A 12 strings guitar ?
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treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
I have a '76 Guild F212XL–absolutely love it!
I have a '76 Guild F212XL–absolutely love it!
Silence Kid
New member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
I want a Taylor twelve, but have these for the time being:
'68 Yamaha Japan FG260 slothead - sounds good for a laminate top, prob. due in part to light bracing. That bracing, btw, could have been a bit stiffer as the top has a pretty bad belly and the bridge is well shaved and ramped to get decent action.
Mitchell MD112s - got free because it had a crack that needed repairing; took care of that, and it's pretty good. Fairly thick solid top. Very heavy for an acoustic though, which probably accounts in part for an overall darker tone, not as sweet or chimey as the Yamaha, but much more playable. Well, I could stand a wider neck.
I want a Taylor twelve, but have these for the time being:
'68 Yamaha Japan FG260 slothead - sounds good for a laminate top, prob. due in part to light bracing. That bracing, btw, could have been a bit stiffer as the top has a pretty bad belly and the bridge is well shaved and ramped to get decent action.
Mitchell MD112s - got free because it had a crack that needed repairing; took care of that, and it's pretty good. Fairly thick solid top. Very heavy for an acoustic though, which probably accounts in part for an overall darker tone, not as sweet or chimey as the Yamaha, but much more playable. Well, I could stand a wider neck.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
Guild and Yamaha, if we are only talking acoustic. Why do you ask?
Guild and Yamaha, if we are only talking acoustic. Why do you ask?
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
because it's a group
so we can ask some questions
and sometimes, we have some answers
any questions ?
but seriously i have a yamaha fg 720 s12 one of the best sound ever (more than takamine)
i like the sound but it's not a perfect sound for some notes
so i wonder if a guild is very good for barre chords `
the yamaha model is not made for barre chords
because it's a group
so we can ask some questions
and sometimes, we have some answers
any questions ?
but seriously i have a yamaha fg 720 s12 one of the best sound ever (more than takamine)
i like the sound but it's not a perfect sound for some notes
so i wonder if a guild is very good for barre chords `
the yamaha model is not made for barre chords
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
Barring on a 12-string is inherently difficult regardless of who makes it, though at Summer NAMM in 2004 I did see a 12-string PRS that was reportedly very easy to play.
I've not owned a 12-string acoustic, but I did have a Dano reissue DC-3 12-string some years ago. While barre chords were somewhat labor-intensive, it was a tad easier with the lighter electric strings (9-42) than what acoustics generally use.
Even then, I needed a minute to rest before going back to 6 strings so my grip could come down from the level of "cracking walnuts by hand".
Barring on a 12-string is inherently difficult regardless of who makes it, though at Summer NAMM in 2004 I did see a 12-string PRS that was reportedly very easy to play.
I've not owned a 12-string acoustic, but I did have a Dano reissue DC-3 12-string some years ago. While barre chords were somewhat labor-intensive, it was a tad easier with the lighter electric strings (9-42) than what acoustics generally use.
Even then, I needed a minute to rest before going back to 6 strings so my grip could come down from the level of "cracking walnuts by hand".
treyhaislip
Well-known member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
Easiest 12 string to bar/play that I've ever tried was a Rickenbacker electric. But as already mentioned, 12 strings are harder to do bar chords (even do regular chords for that matter) than regular 6 strings.
Guilds are just known for being great sounding 12 strings. I wouldn't say they are easier/harder to play than other big brand 12 strings I've tried BUT I prefer their tone (and how they are setup makes one easier or harder.)
Forum bro Jtougas has an awesome Breedlove 12 string that sounds amazing and is easier to play.
Easiest 12 string to bar/play that I've ever tried was a Rickenbacker electric. But as already mentioned, 12 strings are harder to do bar chords (even do regular chords for that matter) than regular 6 strings.
Guilds are just known for being great sounding 12 strings. I wouldn't say they are easier/harder to play than other big brand 12 strings I've tried BUT I prefer their tone (and how they are setup makes one easier or harder.)
Forum bro Jtougas has an awesome Breedlove 12 string that sounds amazing and is easier to play.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Boogie Bill
New member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
I have four 12-strings. The two electrics are DanElectro Innuendo models. One in blueburst, one cherryburst. These were not expensive guitars, but they sound and play great.
