Sigma DM12-5

Dreadnought, 12 string, copy of Martin (has a sigma/CF Martin stamp inside) with Martin style headstock. Not sure where or when it was made but I believe Japan in the 70's ( I've had it for 18 years, manufacture under the Sigma name commenced in Japan in 1970). Has 14 frets clear mahogany neck with ebony fretboard. Solid, close grained, spruce top, mahogany back and sides which also appear to be solid. Multi layer binding on top and a centre strip on back.

I've had a love/hate relationship since I've owned it but over the years have improved the action and fitted bone nut and saddle with an undersaddle Martin thinline pickup. I am a finger picker and I find the string spacing too narrow and the bottom end can tend to become a bit muddy. For fingerstyle the sound rates 7. But it is fine as a strummer (9) or where I think it really shines is with a thumb pick for those old Leadbelly or bluegrass tunes (10). Just doesn't have the balance or bass response of my JF30 but then it is a dread.

This is a well made guitar, typical of Japanese workmanship. Bookmatching, fit and finish are excellent and certainly better than some Martins I've seen. Tuners had been replaced with Grovers when I got the guitar so I can't comment on the stock ones

It's a tank - carried it around in a Motorcycle sidecar for many years, been passed around at campfires etc as 'indestructable' as a solid wood guitar can get.

I have added a Guild JF30-12, a Larrivee LV-10E and various other 6 string guitars since I bought this one. I just can't seem to bring myself to part with it - everytime I get into a Leadbelly phase this guitar comes into its own.

Made in Japan, approx 1980. Solid top. Dreadnought 12 string

Huge, complex, rich. I was considering a Guild 12 before I found this. I use a (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) George L soundhole pickup through a Yamaha DG-Stomp and Fender Deluxe/ Roland Cube-60 stereo setup. (or direct for recording) I blend the tasty electric (pickup) sound through a TubePre with a mic on the sound hole--CAD E-100, also through TubePre. Depending on acoustic or electric quality desired. Bottom line: It's all good!

I had it set up by Doug Roomian in San Francisco. Although the neck is slightly thicker and wider than a Rickenbacker electric, the action is low and easily playable up the neck. The best acoustic 12 string neck ever. A luthier (not Doug) friend of my daughter told me the truss rod is graphite composite, which tallies with the lightness of the neck. Stays in tune. I don't like the polyurethane glossy finish or the cheezy (but totally functional) tuners.

This is the only made in Japan DM12-5 I've ever seen. Although the action was high and it was out of tune, I passed my fingers over the strings just once and loudly said "SOLD!" It's the sister of my 6-string DM-5. Amazing, soulful, 12-string. There may be something better out there, but I doubt it. There's only one favorite guitar and this is it. Plays like butter, sounds even better.