12 Fret Dreadnoughts: Bloom, Sustain, and That Vintage Vibe

This week on Alvarez TV, we’re exploring the unique character of the 12-fret dreadnought. We compare three models from across our line-up—the Masterworks MDR, the new Laureate LDR, and the Yairi DYMR70—and dive into the history, design evolution, and sonic characteristics that set these instruments apart.

Why did the 12-fret dreadnought disappear for decades? What makes them so appealing to players today? And how do they truly differ from a 14-fret? Join us for a deep dive into this fascinating corner of acoustic guitar heritage—and find out why the bridge placement and bracing changes matter more than you might think.

If you’ve played or own one of our super dreadnoughts, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Is it bloom over sustain for you?

Dee is playing our Yairi Masterworks DYMR70 Sunburst https://alvarezguitars.com/guitar/dym...
Chris is playing our new Laureate LDR70 Herringbone Sunset https://alvarezguitars.com/guitar/ldr...

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00:00 – Intro: The 12 Fret Trinity
00:32 – 12 Fret Jam -
04:30 – What We Doing Today, mate?
05:08 – Why Are We Here?
06:05 – The 14 Fret Evolution
10:50 – Bridge Placement & Bracing Differences
12:42 – 12-fret vs 14-fret, Bloom and Sustain
14:24 – Our three 12-fret Dreads: MDR, LDR and DYMR 70s
16:25 - Wrap Up and Goodbyes
17:26 – The Audio Comparisons - Strumming
18:47 – The Audio Comparisons - Fingerstyle
19:57 – End Credits