Cole Clark FL1E-12 Bunya/Maple Natural 2020
Cole Clark Fat Lady One, twelve string version, made in Australia 2020. Cole Clark have been making innovative and beautiful guitars from Australian tonewoods for many decades now. This is a discontinued model: you've gotta get the FL2 series if you want twelve strings these days, which costs a lot more. Cole Clark build their acoustics with an unusual neck join: the Spanish heel join, rather than the more common dovetail or bolt-on joins other builders use. This join adds a big block of wood to the heel that extends inside the body, which significantly increases the rigidity of the neck and the sustain of each note. That extra rigidity is a huge help on a twelve string: it holds tune better, and the top and neck are far better equipped to deal with the added tension of the extra strings. The bunya and QLD maple combo is an Aussie classic: dry and open in voice, with a crisp snappy top end and an airy, balanced midrange. The streaky bunya grain is very pretty too. The pickup system is awesome too: super accurate to the unplugged sound, robust and easy to dial... it's perfect out the front. This is a very practical take on the twelve, and it looks good doing it.
Model: Cole Clark FL1E-12-BM
Made: Melbourne Australia, 2020
Serial: 200235916
Finish: natural, satin nitro
Body: solid bunya top, solid Queensland maple back and sides, dreadnought shape
Neck: Queensland maple, she oak fretboard, 25.5" scale, 50mm nut, moderately fat C shape, Spanish heel join
Weight: 2.225kg
Mods: none
Pickup: Cole Clark PG3 3-sensor pickup and preamp system
Accessories: Cole Clark padded gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has minor rub wear on the elbow area. The sides have no major marks. The front has rub wear in the elbow area and below the soundhole.
Overall: excellent condition (9/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with fresh light gauge strings.
Fret Life: 9/10, minor wear only