Washburn D10S12DL

A 12 string version of the D10SDL. Apparently this was an exclusive model for Music123 and their other associated online stores. This guitar is not listed on the Washburn site under the D10SDL model page but contains all the features and upgrades of that guitar over the D10S. It features a solid spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides with maple binding. The binding around the top is laminate but the other binding appears not to be. I am not an expert so some of it may be but it is not obvious because of the way the guitar is built. A mahogany neck with a rosewood capped headstock. All wood is glossed and buffed. A rosewood fretboard (20 frets) and bridge with maple binding around fretboard as well. Gold hardware consisting of 18:1 Grover tuners and endpin. Fretboard has dot inlays. Abalone inlaid rosette around sound hole and abalone Washburn logo on headstock. Black pickguard. Made in China. Very nice looking guitar! List price: $699. Closeout price: $149.99 (no guitar case included). Brand new model.

As with any 12 string the sound is very full. It is my first 12 string and I purchased it because it was on closeout on Music123. I really don't have much to compare this to. Used to playing with a pick and now have found myself mainly using my fingers to pick and strum. A pick is good for maximum volume but I like using my fingers because it softens the sound. The 12 string caused me to change my playing style because I am used to abusing my old 6 string and the 12 string sometimes makes me feel limited in my playing style but I think I am still getting used to it. I never brought my acoustic guitar with me when I moved across the country and I bought this as a replacement but still wish I had a traditional 6 string acoustic. I should've bought a 6 string but the price was good and I'll probably buy another guitar in the future. Sometimes when playing single note lines I can tell that I am not fretting the strings evenly because the notes are not perfect octaves. This only happens on the lower strings where you have strings of two different gauges next to each other.

My guitar was set up nicely out of the box. The edges of binding around the fretboard were rough on the frets higher than 12. There is slight buzz on the G, B, and E strings when playing on frets 12 and 13 due to the 14th fret. Someday I might take it to the shop to get filed down. Not enough of an issue right now. All of the wood looks great and is a very unique looking guitar. The spacing between the two strings for each of the high B and E sets of strings seems wider than the spacing on the lower notes but that is probably because both strings are very thin and on the other strings you have a fatter string next to a thin string. Might have that checked out when I get the 14th fret worked on.

This guitar seems to be built well. I have only had it for a couple weeks so far. No electronics means it would have to be mic'd at a performance or for recording. My friend had another Washburn and they seem to last. The tuners are Grover which may or may not be standard issue. D10S was rated best guitar for under $500 by Guitar World and this is part of the D10SDL family so it's slightly upgraded but still affordable.

Haven't tried to use it yet. Will find out when I go to get the fret fixed.

I have been playing off and on for about 8 years which sounds like more than it really is. I am self-taught and I've been playing mostly as a hobby so my skills are not that great compared to others playing as long as I have. When I moved across the country I probably didn't play for about 2 years because I didn't bring any guitars and didn't really have the money to buy new ones. Finally brought electric on plane one time but acoustic wasn't worth it and didn't have a hard case. Slowly getting back into playing. Skills are bad due to lack of recent playing and realized a 12 string was not a good acoustic to have as a primary instrument. I will most likely invest in a really good 6 string when the time comes. Until then I will attempt to get better on my electric and play around with the 12 string on the side. Hopefully I will be able to develop my finger picking skills on the 12 string since I really never developed them. I really like this guitar and would buy it again because it was only $149.99. It didn't come with a case but I didn't really expect it to considering how much it was discounted. It was an exclusive model so it may not be made anymore. The closeout sale was probably so they could eliminate the rest of their stock. Who knows if it will ever be available again. If you're looking for a good looking and affordable 12 string then this is it. If you're looking for top of the line then you'll probably want to look at something else. For me this was good enough because I know that this 12 string will not be my primary acoustic in the future and will simply be just a part of my arsenal for when I need something a little more exotic (I don't plan on being the next Leadbelly).