12-strings

Giffin 12-strings

This guitar was really a labour of love on my part! Having been a 12-string freak since "Walk right in" by The Rooftop Singers in the early '60s and the wonderful sound of The Byrds - I knew that I had to make the "ultimate electric 12 string." It had to have a neck that you could actually play on!. It had to have a big, ringing, jangly sound - which meant a hollow body. A hollow body, though, usually meant unwanted feedback, so I designed my uncoupled, isolated bridge mount, which effectively cut out almost all unwanted feedback while retaining the full hollow body sound. The neck is not too big, not too thin, the string spacing is accurate and comfortable. People who try my 12-strings almost without fail will comment on how easy they are to play - "it feels like playing a 6-string!!"

12-string Hollow body, Bird's Eye
Maple top

Specifications:
Body: Honduras Mahogany
Top: Bird's Eye Maple
Neck: Honduras Mahogany with Maple laminates
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood
Hardware: Nickel
Bridge: ABM string-thru system
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: WSC Alnico5 Strat
Finish: Lemon Drop

Bird's Eye, although difficult to catch correctly in a picture, is a very good looking wood, not seen too often on guitar tops.

Upgrade top
Upgrade Brazilian FB

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Basic model, hollow body

12-string Hollow body, Autumn Glo finish

Specifications:
Body: Honduras Mahogany
Top: Curly Maple
Neck: Honduras Mahogany with Maple laminates
Fingerboard: East Indian Rosewood
Binding: Cream throughout
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: East Indian Rosewood
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM string-thru on anti-feedback mounting
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Vintage style Single-coil Strat pickups
Finish: Autumn Glo

The autumn glo finish on this hollow body 12- string looks particularly nice over the tight flame on the Maple top. I used a very straight grain Indian Rosewood for the fingerboard with a matching piece for the headstock.

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12-string Solid body,Amber burst

Specifications:
Body: Swamp Ash
Top: Curly Maple
Neck: Laminated Curly Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony, un-bound
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood
Hardware: Nickel
Bridge: ABM string-thru system
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Gibson Deluxe Mini Humbuckers with Firebird covers
Finish: Amber burst

As with all my solid 12s, this guitar has a very crisp, bright sound and the action is so low, you can hardly feel the strings!

Basic model, solid body

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Basic model, hollow body

12-string Hollow Body, Trans Vintage Yellow

Specifications:
Body: Honduras Mahogany
Top: Quilted Maple
Neck: Honduras Mahogany with Maple laminates
Fingerboard: South American Rosewood
Binding: Ivoroid, throughout
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: South American Rosewood
Hardware: Nickel
Bridge: ABM string-thru on anti-feedback mounting
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Stacked Humbucking Strat pickups
Finish: Transparent Vintage Yellow

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12-string, Semi-Acoustic, Rich Amber Burst

Specifications:
Body: Fiddle-back Maple
Top: AAA Quilted Maple
Neck: Three-piece highly figured Curly Maple
Fingerboard: Highly figured Brazilian Rosewood
Binding: Un-bound, with clear Maple body edge
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: Matching AAA Quilted Maple
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM string-thru system
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Stacked Humbucking Strat pickups
Finish: Rich Amber burst

The semi-acoustic construction leaves a solid center block but still allows the guitar to have an 'airy jangle.' The Rosewood heal cap has a decorative Abalone inlay. Overall, this guitar looks gorgeous.... the pictures aren't really doing it justice.

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Upgrade body and top & neck wood
Upgrade FB

Basic model, solid body

12-string Solid body, White Pearl finish

Specifications:
Body: Swamp Ash
Top: Maple
Neck: Laminated Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony, bound
Binding: Tortoise shell over multiple black/white throughout
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard Pearl lines
Head Veneer: Ebony
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM string-thru system
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Vintage-style Kent Armstrong Mini Humbuckers
Finish: Gold tinted Pearlescent White

I took a slight departure from my regular guitars, and made this guitar expressly to have a solid color finish. The pearlescent particles in the white finish have a gold tint which changes color as you move the guitar around. A very classy looking guitar!

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12-string Solid body, Purple burst

Specifications:
Body: Swamp Ash
Top: Curly Maple
Neck: Laminated Curly Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony, un-bound
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standar Pearl lines
Head Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM string-thru system
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Vintage-style Firebird, Mini Humbuckers
Finish: Purple-burst

This is a very interesting sounding guitar. Lots of sparkle, with a very nice mid-range attack. And, I've got to say, I love that color.

