!2 String Players only!

[Onemanband]

I have been playing purely 12 string guitars for all of my playing career to date; for me, there is no sound better...(bought up on a diet of Beatles, Searchers, Byrds, Hollies, & Tom Petty).
Despite always being generally happy with my sound, I have (like most of us I'll guess) from time to time, tinkered around with different stringing options, simply because I can.
A few years ago I got to hate that octave G (6th) that seemed to ring and sound out of place on many tunes.
I then discovered John Butler of Australia had similar issues and he simply removed the offending string! He now even has an Eleven string "signature" model (built by Maton I think) which is sold as an eleven string model (no octave G).

I however went the route of having strings 5 & 6 as a unison pair, (normally 2 x .23 80/20 bronze) and kept my 12 strings that way for a long, long time.
Recently however (spare time tinkering again) I have gone full circle and back to the original stringing of wound 5th (.23) & plain octave 6th (.09 or.010); rediscovered that wonderful 12 string "jangle" and wondering why I ever changed it in the first place !!

I have over the years tried various Rickenbackers but that's another story and excellent guitars as they are, they are not for me.


So...that's my "12 string journey" and I would love to hear from other 12 string players who have "experimented", "fiddled" and "tinkered" with all the options of their 12 strings, seeking that holy grail.

I am sure there will be a few funny stories along the way, and god know's we need some of those these days, don't we.

Looking forward to your tales......thank you......Brian

[Earl49]

On my twelve strings, I have taken to swapping the wound and unwound G course. When I fingerpick, the upstroke of my fingers missed the octave string entirely, and I could hear it missing. (Not an issue when strumming, of course). Usually no modification of the nut is needed. Just swap the two strings. The hard part is remembering which peg to turn when tuning. I don't go full Rickenbacker, just the G course.

[6L6]

I've never wanted to change anything on my 1972 Guild F-312NT.

[Silly Moustache]

Hi Brian, I have two 12 strings, both from the mid '60s , a Harmony H1270 and a customised Martin D12-20.

I've made a few YouTube Videos about them, although YouTube is fast becoming unwatchable, try this one for starters :



Note: if you get some awful ad at the start - NOTHING TO DO WITH ME!!!, it is YouTube's way of trying to extract money from us. Just press back arrow then forward arrow to watch the video.

[stokes1971]

I always hated the G octave string. I switched to unison G's back in the early seventies and still do

[stephenT]

In the '70s I apprenticed in a shop that specialized in 12 string guitars and learned about Blind Willie McTell and Lead Belly. I've owned a few through the years but none really stuck until I bought a Pono 00-10 12 String (00 sized slothead) about eight years ago.

The 00 is a perfect size for me, has a great neck and a great sound when tuned a whole step down. I think the size helps eliminate some of the funny G string issues. I'm currently using Martin Retros and I like them best so far. Retros are long lasting which is a bonus with the slot head.

[Rosette]

Originally Posted by Earl49

On my twelve strings, I have taken to swapping the wound and unwound G course...I don't go full Rickenbacker, just the G course.

I do this with the E and A. I just like the way it sounds better.

I've also removed the octave E and A to make it a 10 string. But that sounds a little less full than just swapping the order.

[Glennwillow]

I like 12-strings the way the manufacturers built them. My Guild F-512 is set up standard. My Rickenbacker 12-string is set up the way Rickenbacker decided to do it from the beginning.

- Glenn

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by Onemanband

...Recently however (spare time tinkering again) I have gone full circle and back to the original stringing of wound 5th (.23) & plain octave 6th (.09 or.010); rediscovered that wonderful 12 string "jangle" and wandering why I ever changed it in the first place !!

Yeah, that octave G has its place! Particularly when picking.

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by DCCougar

when picking.

Nice!
.....

[donlyn]

!2 String Players only!

I currently have four twelve string guitars, two Taylors and two Guilds, 3 of them Jumboes and a Grand Orchestra (deep Jumbo with wider waist).

Been playing 12 string guitars for nearly 60 years, and six string more than 60 years. Years ago tuned 12 string guitars down to 'D', and now tune them just a semi-tone down to 'D#'. Old habits die hard. And old hands appreciate it.

I have mostly kept the traditional octave-first tuning because that's the sound I like best.

For what it's worth, Lead Belly tuned his 12 string with a treble 'E' string in the bass octave position (thus 2 octaves difference on the course) and a plain non-octave 'g' with a unison wound 'G' string for that course (string pair). And normally tuned at least 2 semitones down.

I also play Ukuleles, and my favorite is a 5 string, strung {gG, C, E, A}. The leading string course still provides that ukulele 're-entrant' sound with the high 'g' octave, but then immediately follows with a wound lower 'G' string for a full body sound. The gG course mimics an octave course on a twelve string guitar.

I fingerpick all my instruments using my nails as picks.

Be well and play well,

Don
.

[koko61]

I have always wanted to have a twelve-string acoustic, but the little use I may get from it and having to change the strings made me let it go, but I love its sound.
Someday maybe I'll end up with one.

[Nama Ensou]

Timely thread for me here. I was just watching a video of my friend’s band where he had my old 12 onstage with him, and even though he didn’t use it that night, I kept noticing it sitting there.

I did have a time where my only acoustic was a 12 but noticed that I didn’t like it for certain songs and types of material and transitioned back out of it and never looked back until just recently. Probably the main reason I gave it up has to do with my preference not to be changing instruments during performance.

Be that as it may, the combination of seeing my old guitar in the video, and even moreso, this thread of yours, I’m now thinking on which 12 to go out in search of. May be awhile before I rejoin your ranks, but in the meantime I’ll be following the thread as an appetizer course.

[Mr Bojangles]

I currently have 3 acoustic 12's, a Martin D12-20, an Art & Lutherie, and a Rogue. Years ago, I had a really nice Seagull Artist 12 that just didn't fit my hand.

In the electric department, a hockey-stick Squier Jazzmaster, a Cozart Tele copy 12, and a Firefly double-neck.

They don't get that much playing time, but I like having them in the studio.

[HFox]

I have a Taylor K62ce strung with SCGC 12 string parabolics.
one of the easiest playing guitars I've ever owned and the SC strings last at least 6 months. Great combo.