12 Frets - What’s all the fuss?

[StrummingMadMan]

So, I’ve never had the chance to sit down and play a 12-Fret guitar. I’ve read things on the Taylor website and other sales sites. But I want to hear from the people that own them and play them. I’m very intrigued about possibly adding one to my guitar family, so why do you love them or hate them?

[Edward]

Like so many things "tone," you just have to hear it and decide for yourself.  I like what 12F guitars bring to the table: extra bottom end, less string tension, big-warm tone from the same-sized body compared to its 14F sibling.  But I don't own one for its limitations: I use the upper frets of the neck, and the l like the punch and volume you get from a 14F guitar.  A 14F can get more "bold" and "forward" for lack of a better term.

So like any guitar, you have to weigh what you like, what you need, and what a particular guitar brings to the table.  If resources were unlimited, I'd buy a 12F, but even then I'd likely use it as the "niche" guitar more than my regular go-to instrument.

Edward

[Frettingflyer]

I find the 12 fret sound works great with my fingerstyle (flesh only) playing. The fact that my GC’s are so comfortable and the 12 fret makes it feel more intimate doesn’t hurt. But really, my 812ce 12 fret just “speaks” to me. Great tone, so responsive to even a light touch, just such a pleasure to play.

[Bmoney]

12 fret is SO easy to fret....its almost cheating....it made me into a much better player... the volume from such a tiny guitar is astounding ,...and if you needf more just plug it in.  but having owned both...you HAVE to have a cutaway...just too handcuffed without the cutaway on a 12 fret...dont think ill ever own a 14 again to be honest

[jpmist]

The fuss for me is the richer mid and bass tones a 12 fret will give you due to the bridge placement centered in the lower bout. My hearing is trash so every bit helps. Once I got hooked to 12 frets, I rarely enjoy playing a regular 14 fret guitar.

Additionally, since I play with a capo on F# about 75% of the time, that extra mid and bass tone doesn't thin out as much on a 12 fret as it would on a 14 fret. Like Bmoney, due to the capo, I have to have a cutaway and Taylor is one of the few premium manufacturers that offer a 12 fret cutaway as a standard model.

A side note is that Taylor usually does a short scale neck with their 12 frets. IMHO the change in feel has more to do with the neck scale than the number of frets to the body.

They're hard to find in shops, but not impossible, I say go for it!

[StrummingMadMan]

These are some very appealing reasons that just make more interested. I really like the idea of it being easier to fret as my hands age. I just wish there was one somewhat close to me that I could try out.

Thank you all for your responses