Customer Reviews

Carlo Robelli W4102 12B 12 String Acoustic Guitar (Black)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great guitar for somebody looking for their first 12 string. It's got a HUGE sound, and the fingerboard is extremely comfortable, even for people with smaller fingers.

As soon as you get it, you'll want to change the strings. The ones that it comes with are not very good, and prone to going out of tune if you look at them wrong. Any decent brand of strings makes this guitar sound as good as my $1500 Takamine.

I just got this yesterday. Its the last new Carlo Robelli 12 String of this model sold on Amazon.com by Sam Ash Direct. Probably the last of this model sold new. Because according to Sam Ash its discontinued. Since Carlo Robelli is the Sam Ash in house instrument brand. That is the final word on that.

If you are one of the lucky ones who was able to buy one of these. Do not ever sell or trade this guitar. Except maybe for a very expensive 12 string model or brands. But other than the price this 12 string can best any one out there. Then again because of the price only a fool would buy another.

When i opened the packaged. My first impression was that, it look like a more expensive instrument. It reminded me of that Johnny Cash Martin Model only on 12 string. When I saw that the guitar was mailed from Florida, I decided to let it acclamatize. Since I am in the Pacific Northwest. So i let it stand over night on the guitar stand.

First thing this morning I tuned the guitar up. After letting it settle down. I strummed a D chord. It sounded like those Prewar 12 string Martins. Loud and full of sustain. After the first strum, I held it up and it was ringing like a bell.

Now, about the design of the body. It has the Martin Dreadnaught size albeit with a square shoulder and a fat bottom like a Gibson Songwriter. The bridge is inspired by the Taylor bridge design. The neck is very comfortable C shape allowing for easy bar chords. Which is the first thing that turns people off the 12 string. The scale is the short scale Martin 12 String model at 24.75 inches. As oppose to the Leadbelly Stella which is the long scale at 26.5 inches.

Another thing that I liked is the design of the headstock. Its inspired by the Gibson Classic headstock. The label is similar to the Martin label. All in all well proportioned and understated. Which is good for a 12 string. Because the headstock can easily overwhelm the rest of the instrument.

As for my background. I have been a student of the Art and Craft of Lutherie for almost ten years now. In those years, I have read every book about the subject ever printed. Played almost a thousand models of acoustic guitars. Visited every major guitar factory in the US that has factory tours. Attended seminars, classes and talked to most of the acknowledge living legends of American Lutherie. Lastly, design and craft my own guitars.

Although impressive looking, I found the the Carlo Robelli W-4102-12B 12-String Guitar very difficult to play. Lowering the the action did not make this guitar any easier to play. And, it is next to impossible to keep this guitar in tune. All in all, I am very disappointed with this guitar and would not recommend it to potential 12-string buyers.

Sounds great even with the low quality strings. I can't comment on the ability of this instruments to stay in tune since the bridge is coming unglued from the body. The bridge was peeling off after about 10 mins of light play! Also the 13thand 14th fret on the high E string are dead! The 15th fret is set higher and the 14th is set lower than the rest. Sighting the neck shows a dip in the fretboard at the dead fret location. If it wasn't for the bridge problem i would keep this guitar. The fret problem could be easily adjusted.I bought this from a Sam Ash store in Sarasota Fl. Look the instrument over very carefully before you purchase. Be sure there are no dead frets and that the joints are glued true! If all is well with the instrument, pick it up and a set of Elixer Strings and you won't be disappointed. For $99 it is a steal!