Today was the day I visited the shop I shall not mention the name of in case prices go up again. Sadly I was not able to try the VE8000PB-12 as there wasn't one in the shop - in fact finding an acoustic (even electro acoustic) was very difficult. I did find a Fret King Elise 'GG', though that was no...

I looked in on this tread a while ago and came back today hoping someone had a definitive solution. Ah well! I had a look around on the internet a few weeks back and came upon this article http://www.stringdancer.com/home/articles/jeffs-guitar-corner/nail-care-for-guitarists/ . Most seems common sen...

Oldbones, Catching up after a hectic day yesterday. I checked your string spacing table and noticed that I inadvertently put '51mm' instead of '41mm' for the nut. My corrected figure is right as I have just re-measured. I can only put my original error down to carelessness in typing, distraction by ...

Oldbones, I have found a YouTube demo by Paul Brett http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vvIrWTb0AU . You may have already looked at that, however have you tried playing along with the 12 string parts. I have and, interestingly, he has the guitar tuned down a full tone. Having read comments elsewhere, an...

Oldbones, Just got back from a very enjoyable rehearsal and looked in on the website and, clearly found your latest posting. So, the technical information first: Width across strings (1st to 12th or the other way round) at the nut = 51mm at the saddle 59mm I have had the same sort of hits for demo o...

Oldbones, I had a feeling you might be posting a comment as I checked Ivor Mairants website around 15:30 today. That is a definite 'ouch' and wonder whether I have been instrumental (skates quickly passed the pun) with the number of mentions I have given them in this thread. As you have quite proper...

Oldbones, Notice I have removed the quotation marks from your handle - one of those strange things that comes with age! I have just seen your comment this morning and I don't think Gordon would object to a review of the Paul Brett 12 string. I say this because I read somewhere in this forum that Gor...

'Oldbones' - I am pleased my comments have been of use to you. I know exactly the problems with cuts, falls, breakages, twists etc., etc. to various limbs and parts of the body over the years. Why do we do these things to ourselves when we know full well we should be keeping in shape to try to play ...

I suppose I should have confessed when starting this thread that I bought the guitar through Amazon - not that there is anything wrong with that. It just saved me the legwork, though I will still have a stroll around the guitar shops in Denmark Street and other place when I am in London next month. ...

Where did the month go since I received this guitar? I would like to say time flies when having fun, but when was the fun? Okay, I have to be honest and say I have done lots of 'bits and pieces' - one of the advantages of retirement - been to the Acoustic Strawbs at the Brook Theatre, Chatham, final...

I have now had the guitar for 10 days and all is going well, I think. I had a couple of days of not playing last weekend as I had a cold which affected my hearing a little, meaning it was difficult to tell if the sound was right or just my mucked-up hearing. However the last few days I am more or le...

Matt, I hate to do this, but ...... Gordon gave you a pointer to Ivor Mairants, in London, earlier, and I have had a look at the website today and notice that they have reduced their prices for the Vintage GG range. The VE2000GG 6 string is reduced to £349 and the mahogany model to £289, and, dare I...

I have an Aria AK-30CE, bought about 12 years or so ago, which seems to meet the specifications you are seeking. I won't pretend it is necessarily up to same standard as the Ray Burley guitar referred to above. However, it is a very reliable and easy playing guitar and is definitely sub £200. It is ...

Had a play-round on the VE2000GG 12 string yesterday evening, for an hour or so, and concluded that Gordon's advice/suggestion that this instrument should be tuned 2 semitones below standard makes sense. It is a 12 string version of the 6 string i.e. designed as a 6 string and thus not wise to overs...

I finally made the leap and ordered a new VE2000GG 12 string guitar, which arrived yesterday afternoon. I have spent the last day acclimatising it to my home and tuning a semitone below standard tuning - that I may adjust in time as the guitar settles. I notice Gordon suggests a full tone below and ...