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2001 Novaes 12-String Cutaway
Carlos Novaes
So many players have yet to experience a 12-string guitar that is really a pleasure to play. This Bear Claw Alaskan spruce/Brazilian rosewood 12-string by Carlos Novaes of Brazil is quite a pleasure. Instead of fighting a 12-string instrument with high action and too much tension, this experience is definitely more relaxed and fun.

Carlos hand carried the guitar from Brazil to deliver it here in person. It is an honor to meet and work with a man who has the reputation of being the finest hand maker of steel string guitars in all of Brazil. Carlos explained that this instrument was made by him for a client in Brazil. This client hardly played the guitar in the six years he had it. He asked Carlos to help find it a home now, where it will be played more often. To help things out, Carlos is warranting the guitar, at our request, to the next owner. During his visit, Carlos dressed all the frets on the guitar at our dining room table. With this final setup, the guitar is now ready for you! Where else can you get a fine hand made instrument these days with Brazilian rosewood for such a reasonable price?

The smooth Venetian cutaway and low action makes access to the upper frets a breeze. Fingerpick, flatpick, or strum away on this rich sounding, powerful 12-string. The nut measures 1 7/8". The scale length is 25". The 3-piece Honduran mahogany/ebony/mahogany neck has a medium C-shaped profile. Gold plated Schaller mini tuners are fitted with ebony buttons. Fretboard markers are an homage to the Guild designs with abalone triangles inlaid into Mother of Pearl rectangles. Abalone 'Ablam' top edge purfling and a matching soundhole ring dresses up the guitar nicely. Old stock Ivoroid binding (no longer available!) was aquired from the private stash of his friend, Stuart Mossman of Mossman Guitars fame. A curly maple center strip divides the book matched old growth quartersawn Brazilian rosewood back with beautiful sides.

A Lloyd Baggs dual source pickup system is installed as a free bonus. The mic and system volume controls are at the leading edge of the soundhole. (NOTE: I was impressed enough with Carlos Novaes's work to invite a Lucky 12 soundboard guitar from him. He agreed enthusiastically and selected a soundboard from our humidity-controlled wood storage while he was here. He will make us a 12-fret cutaway OM with Brazilian rosewood that is more than 100 years old. He has saved it for a special project--and this is it!)

$7,000

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