12-String Electric

SeanPalmer

SeanPalmer

New member
So, I just built a double necked electric. The 6-stringed side was easy to buy for, I have plenty of 6-stringed electrics. But I decided I should ask you guys before I went off buying an expensive set on a 12-string. The current off-brand, oddball pups in it are picking up sustain like nobodies business, but its picking up so much sustain, its just turning chords into muddy messes. I am looking for pickups that will help settle down some of the tinny treble from the high strings, without making it bassy and muddy. Any recommendations?
 
Re: 12-String Electric

Is it solid body? What kind of bridge and tailpiece are you using?

Try Antiquity Jaguar, Antiquity Mustang or Rickenbacker 300 single coils. Which will work may be affected by string spacing also.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I would think that the Jazzn/'59b combo would work well in a 2HB 12-string.

I'm working on putting together a Warmoth Strat bodied 12-string, and I plan on using a trio of G&L's Z-coil pickups.

Bill
 
Re: 12-String Electric

Before anything, it could be worth double checking the wiring, in case what you're hearing, is the other set of strings at the same time.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I would probably look at a set of Bill Lawrence L500's. The Bill Lawrence pickup have rails so string coverage would be good and they are some of the most precise and transparent pickups made.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I would go wilde l90s before l500s myself. maybe a 2.8h 2h set. If you did go l500s, I would go no hotter than an R/C set

The big thing you are going to want is not going to be rails so much as a good high end and low output. Those will help keep it from turning into a muddy mess. My electric 12 has a tele pickup in it, a Rio Grande muy grande tele pickup actually. I don't have a problem with string coverage as my strings are both over 1 pole without any problems. (I also am using threaded tele saddles which lock those strings in place at the bridge.)
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I considered a Phat Cat, I know that the electronics are all good. The second neck isn't causing the problem, its just too much for these pups to handle output wise and its making it muddy. I never considered rails, given you don't see it too often, but I can see where you guys are going with and I like the idea. I was worried that rails might make the highs tinny, but then again, I haven't encountered the notorious "rail" much, so I am in the dark on that. Its got normal stop tail bridge(s). I have no idea how that might affect the sonic-sexy that 12-strings were made for, but I'd like to make sure the pups pic that up.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I would use something that splits well and sounds great in single coil mode. A stag mag maybe? With the slight scoop and great articulation, I would bet that a Demon would sound better than a lot of other bridge humbuckers too.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I never really thought of doing a coil tap, but that might be an extremely viable option. I do like the changes that coil taps can do, I am thinking that tapped rails (L500's maybe?) are the way to go. Maybe even leaving them untapped, that's something I may have to decided after I get done with an install and decide whether it needs anything at all, from the sound of it, L500's will do everything I need without tapping em. Stag Mags sound good, but I am not completely sure they will pick up the "Stairway to Heaven" kind of tone.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

What exactly is a trapeze tailpiece going to do for it? I have heard some on nylon saddles, though I have yet to hear what makes them nice.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

I'm with Gibson 1964 and Would go with the L90. As for splitting instead of doing that I would use a Q-filter which I like better than a split.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

Yea, the L90's and the possibility of maybe a Single with a Hum cover are also high on my list of possibilities. I am not sure if they make a tele neck pickup with a hum cover. That'd likely top my list if they did. Maybe something a little higher output on neck for some hotter leads up on the 12.
 
Re: 12-String Electric

l90s have a bit of a single coil vibe.

Another option would be the Wilde l609/l610 series, very cool, noiseless pickups somewhere between p90 and Fender single coil tonality
 
Re: 12-String Electric

SeanPalmer said:
What exactly is a trapeze tailpiece going to do for it? I have heard some on nylon saddles, though I have yet to hear what makes them nice.
Click to expand...

You complained of sustain making things muddy. I own several electric 12s and have been through this. You need weaker singles for pickups, but pickups alone may not get you there. Wood, semi-hollow vs solid, and hardware are a factor in sustain. A TOM bridge and stop tail into a solid body contribute to sustain. A trapeze weakens that. So do nylon saddles.

Mini-humbuckers might also get you the 'Stairway' tone and reduce the tinny treble, but they also have a sustain to them. I put modern overwound Gibson Mini-humbuckers in a solid body Rickenbacker 12 and it did the Page 12-string sound near perfect.
 
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