Big Stella's back. . .
Dell' Arte "Leadbelly 12"
© Frank Ford, 2001; Photos by FF

I think John Kinnard made some good decisions when he "updated" this reproduction of the Stella 12-string guitar made famous by Leadbelly and Barbecue Bob: Lose the overly fat neck in favor of a more modern playable profile with an adjustable truss rod. Widen the peghead slots so you can change the strings. Lighten the top braces just a bit for a fuller sound. Keep the "big boy" 26-1/2" scale for low tuning. The result: a big 12-string with a big traditional sound, and appearance. Ol' "Lead" and Bob would be pleased.

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