The two acoustic-electrics are identical Takamine EF381-SC dreadnoughts. I wanted a Taylor, but when these fell into my lap, it was love. With a bit of nut work, they play as well as the Taylor. They were less than a third of the cost of the 655-CE I wanted. And the CTB-4 preamp has a tuner built-in and sounds way better than the Taylor ES. Couldn't be happier. I also considered a Martin D-12-28, a Guild 412, a couple of vintage Martins and some Yamahas, but the value offered in the Takamine made it a clear winner.
My only complaint: they are gloss black...they get fingerprints all over even when they're in their cases! Lol!
I love the 12-string; wish I would have bought one years ago.
Bill
I have four 12-strings. The two electrics are DanElectro Innuendo models. One in blueburst, one cherryburst. These were not expensive guitars, but they sound and play great.
The two acoustic-electrics are identical Takamine EF381-SC dreadnoughts. I wanted a Taylor, but when these fell into my lap, it was love. With a bit of nut work, they play as well as the Taylor. They were less than a third of the cost of the 655-CE I wanted. And the CTB-4 preamp has a tuner built-in and sounds way better than the Taylor ES. Couldn't be happier. I also considered a Martin D-12-28, a Guild 412, a couple of vintage Martins and some Yamahas, but the value offered in the Takamine made it a clear winner.
My only complaint: they are gloss black...they get fingerprints all over even when they're in their cases! Lol!
I love the 12-string; wish I would have bought one years ago.
Bill
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
The lightest gauge/lowest tension strings I've found for twelve string are these:
The lightest gauge/lowest tension strings I've found for twelve string are these:
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
Ovation 12-string acoustic. Plays pretty easily for a twelve and sounds great... but still a lot more tension to hold the chords compared to a six. I avoid playing songs that are all or mostly bar chords on it as my hand starts cramping up.
My 10-string BC Rich Perfect 10 Bich is another matter, though. It's basically a twelve except for the A and low E strings are NOT doubled. Surprisingly, I can play bar chords on it for quite some time without getting tired, but then too it's an electric. Something about the neck though... I can play bar chords without getting tired for longer periods than even my on my 6-string electrics!
Ovation 12-string acoustic. Plays pretty easily for a twelve and sounds great... but still a lot more tension to hold the chords compared to a six. I avoid playing songs that are all or mostly bar chords on it as my hand starts cramping up.
My 10-string BC Rich Perfect 10 Bich is another matter, though. It's basically a twelve except for the A and low E strings are NOT doubled. Surprisingly, I can play bar chords on it for quite some time without getting tired, but then too it's an electric. Something about the neck though... I can play bar chords without getting tired for longer periods than even my on my 6-string electrics!
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
I got a Takamine jumbo 12 and matching Takamine jumbo 6 string. They retailed at near a grand apiece and I worked some psycho crazy 3 guitar deal to get them for $475.00 a piece plus other gear too. I got them for club beaters cuz they sound good after I had them tuned up special and if I scratch them or bang them up I'm not gunna cry over it. I didnt want to drag a really nice accoustic into some beer bar dive. I love older Guild jumbo 12's becouse they loosen up over time and sound amazing. The newer Guilds sound stiff till they break in. Various Gibson jumbo's sound good too but like everything they are hit and miss so play the guitar first. Taylor makes great mid priced models around $2,000 and I love the Martin Parlor guitars. Each to their own I guess.
I got a Takamine jumbo 12 and matching Takamine jumbo 6 string. They retailed at near a grand apiece and I worked some psycho crazy 3 guitar deal to get them for $475.00 a piece plus other gear too. I got them for club beaters cuz they sound good after I had them tuned up special and if I scratch them or bang them up I'm not gunna cry over it. I didnt want to drag a really nice accoustic into some beer bar dive. I love older Guild jumbo 12's becouse they loosen up over time and sound amazing. The newer Guilds sound stiff till they break in. Various Gibson jumbo's sound good too but like everything they are hit and miss so play the guitar first. Taylor makes great mid priced models around $2,000 and I love the Martin Parlor guitars. Each to their own I guess.
Re: A 12 strings guitar ?
I had a Yamaha 12 string and it was VERY hard to do barre chords as the bridge was pulling up. I currently have a Tak 12 and it was very hard at first, but with some set up time, the only thing that makes barre chords hard is my weak fingers..
And lastly, I really want a Taylor 12
I had a Yamaha 12 string and it was VERY hard to do barre chords as the bridge was pulling up. I currently have a Tak 12 and it was very hard at first, but with some set up time, the only thing that makes barre chords hard is my weak fingers..
And lastly, I really want a Taylor 12
