12-String Guitar

[rycleary]

hey there. i've been registered at ants for about a month now, but this is my first post. figured i'd try the musicians forum, seeing as i am a musician and we are the coolest people there are.


anyway, i've been thinking about investing in a 12-string guitar, not right away, but sometime, and i was just wondering what those of you who play 12-strings think of them, soudwise, and are they a useful tool for writing new music? thanx

rycleary

[MattJ]

I like my twelve string. Can't tell you about writing music on it from personal experience though. Although I would kind of think it might be limiting in a way. There are some things that sound funny on a 12 string (try the Stone on one for example) but I can't think of anything that is played on a 12 that sounds just plain wrong on a six, so maybe you would want to write all your stuff on a regular guitar and then think about what might sound good on a 12.

Chord songs no doubt work on a 12, but the higher doubling can be a little much on some.

For the moment having one is sort of a novelty. I play it occasionally, but my usual reflex is to pick up my mainstay guitar. Also I've noticed that if I'm not micced (and I never am) I really drown my own voice out when I'm on my 12.

As with all guitars though, make sure you get one you like. I went in thinking I'd jsut get a crappy one to mess around on and made the mistake of picking up a really nice one first. Jimmy Page himself could not have made me put that sucker down.

EDIT: And if you are thinking of it as an investment, maybe you should drop the extra bucks and get a real good one, if you think you will use it a lot. Could save you some money in the "This-guitar-is-not-going-to-cut-it-I-need-an-upgrade" department.

[BrotherChaos]

i just played a 12er yesterday for the first time, it was a taylor 355ce i believe. i was hooked. they sound simply amazing, i wish i could buy one right now. grey street sounded incredible on it :)

like mattj said though, i'd guess it would be easier to write on a 6, then if it sounds a little empty, then try playing it on the 12. if you have the cash though, i'd get one in a heartbeat. they are so much fun.

[AcE25]

There are a lot of people that consider Taylor's 355 to be there best 12 string its the lowest one they make on the series scale, but I have talked to many musicians popular and not, that think thats an awesome guitar. I think they sell for $1500.

[BrotherChaos]

hmm, i didn't know that. :)

yeah, it was right around $1500. i don't have anything to compare it to, but damn was it nice. and i thought they would take a little getting used to, but it took absolutely no time at all. played just as easy as a 6 string.

[Zio DMB]

I love y 12 string, it's oly a Yamaha, but it still kicks ass.
and peopel think its so much harder to play, when i was thinking of getting one, people were like: nick your barely good on guitar, why would you want a 12 string (I've had mine for almost a year now), but i went to my teachers place, picked one up and tried it (I was going for an electric but changed my mind after playing grey street on it) I fell in love.
as for writing, it is better to start on the six string, but if its sjut strumming its always gonna sound better on the 12 string, almost always.

the only problem at first was tuning it by ear, cuz you tune to the octave, but ya get use to it, and fgure that you can tune it with the tuner...

but i seriously say go for it, you won't regret getting it

[thewellander]

Once you get your 12 string, chances are you'll find yourself not picking up your 6 string as often. I love my 6 string, but I hardly ever use it at shows anymore. You get such a full sound with a 12.

Whenever you end up getting one, I wish you much fun with it!

Chris
www.themarkbrandenburg.com