The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #51889   Message #792497
Posted By: Jon W.
27-Sep-02 - 01:38 PM
Thread Name: where did the blues 12-string go?
Subject: RE: where did the blues 12-string go?
Blind Willie McTell was the (IMHO) master of the 12-string blues guitar. He played both ragtime and slide as well as alternating bass fingerpicking style, all on 12-string. Most of his stuff has been reissued. I think he played an old Stella - back in the day, they probably were much better guitars than those that came out in the 50's through 70's. My understanding is that those built back in the 20's cut corners on durability rather than on sound so there aren't many if any left. Then they switched philosophies (or maybe someone else started building the Stella label) and the newer ones were sturdy but bears to play and not the greatest sound - though I had one once that one of my friends, who plays mostly Martins and Taylors, was impressed with the sound (for a plywood camping guitar). Of course, I could be all wrong about this (the Stella part, not the McTell part).