For you solo “giggers”…do you use both a 6 string and a 12 string?

[Bushleague]

While I like the sound of a 12 string, and really should get one for recording, whenever I play one it becomes painfully obvious to me how much I use bends and vibrato. I can do most of what I play on a 12 string, and I think once my playing adjusted it would mostly sound great... but at this point when I pick one up and play something I notice that right away, cant bend up to a 3rd anymore and it doesnt respond to the more subtle stuff "properly".

[YeOldRocker]

I like the sound of a 12 string on certain songs, its effect wears thin to me in a very short while; a bit like using chorus or other electronic effects. So, for me, the answer is that, no, for solo performances, I don't gig with a twelve string - at the moment, I don't even own one. I probably would have one, and use it occasionally, if I were not playing alone, to add depth and interest to the music's texture. Playing solo on one guitar, I primarily focus on keeping my playing interesting; should I need a 12 string sound for a song or two, there's always chorus.

[Don Lampson]

I had a wonderful Taylor 850 for a couple of decades... I used both a six, & 12 string, as a solo act. I enjoyed it, and my audience seemed to as well? However, I only used the 12er for at most 20% of the songs I did, so I quit lugging it with me, which also curtailed my interest in playing the 12er... A couple of years later I sold it at a tidy profit, with very few regrets...

Don

[Mr Bojangles]

Yes, oftentimes I use both when playing a gig. It adds a little something to the set and gives a different sound. I also add a harmonica on a couple of songs. The audience seems to enjoy the change of gears, and I have had numerous positive comments. Bottom line, I try to keep the sound from becoming boring. Playing solo can be challenging!

[Dave Hicks]

I don't really gig very much, but for the last extended set (45 min rather than 1 or 2 songs) that I did, I used both a 6 and a 12 (and a mandolin).

I fingerpick on 6 and strum on 12, so I did the first half on 6, several on 12, two tunes on mandolin and back to 12 for the closer. That seemed like a good way to break things up and avoid monotony.

D.H.

[Nama Ensou]

I had a period where my only acoustic was a 12, but I got rid of it because I'm not a multiple guitar guy and I didn't like what happened to songs with single note runs in the lower register.

[TRW1]

If I'm playing in a duo I will play the 12 string as I think it complements the 6 string nicely for the type of songs we play. It also provides a good sonic difference between the two guitars and to me, brings out the best features of each instrument. For solo gigs it's only a 6 string. I only like to bring one guitar, and I couldn't imagine playing the 12 string for every song all night. Plus, I capo a lot to accommodate my vocals. Even with a good capo, I have to adjust tuning a bit on my 12 string when I move the capo up and down.

[KevWind]

Absolutely

Especially on the longer 3 - 4, set gigs, on shorter gigs 1-2 sets, maybe 1/2 the time depending on if it was a more of a listening gig, or more of a background music gig .

I think it's a great tool for increasing difference and audience interest (when played well. And definitely best suited to 12 string specific song styles ) The audience loved it

I switched back forth ,,, sometimes would maybe do two songs in row, but never more than that.

Not sure what "get" means? But yes the audience seemed to like it and expressed great appreciation for songs like The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald
or Mr. Tamborine Man et.al

Plus I lucked out not only was my Taylor 750 12 easy to play and fret but it actually stayed in tune the entire gig

[Chipotle]

I definitely think it's a good idea to mix up your sound/instrumentation to keep things from getting stale during a long solo gig. I group my songs by instrument to minimize the amount of time I'm switching back and forth, and I definitely match up the feel of a song with the instrument used. I'm not sure if anyone really cares, but it helps keep things from sounding the same all night. (BTW I use an electric guitar--ES335--rather than a 12-string, but same points apply.)

[brad4d8]

The closest thing I have to gigging these days are occasional open mics. When I was gigging, I tried to make as few changes as possible, so that I'd have one set just for 12, others for six. As to the open mics, I choose songs for one or the other and only bring one guitar.

[gmel555]

I'll answer in the past tense, as in when I used to gig...yes, I had a 12 string which was used sparingly along with the main 6 string. I thought it was a nice change of pace for the audience and me. People would regularly ask me about it during breaks, and it was always in a complementary kinda way. Most often I'd use the 12 string at the beginning or end of sets to eliminate one switch of guitars during the set. I now have a smaller body, 12 fret, short scale Taylor 752ce 12-string, which I would absolutely incorporate into a gig if I started up again (and discussions with a friend are underway re a duo/trio). PS: I agree with Brad though, in an open mic setting doing just a few songs I'd only use one guitar.

[Yamaha Man]

I gotta have both.....

[IMG][/IMG]

[Goat Mick]

I haven't owned a 12 string since the late 80's. Had one for a couple of months and just didn't get along with it at all. I like the sound but I don't like playing them.

[Nymuso]

IF I carried a second guitar, and that's a big if, it would not be a 12. If I want the thicker sound of a 12 for a given song, a well applied chorus will do that for me and it's just a tap away. I did own a 12 as a teen ager and did not keep it long. I have avoided them and on the rare occasion when I have played someone else's 12 at a jam, it only serves to reinforce that decision.

[buddyhu]

I play Kottke’s “Crow River Waltz” on a 12, and I love that song so much that I have sometimes carried a 12 string to a gig or an Open Mic just to play that one song.