Price Paid for Dean Tradition S12: $339 USD
Description of Dean Tradition S12: acoustic. Made in Korea. Solid spruce top Mahogany back, sides, neck Rosewood fingerboard and bridge Abalone rosette Mother-of Pearl dot position markers and headstock logo Grover tuners. Dreadnaught Body No pickguard
Tone of Dean Tradition S12:
Comments about Dean Tradition S12: This has what I call a full sound. It has enough bass to fill out the bottom {a rarity in a 12-string and a sign of a well-designed and built one). But the sound is also balanced with enough treble to keep it from sounding muddy. I play a fusion of folk/country/rock, but also play arrangements of traditional hymns with classical overtones. This guitar is up to the task of taking all those musical genres and making them sound interesting and appealing.
Quality of Dean Tradition S12:
Comments about Dean Tradition S12: I have found no flaws in the construction. The finish is highly durable. The day I purchased it, the proprietor dinged the guitar against the edge of a cymbal while loading it into its case and it didn't show a mark. Yet as durable as the finish is, it does not have an adverse effect on the tone of the instrument. The tuners are excellent, they hold a concert pitch even after hours of playing. The joints are well made and glued--no sloppiness or glue gobs anywhere.
Overall Opinions of Dean Tradition S12:
Pros: I rate this a best buy in 12-strings. To get a 12-string with a similar tonal response one would have to be willing to shell out over $1000 for a Martin, Taylor, or Guild. This is without a doubt the best 12-string I've ever owned. I've fallen in love with playing 12-string all over a- gain after playing this one.
Cons: It does not come equipped with a pickup. I have installed a Markley Sweet Spot undersaddle transducer and this was a match made in heaven. I have problems understanding why manufacturers only market acoustic-electrics with cutaways. A second con is a con only if one's primary instrument is an electric guitar: this has a wide neck and fingerboard. For someone with large hands like mine, which cramp on a narrow fingerboard, this isn't really a problem. For someone used to the smaller neck width and fingerboard radius of an electric, it might be.

Submitted by:
Dave Dean (a12stringer@ponyexpress.net)
Playing Experience:
over ten years
Musical Tastes:
blues classical classic rock country folk jazz pop

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