12 string guitar strings

[fused]

Wow, an acoustic section and since I'm on the hunt for a 12 string guitar ...
I will have an acoustic ax soon. Which brings me HERE!

Been trying out quite a few 12 strings, some with on board electronics, some 100% acoustic.

Found some info on X-Y mic technics for micing an acoustic...will probably go that route. Then I can just focus on a GOOD sounding 12 string acoustic.

Also heard that most 12 string owners drop down to a 'D' tuning for sake of keeping the bridge on the thing...???

One Ovation 12 string that I ran across, it was used, the bridge was pulling up... I walked.... It also had some structural issues.... It was standard tuning... The sad thing was....it played absolutely GREAT! Very nice action.
Oh well, maybe thats why the guy had it for sale.... Unload it before it got worst. Someone will by it.

That said....
for you 12 string owners,
what tuning
AND what strings and gauge of strings do you use?

Also, for those that have a way to measure this,
what is your action set to at the 12th fret?


Having gone the Guitar Center route where everybody is a guitar tech, GOOD GRIEF, I'll probably do the setup myself. As soon as I said the words "Truss Rod" you could see the sales guys/guitar tech physically go into a state of extreme nervousness.

"You mean...th.th.that thing under th th that cover with the two screw....and yyyyyyou want me to do what? Turn that nut? "

Then they summon the manager and gosh, you'd think you just robbed the place. "GET EM BOYS!" "He said TRUSS ROD....Don't let him get away! "

So yes, I'm going to have to find one that sounds great, then get it set up to play nice.

So any info that you guys could offer....would be greatly appreciated.

fused

[Katau]

I've never seen a 12 string where the bridge wasn't warping the face. There is a lot of tension. However, that's not to say they don't exist.

I too tune my guitars down to a D. Not for warping, just because I like it that way.

The Fender is a nice unit (it also has electronics), but the bottom end is lacking. That's ok for me because it works well for my recordings. The problem with my 3 local GCs is that they each only carry about 2 or 3 12 strings in stock. :(

There was a Yamaha without electronics that was also extremely nice (don't remember the model).

If the Ovation you played sounded and played great, my suggestion for you is to take another look at it.

Good luck.

[martinedwards]

I have an ancient Yamaha which has a lovely flat top. put in a piezo last month (at last!!)

play a load and buy the one you like!!

[Strungout]

I have a Taylor 555 that I tune up to standard pitch (as Taylor recommends). I'm not sure I would do that with every 12 string, though. I use D'Adarrio extra lites on it and have had no problems in the 12 years that I have owned it.

[Komodo]

At last people who acually play 12 strings. I am sick to death of these posers saying I have a doubleneck and they only play the 6 string neck. They dont touch the 12 string neck at all. What is the point. People that do only play like one song on the 12 string neck and revert back to 6 string. So I say good on you lot.

[moongoose29]

I play a Fender 12 string It play fairly easy and it has a jack to plug it in it sounds good either way but better electric I don't use it for every song my band plays but it gets alot of use. When looking to buy a 12 string make sure it is a guitar you are going to want to play alot if it hurts your fingers a heep don't buy it but if it gives you the nice rich tone you are looking for and it plays easy I say go for it, often time you can find a good used 12 string because someone bought it on impulse and couldn't play it well and gave up I learned on a 12 and I still love to play them 13 years later it is truley a dying art.