6 string or 12 string

[pagodas_fiesta]

ive always seen and heard about 12 string guitars and i gather they are primarily for rhythm work and they sound brighter and fuller than 6 strings. ive never gotten a chanve to play one though. my question is if i were to get an acoustic should i get a 6 or 12 string? i dont have a specific style i want to play on it i just want one to play when im bored. i would mostly just be strumming around with chords but i may want to do some amount of lead work. is the 12 string capable of playing everything on or should i just get a 6 stringer?

[Ebene]

If you have some fancy picking and the fingers, then I guess you could play lead on a 12 string, however, I would take a 12 string for rhythm and a 6 string for lead any day.

[Eclectifish]

If it's your first acoustic, get a 6. Eventually, you'll want both.

[t_shirtsnjeans]

A six fits anywhere, a twelve fits somewhere, but for all around jammin' and leads get the six.

I do love a twelve but they are limited IMO BTW,... OIC, UR MT! IB, URMT2!!!! OK, IB done :D

[pagodas_fiesta]

lol. thank you tshirt.

yeah i kinda had the feeling a six was the better choice. i can always get a twelve later on as you said

[MistaMusicMan]

I want a twelve. The sound is beautifal and no dought they play a great rythm

[exalted angel]

You can still pick and play lead on a 12 but you have to be talented like me
heh, oh well you should just get a 6 because they are soo much better for beginners

[mr mungbeen]

Twelve's do have an amazing sound... Would strongly recommend an electric tuner though....

[ModestCargo]

Six. Noone should own a 12 without a 6 first. You'll get bored of a 12.

[ModestCargo]

PS I don't like 12 string rythym at all. I like picking on them a bit though.

[FadedCayenne]

I want a twelve. The sound is beautifal and no dought they play a great rythm :smile:

same here, mista. i'm really tempted to sell my six and buy a 12. i figure if i don't like it i can always take out half the strings ;)

[mr mungbeen]

I wouldn't sell your six... i'd save and buy the 12 as well... seriously, 12's have their limitations and you'll regret selling your 6 down the track..

[Carbohydrates]

I gotta agree. A 12 is an "accessory" guitar, to compliment what you use as a main guitar. 12s are sexy as hell but I wouln't swap a 6 for one.

[pagodas_fiesta]

yea i doubt you can just take out the thin strings. the spacing would be way off

[ModestCargo]

I wouldn't sell your six... i'd save and buy the 12 as well... seriously, 12's have their limitations and you'll regret selling your 6 down the track..
Exactly.

[martinedwards]

I know a load of people who bought Italian EKO 12s in the 70s & 80s and strung them as 6s. Wide neck, almost like a steelstrung clasical if that makes any sense.

I'll stick with my Yamaha 12 for occasional strumming and the turner 6 for everything else.

and yes, buy a 6 first!!

[CaptainSG]

hmmmm..... my first guitar was my 12-string cuz I found it in my closet. Anyways, I string it as a six and sounds bigger than ANY other six I've heard.

[BluesSG]

Kurt Cobain (granted not a spectacular guitarist) used a 12 strung with 6 for a lot of their recordings... mainly because its what he happened to have, but it worked.

Go 6 string first!

[mishmannah]

ive always seen and heard about 12 string guitars and i gather they are primarily for rhythm work and they sound brighter and fuller than 6 strings. ive never gotten a chanve to play one though. my question is if i were to get an acoustic should i get a 6 or 12 string? i dont have a specific style i want to play on it i just want one to play when im bored. i would mostly just be strumming around with chords but i may want to do some amount of lead work. is the 12 string capable of playing everything on or should i just get a 6 stringer?


Get yer six string first to get technical about the different playing styles, then get a twelve, but remember that they are a lot harder to hold the strings down and a pain in the buttocks to tune. Can you imagine the harmonic effects of a twelve?
My mate had one, and she could pick, strum and alsorts- I really like them-however, I will forever be a sixer...

Hey, anyone had the fortune of playing a seven string? I am curious, because I saw one the other day when I was "window shopping" in the guitar shop.

[martinedwards]

Oh Man the tuning hassles of a 12...... yet another reason to start on a 6!!!!!

I had a friend at school who had a 12 and while she was a pretty good guitarist and VERY musical (2 celtic praise albums now under her belt) she needed a friend to tune the beast for her.....

Think of the drift you get with new strings on a 6........ multiply by about 37 for a 12!!

Ah but the sound!!!!!

[mishmannah]

Oh Man the tuning hassles of a 12...... yet another reason to start on a 6!!!!!

I had a friend at school who had a 12 and while she was a pretty good guitarist and VERY musical (2 celtic praise albums now under her belt) she needed a friend to tune the beast for her.....

Think of the drift you get with new strings on a 6........ multiply by about 37 for a 12!!

Ah but the sound!!!!!

Oi, Martin, who is she called, and is there any chance in listening to some samples? I loike Celtic stuff! I am stuck with Iona, because there isn't much of that stuff around!

By the way, you need the fingerpads of a crocodile hide to play twelve string!!

[dacster]

12's are wonderful and every one who lives in an acoustic world needs to have one. But it should be your # 2. Get a 6 first.

[Acoustic Belle]

I was very keen to get a twelve string all those lovely songs to play.
until i picked one up in my local guitar store.
the neck was so wide. and I knew it would take a long time to get used to playing one.
I will get one some day, but not at the moment.
get a six first and a twelve later you wont regret it, the more guitars you
own the more range you will have.
I have five and still want more.

Belle

[martinedwards]

Oi, Martin, who is she called, and is there any chance in listening to some samples? I loike Celtic stuff! I am stuck with Iona, because there isn't much of that stuff around!!!

Kate Ravey. did some of the vocals on the albums titled "celtic praise"

By the way, you need the fingerpads of a crocodile hide to play twelve string!!

My wife would disagree (but then she's my wife, it's her job!!)
She plays guitar like, once a year. she will ALWAYS go for the 12 as the strings are in pairs and dont hurt her fingers like either of the 6 string acoustics I have......

Maybe I just have a great 12, .......well I know I do, the action is so sweet I can play barres WWWAAAAAYYYYYY up the neck!! :)