Basic model, solid body

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Upgrade top, Upgrade FB

12-string Hollow body - Koa top with oil finish

Specifications:
Body: Honduras Mahogany
Top: Curly Koa with cream binding
Neck: Honduras Mahogany with Maple laminates
Fingerboard: Brazilian Rosewood, cream bound
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard lines
Head Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood, cream bound
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM string-thru system on anti-feedback mounting
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Stacked Humbucking Strat pickups with gold covers
Finish: Natural oil & wax

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12-string solid body - Midnight Blue Burst

Specifications:
Body: Swamp Ash
Top: Curly Maple with clear Maple 'fake' bound edge
Neck: Laminated Curly Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony, unbound
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard lines, White pearl
Head Veneer: Ebony
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: ABM thru-body, 12-way bridge
Tuners: Gotoh Mini
Pickups: WSC Strat type single coils with cream covers and cream mounting rings
Finish: Midnight Blueburst

Basic model, solid body

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Giffin 12-string Hollow body - Walnut

Specifications:
Body: Blistered Maple
Top: AA Curly Walnut
Neck: Laminated Curly Maple
Fingerboard: Ebony, unbound
Scale length: 24 3/4 inches
Inlay: Standard lines, Abalone
Head Veneer: Brazilian Rosewood
Hardware: Gold
Bridge: 12-way tun-o-matic on anti feedback mounting. Separate flush-mounted key-hole style tailpiece.
Tuners: Gotoh Minis
Pickups: Velvet Hammer single coils in Tortoise shell mounting rings
Finish: Natural oil & wax

This guitar has my anti feedback bridge system with a separate flush-mounted key hole tail piece, unlike the other hollow body 12s which have the bridge and string holder all in one unit.

Upgrade top

REVIEW
"Guitar Shop" Jan '99

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Click on thumbnail to se an example of another Walnut 12-string Hollow body

	General specifications for most Standard 12-strings: (Suggested dealer retail price, basic model -solid body 12-string, : $4,200) Price for Custom order, basic model solid body 12-string direct from Giffin Guitars: $4,300 (Suggested dealer retail price, basic model- hollow body 12-string: $4,550) Price for Custom order, basic model hollow body12-string direct from Giffin Guitars: $4,650 (All instruments ordered directly from me are "custom orders" even if they fit within basic specs.) Any custom guitar ordered using parts and materials from this light blue box section should fall within the basic model price (will not add to the price). Any custom option from the dark blue box will add to the price by the amount shown. Materials used on Standard 12-strings (all basic models): The Wood Pile *Wood:* *Body: Honduras Mahogany*, Swamp Ash Neck: Laminated Honduras Mahogany or laminated Maple Body top: S (standard) Figured Maple. (please check "The Wood Pile" for examples of available wood) Fingerboards: Indian Rosewood, South American Rosewood or Ebony Hardware: Tuners: Grover *or Gotoh mini tuners* Bridge: ABM string-thru body 12-way bridge Pickups: Amalfitano or Wolfetone Strat pickups, Kent Armstrong mini humbuckers, Dimarzio Virtual Strat pickups Guitar controls: 1-volume, 1-tone (CTS or DiMarzio pots), 3-position pickup selector (Switchcraft) or 5-position Strat-style selector Neck dimensions: *Scale length: 24 3/4 inches* Width at nut: 1 3/4 inches, width at 22nd fret: 2 1/4 inches. Neck thickness at first fret: .775 inches to .850 inches. Thickness at 12th fret: .875 inches to .950 inches. General neck shape is reminiscent of a 1961 Gibson SG (sometimes called a 'blade' neck). Neck/body joint: *Neck joins body at 18th fret. Heel is cut away to an unobtrusive but safe minimum.* Standard String gauges used: .009/.009, .012/.012, .009/.017, .013/.024, .018/.034, .024/.044
	*Additional options for Custom orders:* *Body and neck wood: White Limba (Korina)* - Add $250, Black Limba - Add $150, Walnut - Add $75 Neck material: 5-ply Curly or Bird's Eye Maple - Add $100 Body top materials available: UG (upgrade) - UG+ (upgrade plus), Maple - curly, quilt or Bird's eye, Redwood burl, Redwood curl, Figured Walnut, Curly Bubinga, Curly Koa - Add $125 - $450 (please check "The Wood Pile" for examples of available wood) Optional Fingerboards: Madagascar Rosewood, Macassar Ebony - Add $50, Brazilian Rosewood - Add $300 Optional fingerboard inlays: Butterflies - Add $400, Teardrops - Add $100, Snowflakes - Add $75 Abalone Pearl binding: Guitar fully bound with multiple laminates and Abalone Pearl - Add $600 For Custom inlays - please call for quote. Other scale lengths available: None For any other custom details - please call or write for quote Hardware: For hardware options other than standard, please call for quote.

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