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Pros:
- Great construction
- Good tonewood
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Does not come with the best strings
- Needs more tuning than usual
Being in the guitar manufacturing business for over 140 years Epiphone has managed to solidify its reputation by consistently creating some of the best and most well regarded guitars on the market. In contrast to a lot of companies that produce high quality guitars, Epiphone prides itself for creating amazing quality models for the prices that do not make their clients spend all the money they have saved up from the hard work (or you know… grandma’s Christmas gift money) on a single instrument. If you have been playing on a 6 string acoustic guitar for a while but want to experiment and try out 12 string models DR-212 would be a great fit for you.
Build
The DR-212 is a dreadnought style acoustic guitar with select spruce top and scalloped bracing. The neck and the body were constructed in a way to take the stress of the extra 6 strings without making the model too heavy. The construction and tonewood provide great stability to this model while also enhancing the sound. The back and sides as well as the neck are made from mahogany, another great quality material that provides brilliant volume and balanced tone. For a 12 string guitar this model is extremely comfortable, making it a great option even for people that are not as comfortable with 6 string models (or maybe have never even picked up a guitar in their lives).
Hardware
Epiphone has equipped DR-212 with rosewood fingerboard and bridge while the nut and saddle are made from plastic. I know… when you see “plastic” written in the description of a guitar construction and material you want to move on and look at other models. Contrary to the well-established opinion that the real bone is the only viable option for the nut material, I think certain other materials, if chosen correctly have quite a good effect on the sound and playability of the guitar. In this case, I think plastic nut does not ruin the sound of this model and it would be a stretch to say that a beginner has such a well developed ear to distinguish between a real bone and other materials. To top it all off, DR-212 has natural finish so that the tonewood can breathe and vibrate freely while also showing the beautiful coloring of the guitar.
Epiphone DR212 Sound
The tonewood and materials used to create this beautiful model come together to create astounding, full and rich sound with balanced tone. The mahogany neck, back and sides provide balance and warm tones while also having more woody sound. DR-212 is a perfect guitar for any style and genre as well as for any level of player.
The rich and strong tone of this model will inspire you for years to come in developing your own style and sound.
Conclusion
The DR-212 is a great fit for a newbie in 12 string models or for any kind of newbie. The construction and the selected materials guarantee great sound and playability while not being too heavy or uncomfortable which is especially important for beginners or anyone not as comfortable with full sized dreadnought models.
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