help me choose my next guitar! - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

hannukah harry · 04-09-2005, 12:46 AM

hey all,
i plan on buying a new guitar within the next two months. right now, i'm debating between a 12-string or a nylon string.

what are the pro's and con's of each?

what should i look for in guitars of those types?

any suggestions as to specific guitars? i'm looking in the $500 or less range for the most part.

i plan on playing rock, jam-band, reggae type music with it, and maybe do acoustic covers. right now i'm mainly a rhythm player, have a steel string acoustic and electric already, so i'm not so worried about it being able for lead use.

thanks!

Lebell · 04-09-2005, 01:08 AM

I think it is more a matter of taste than anything, but given what you already play I would recommend a 12 string. A classical (nylon) string guitar has a broader neck and is a mellower sound than a 12...a 12 really sings out.

Now the problem you have is finding a good 12 for under $500. You really get what you pay for. I sold an Epiphone 12 for $150, but I had all sorts of problems with it. My next 12 will probably be a Taylor, but that is in the $1500-$2000 price range. The problem is that the extra 6 strings put a lot more stress on the body and it requires extra bracing.

Now you can get a pretty decent Classical for $500.

So there's my $0.02.

Val_1 · 04-10-2005, 04:03 PM

They're both ralatively specialized guitars and neither one is used too often in reggae-ish music. Between the two of them, I would say that the 12-string would be most useful in that context - nylon strings just don't lend themselves to well to that style IMO. But, as Lebell pointed out, a decent 12 string can be quite expensive.

04-09-2005, 12:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
hannukah harry Junkie	help me choose my next guitar! hey all, i plan on buying a new guitar within the next two months. right now, i'm debating between a 12-string or a nylon string. what are the pro's and con's of each? what should i look for in guitars of those types? any suggestions as to specific guitars? i'm looking in the $500 or less range for the most part. i plan on playing rock, jam-band, reggae type music with it, and maybe do acoustic covers. right now i'm mainly a rhythm player, have a steel string acoustic and electric already, so i'm not so worried about it being able for lead use. thanks! __________________ shabbat shalom, mother fucker! - the hebrew hammer

04-09-2005, 01:08 AM	#2 (permalink)
Lebell Cracking the Whip Location: Sexymama's arms...	I think it is more a matter of taste than anything, but given what you already play I would recommend a 12 string. A classical (nylon) string guitar has a broader neck and is a mellower sound than a 12...a 12 really sings out. Now the problem you have is finding a good 12 for under $500. You really get what you pay for. I sold an Epiphone 12 for $150, but I had all sorts of problems with it. My next 12 will probably be a Taylor, but that is in the $1500-$2000 price range. The problem is that the extra 6 strings put a lot more stress on the body and it requires extra bracing. Now you can get a pretty decent Classical for $500. So there's my $0.02. __________________ "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis The ONLY sponsors we have are YOU! Please Donate!

04-10-2005, 04:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Val_1 Addict Location: In a State of Denial	They're both ralatively specialized guitars and neither one is used too often in reggae-ish music. Between the two of them, I would say that the 12-string would be most useful in that context - nylon strings just don't lend themselves to well to that style IMO. But, as Lebell pointed out, a decent 12 string can be quite expensive. __________________ I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day. -Frank Sinatra