James,

My first 12 string was a 1967 Guild. I bought it in 1992. I loved it, but it was stolen several years back. When I decided to buy a 12 string, I went to every music store I could and tried out their stock. I bought the Guild, used, because it had lost no quality and was much cheaper than the new ones I had liked. However, the most important factor was that it matched the 12 string sound that I carried around in my head. I bought a Sigma to replace it, because that was all I could afford at the time. It was just OK, playable, but no impressive sound. Later I was introduced by an Acoustic Guitar article to guitars built by Michael Hauver. He had a specialty of trying to recreate the old Stella sound of Barbecue Bob and Lead Belly. His web site is Hauverguitars.com. He also was within driving distance of my house, so I could face-to-face with him.

I bought his Barbecue Bob model. I keep it tuned down to C on the big bass string. I had him cut the nut to fit the string sizes that Lead Belly used. Sometimes I drop it down to B or Bb. Since that guitar, I also bought a Taylor 12 string. Part of my decision was it was so damn purty with a bright red sunburst finish over Maple. It also sounds very pleasing, but it sings more than it barks.

I have been on this site for decades, and I first came to it looking for the String gauges that Lead Belly used. Having looked many places without success, this site brought me the truth. I have been on it ever since.

I would recommend trying lots of guitars and I strongly suggest looking at used models; a used model of a good guitar tends to get better (seldom worse) with age. If it is not a premier model, it will probaly be cheaper than a new model by a third or better. Good Luck in your hunt.

Roger in Baltimore (from somewhere in Virginia)