Epiphone 12 String Vintage Acoustic Guitars
The vintage Epiphone 12 string acoustic guitar comes in many sizes, tonewoods, and levels of comfort. Regardless of which model you wish to own, Epiphone has vintage guitars that can grow your collection or add a unique sound to your band. It is all about knowing how to select the right Epiphone piece for you.
How do you choose the right Epiphone 12 string guitar?First, be mindful of your skill level. When buying a vintage Epiphone 12 string acoustic guitar, it is also good to consider the body style. The top portion of the guitar is the "soundboard." Larger soundboards will determine how deep and loud the sound will be. You also have to determine where you will be playing. A concert acoustic guitar is smaller, grand concert guitars are somewhat larger, auditorium style is mid-size, Dreadnoughts have a large soundboard, and jumbo guitars are the loudest.
What is the difference between laminate and solid wood tonewoods?Solid wood is just as it sounds, whereas laminated body guitars are made from pieces of wood that are layered. Spruce is usually used on top, while mahogany is used for the sides and back. Solid wood is more resonant. There are many vintage acoustic guitars constructed from solid wood.
What are the different types of acoustic guitar tonewood?Vintage 12-string Epiphone guitars can be constructed from different types of tonewood. The wood can be solid or laminate. There are approximately a dozen types of tonewoods, but the following are the five most common:
- Spruce: A wood commonly used for guitar tops, it is typically pale in color. It is known for its warm and smooth sound.
- Cedar: This is the second most common guitar top wood and it has a reddish-brown color. It is not as dense as spruce, so there is less sustain and the sound is quieter.
- Mahogany: The finish is dark and it has a warm and dark tone.
- Maple: Maple is dense, so the tone is bright with good note definition and projection.
- Rosewood: The tone is warm and smooth, and the harmonic overtones are complex. Rosewood is usually dark brown and is commonly used to construct the backs and sides of acoustic guitars.
The guitar body size influences the length and width of the neck, but the sound is not affected as much as comfort. A guitar is listed as a 12 or 14-fret neck, because that is how many frets there are above the guitar body. If a guitar has a 12-fret neck, the 13th and 14th frets are on the body. This makes the 14th fret more difficult to reach for some players. A 14-fret guitar will make the 14th fret easily reachable.
Can you use steel strings on a nylon string guitar?Many vintage Epiphone 12 string guitars are nylon stringed. If you want to use steel strings, doing so on a nylon string guitar will cause the guitar to become damaged. The guitar is simply not made to brace for the higher tensions created by steel strings.
Content provided for informational purposes only. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by Epiphone.