Dean Backwoods 12 string

What I invited this time is a Dean "Backwoods" 12 string Banjitar. I have always liked the idea of a Banjitar and have invited a couple of standard 6 string ones to the Pony Guitar Sanctuary at Ukulele Corner, but I was particularly interested in this one because the 12 string variants are much rarer with only a couple of firms selling them; and I believe this Dean one is now discontinued, (the 6 string Dean Backwoods is still in production but not as far as I can see the 12?). It accepted my invitation, again at my maximum, so now its on the way to Ukulele Corner incorporating the Pony Guitar Sanctuary. It will be interesting to see how the 12 string works as I've not heard one. and wonder if the tones are why they are not more common?

It's here now and the Dean is a lovely bit of kit, solid and well made so it feels the part as well as looking the part. I can see why 12 string banjitars are not common though, the extra strings make it quite hard to play as the gap between courses is very narrow, because the floating bridge needs it that narrow. Also, as its a kind of Banjo the tone definition is a bit muddy and you don't really get all of the tonal nuances that you would get from a 12 string Guitar. I'm glad I got it, after all if I didn't have one and had a 6 string I would still want one.