Seeger's 12-String

Subject: Seeger's 12-String
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 04:13 PM

Does anyone know the brand and approximate age of the 12 that he used in concert in the 1960's?Thanks

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Mark Ross
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 05:40 PM

It was made by Stanley Francis, an Englishman I believe. It probably dates from the '50's. Pete has had a number of different guitars, including some by Bruce Taylor (no relation to Bob of the Taylor guitar company). Martin has recently made a Seeger signature model based on Pete's. check it out on their website.


Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 05:48 PM

Is that the one with the triangular soundhole?

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: PHJim
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 05:59 PM

Both the Francis and the Taylors have triangular sound holes. Tao, Pete's grandson also plays a Taylor (Bruce).
The Martins, both 6 and 12 strings also have triangular sound holes.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Greg B
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:07 PM

In fact I had occasion to ask Tao about that, having seen him playing a Taylor like Pete's in a photo from the New York "Occupy" event at which Pete appeared. That *is* Pete's instrument, at least the surviving one. Tao reported that the one on which "Living in the Country" was written is history.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: PHJim
Date: 08 Nov 11 - 06:45 PM

I saw Pete and Tao play in Toronto about 3 years ago and they each had a Taylor twelve-string, both with Red straps. They each had long necked banjos as well. Pete probably has a few of these and has given/loaned one of them to Tao. I know the Francis imploded. Perhaps that's the one used to write Living In The Country.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 03:05 AM

I knew Stan Francis slightly in the late '50's and he was making Pete Seeger's guitar around thatis time. He lived in Broad Green, near Liverpool and used to play a uke and sing at the Spinners' folk club at Sampson & Barlow's in the city.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Tigger the Tiger
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 05:40 AM

Thanks for the information.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 05:50 AM

Sad -isn't it? An English guitar maker who made an iconic instrument like that, and I'd never heard of him. We make too much fuss about the wrong sort of people in England.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: greg stephens
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:12 AM

Cyril Davies played a Stan Francis 12-string too. Very good guitars.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 07:17 AM

Greg, are you sure about that, I thought it was a Grimshaw(London) 12-string that Cyril played?
John

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Stringsinger
Date: 09 Nov 11 - 01:29 PM

No, it was originally "Singing In the Country" written on 6-string based on a finger picking pattern I showed Pete in the 50's. Gave him ten rudiments.

Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,Doc John
Date: 10 Nov 11 - 11:46 AM

Memory failed: it was the next station down, Roby, where Stan Francis lived. I'm sure he wasn't a full time instrument maker but I can't recall what his occupation was.