Instrument Details
- Photos & Video
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- Specs
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- Status
- Sold
- Brand
- Bown, Ralph
- Product Year
- 2000
- Model
- Stella 12-string
- Serial #
- 187
- New/Preowned
- Preowned
- SKU
- 4342
- Condition
- Excellent Two shallow ~1/4" dings on side, lower bout treble side. One shallow ~1/4" ding on top, lower bout treble side, 1.5" from edge.One shallow ~1/4" ding on top, upper bout treble side, 1" from edge.
- Body Type(s)
- Large, Jumbo
- Back & Sides
- Koa
- Top
- Spruce
- Neck Wood
- Mahogany
- Bridge
- Rosewood - Indian
- Rosette
- Marquetry
- Top Trim
- Custom
- Fingerboard
- Rosewood
- Fingerboard Bindings
- Rosewood - East Indian
- Fret Markers
- MOP Dots
- Frets to Body
- 14
- Headplate
- Rosewood
- Headstock Inlay
- Builder Decal
- Body Bindings
- Rosewood
- Tuners
- 6 Inline Mini
- Tuner Finish
- Nickel
- Cutaway
- None
- Pickguard
- Clear
- Pickup
- Fishman UST
- Body Length
- 19.563 in
- Upper Bout
- 12 in
- Lower Bout
- 16.375 in
- Body Depth Heel
- 4 in
- Body Depth Tail
- 5 in
- Scale Length
- 26.563 in
- Scale Length (mm)
- 674.7 mm
- Nut Width
- 1.97 in
- Nut Width (mm)
- 50 mm
- String Spacing
- 2.5 in
- String Spacing (mm)
- 63.5 mm
- Weight
- 0 lb. 0 oz.
- Case
- Hardshell Hiscox
- Audio File
- Description
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We've got another Stella-inspired twelve string that we have in the shop! Ralph Bown, while better known for his smaller fingerstyle guitars like the OM that Clive Carrol plays, has proven himself an exceptionally dynamic luthier, building everything from Baritones and Harp Guitars to this Stella 12-string. Bown's given us an extended scale length to allow for heavier gauge strings to be used in lowered tunings. We find that standard C or D works beautifully on this guitar; the voice is huge, lush, and projects outward with a cataclismic force. Moreover, at the reduced string tension of lowered tunings (which we recommend keeping this guitar in) fretting notes becomes fretless, so smooth is the action.
Decked out with a Sitka Spruce top and some seriously gorgeous Koa for the back and sides, the octave strings pairs exude rich tone like chocolate mousse. Designed for the Leadbelly approach to Country Blues, all thumbpicks and crackling treble strings, this guitar also behaves famously for flatpicked solos a la Jimi Hendrix (there's a great clip of Jimi playing a 12-string on Youtube, if you haven't seen it yet). If you're looking for a 12-string with more snap, crackle, and pop than a bag full of flatpicks, this is the guitar for you.
I think one of the things that I enjoy most about the Stella style is that it is meant to be tuned down to D standard or even C standard. It lowers the tension considerably, making it easier to play, which has a great effect on the warm, sweet tone, and gives this 12-string a cathedral-like voice: enormous, magnificent. 
A great tribute to the old Stella 12-string made famous by Leadbelly. This guitar seems to have some of that vibe built into it. - Accessories
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- Contact
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