12 string electrics info

flank

New member
hey bros..... could anybody that has any experience with 12 string electric guitars help me out with some info, any general info would be helpful......i'm just looking to find out what getting a 12 string involves

anybody played/used/have one?
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

I can't tell you much, except that fender sells a 12 string strat :P

A friend of mine played one. Said they were beautiful to hear in person. The richness of the sound was great, apparently. Wonderful with big chords.

Edit: and it involves a LOT of stringing up :laugh2:
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

all i know is they take twice as long to restring :laugh2:


sorry, i'm not help but i just had to lol.

and i just realized spider said something similar...man i'm having a slow day :smack:

-Mike
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

I have a acoustic 12 string, though that's not the same but. Lovely sound, especially when playing chords. Not the best lead guitar though. Sound a little like a big acoustic jumbo with chorus, though it's just a dreadnaught body. Changing strings is a pain in the a.. and keep in mind that you might not wanna change the tuning too often because that's also quite time comsuming;) They probably have a heavy headstock like an SG :D My acoustic have a heavy headstock but is still well balanced, the headstock doesn't fall down even if you let it go with your hands. And the 12-string strat that spider talked about is a jap strat if i remeber correct.
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

Well, what do you want to do with it, recording or performing?

I just got rid of my Danelectro reissue 12 string. It had a great jangly sound, & recorded well, but wouldn't stay in tune very well. Someday I'll replace it with a Rickenbacker.

I had a Ricky as a loner a few years back, & a friendof mine has one. I suppose I've played about a half dozen Rick 12 strings over the years, & I think they are still the best electric 12 strings available.

Check one out. Used ones start around a grand, & go up from there, but you'll never need another one.

IMHO, of course.

Oh, and Jerry Jones makes some nice ones. Dano stye, about half of what the Rick's will go for. They stay in tune better than the Dano's too.
 
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Re: 12 string electrics info

well, i know of the 12 strings available...i know how they are tuned, and i know their sound

but i'm more concerned with useage of them....are they more likely to go out of tune? is it more likely the neck might warp?

guitar in question is here: http://www.rondomusic.net/product397.html

im really intrigued by it, and i would do some upgrades to it...
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

A 12 string in general is more likley to give you more problems keeping it in tune. IMO it kills much of the natural overtones that a guitar produces. Intonation is very critical. MOst manufacturers make a different type of truss rod to add strength to the neck due to the excessive amount of force being applied from all of the strings(double acting). Many player choose to tune them down to some degree Eb, D Etc. This will mimimize some of the potentially harmful stress being applied to the neck.
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

Flank, check out my review of the agile I just bought. It might help your decision.

Personally, I'd rather have a 12 string acoustic, and you've got me gassing for one now (thanks a lot haha). But I'l tell you, I'm stunned by the quality of the Agile guitars as well as the SERVICE that rondomusic gives. Kurt is a great guy over there. When they have an inexpensive 12 string acoustic on sale, I'll be picking it up along with one of the agile hollowbodies... SOMEDAY!:)
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

i have a 12 string ovation acoustic and i love it. cant really help you on the electric side, but 12 string acoustics sound great.


and also, ive never had tuning problems with it. hell, it stays in tune better than most of my electrics to be perfectly honest.
 
Re: 12 string electrics info

Well, I've owned a Rickenbacker 360/12, and I can't recommend them to anyone. I have never seen a more overengineered guitar in my life, it takes forever to get the neck (dual truss rods)and bridge setup (why would you need an adjustment screw at every corner? 4 in all!) right, if ever, and as far as the neck goes, all they do is take a 6 string neck,(which is the same width as a Les Paul) and convert it to 12. unless you have very slender, long fingers, they are almost impossible to play cleanly. It can also take the patience of Job to restring the thing. And if you want to keep everything the same, you have to use Rickenbacker Strings, which usually have to be ordered, and are semi-flat wound.
BTW, to get that vintage sound, you have to buy the 'vintage pickups' which are available only from Rickenbacker at almost 100 bucks each.Plus because they are so low gain, you almost have to use some sort of compressor. Also if you intend to intonate your guitar, you have to buy the 12 saddle bridge, (another $100 bucks to Rick, plus getting a luthier to notch the saddles for you) because your new $1400. Rick comes with a 6 saddle bridge. You would think that for the price they charge for a new guitar, they would already put the good stuff on the from the factory.They are beautiful to look at,but a beast to play/maintain.
 
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