it in standard and vestapol just fingerpicking. I'm on the fence but it is only £100 I think so for sure I can't really go wrong, but I don't wanna buy something just because it's cheap.
It holds its tune well, intonation is pretty good and the action is as comfortable as I can remember playing with these many strings, BUT a wider nut and string spacing at the bridge would be nice. The strings are 10's, which i'd change out for 12's if I buy it and C to C.
It was made in Korea.
Pete ~ I'll take a couple photos and put them up as I can't tell if it's a bolt on neck or not. It's already had some work done on the bridge that had lifted and a hole on the waist bass side.
Blueshome ~ I don't think I could justify buying anything "cheap" like a Harmony, even if I could find one that didn't need lots of work. As for a Fraulini....that just ain't gonna happen mate, as much as I'd like to try and sound like Paul Geremia...ahem...Todd Albright 😮😳🙊 Jokes. I saw Mr Albright play in Brighton and he blew my socks off.
On that note, Michael ~ you're totally right about the player and not so much the guitar, and I'm not really wanting to sound like anyone as such, just fancy having a go at some old Lead Belly, BBQ Bob and Willie McTell - maybe it's not really necessary though given there's so many other tunes and skills on the 6 string to learn! hmmm 🤔 😊
Once again, I really am grateful to you lot for taking the time to have a listen and provide some feedback.
Oops and sorry for the short essay!
Best, Lew
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