I have a Ranger 12 that I have owned since about '94. I found it in a pawn shop in Utah. Got it for $50 WITH a Polverini Bros. hard case. I , too, play it like a 6-string. I don't find it heavy, but, I am a bit larger than most I know. Inside you can see the original manufacturer's sticker from EKO. It has a stamp across one end that reads: 59-82# I am assuming the 82 is the year of manufacture. Don't know what the 59 is. I, currently, have a set of Dean Markley medium gauge strings on it. I used to keep Kaman 'Adamas' light gauge on it, but, am unable to find them anymore. It has great action and I always get comments on how narrow the neck is for a 12-string.