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Seeger's 12-String

08 Nov 11 - 04:13 PM (#3253041)
Subject: Seeger's 12-String
From: Tigger the Tiger

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


08 Nov 11 - 05:40 PM (#3253106)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Mark Ross

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


08 Nov 11 - 05:48 PM (#3253113)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Sandy Mc Lean

Is that the one with the triangular soundhole?


08 Nov 11 - 05:59 PM (#3253115)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: PHJim

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.


08 Nov 11 - 06:07 PM (#3253122)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Greg B

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.


08 Nov 11 - 06:45 PM (#3253148)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: PHJim

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.


09 Nov 11 - 03:05 AM (#3253297)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,Doc John

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.


09 Nov 11 - 05:40 AM (#3253356)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Tigger the Tiger

Thanks for the information.


09 Nov 11 - 05:50 AM (#3253361)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Big Al Whittle

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.


09 Nov 11 - 07:12 AM (#3253397)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: greg stephens

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


09 Nov 11 - 07:17 AM (#3253401)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,bigJ

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


09 Nov 11 - 01:29 PM (#3253708)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: Stringsinger

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.


10 Nov 11 - 11:46 AM (#3254334)
Subject: RE: Seeger's 12-String
From: GUEST,Doc John

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.