Twelve-string guitars, acoustics, banjitars, and lessons are the focus of this channel. Welcome visitors! Feel free to browse. Most especially comment and ask your questions. I've been a guitarist for over 45 years, played in bands, recorded my music, played festivals, you name it--pretty much anything a semi-professional guitarist would do in a lifetime. I'm glad to share what I have learned. Remember to like, subscribe, and share!
I down tune a whole step on my 6-string to give me more range for my vocals. However I use a capo for most songs. Using a capo effects the tuning and going from no capo to with a capo requires retuning more than just changing to higher or lower fret. As you mentioned, the decreased string tension makes the guitar easier to play.
I have an Alvarez twelve string, which was having a bulging problem on the soundboard,so I decided to keep it tuned down to D,or a full tone down this takes off some tension off the bridge and the Lower tuning helps me singing Eagles songs, which would be a bit too high for my vocal range.
Very in depth and informative video on down tuning a 12 string. Articulate presentation that should answer most questions. I like a whole step down then I can capo second fret to be in tune with other people and save my Guitar from damage. Tuned down this way I can use heavier gage strings that I like. Very seldom do I tune to standard tuning. The more expensive the Guitar the less chance I'm going to take. Pete Seeger always played a beautiful sounding Baritone 12 string acoustic.
I learned to play on a Sears Silvertone Acoustic Guitar in 1965. Heavy strings, high action seemed like half inch off the fretboard. You had to do some serious pressing down to make chords ring. My fingertips became dead quickly. If you give me an extra light gage set of strings now I'll never know if I have hold of them or not! I have to have some serious strings.
After owning an Ovation 12-string for many years, 5 years ago, I purchased an 1982 Ovation 6-string model, American made, single-cut away, and onboard electronics. The guitar and hard case cost me $156. Why so cheap? A guitar shop that posted the guitar on eBay were not fond of Ovations. They just wanted to unload it. When I received the guitar, it was immaculate. The previous owner must have never played it. At that time, Ovation cases alone were selling for $100. What is steal. It sounded beautiful.
That’s why I made the video. There are amazing deals on American-made Ovation guitars that sound and play better than some Gibsons and Martins that might sell for five or six times the price. The collectible market doesn’t see Ovations as special, which lets us get a good deal. I have four amazing Ovations, all of which cost me less than one high end Taylor.
It’s funny, players either love Ovations or they hate them. I love their sound. In 1984, I bought a 12-string Ovation - no electronics and the short headstock. Many years later, it still plays great. No problems with the bridge pulling away, which was a common complaint. What is surprising to me is that the wood and the fiberglass/composite back have not separated at all. That in itself defies nature. As you know, Ovation 12-string guitars sound like no other 12-strings…
When you think about it, tuning down to D makes sense because when you put a capo on the second fret, the dots on the fretboard line up as they would without a capo….
Excellent details about 12s and guitars in general. Would you tell me which microphone or recording chain you are using? I'd like to record some videos of my own songs, with acoustic 12 and 6 strings.
My signal chain is pretty basic. I use a Fifine USB mic that goes into a Linux DAW with Reaper. I use the built-in plug-ins for compression, EQ, reverbs, etc. Sometimes I double parts on an electric 12-string. The electric signal chain is a lot more complicated. I use several rack mount effects, a pedalboard, a tube preamp, and a small mixer that goes into the computer via a USB interface. On the acoustics, I don’t use anything but the mic and the onboard Reaper plug-ins. You can hear my 12-string album here. open.spotify.com/album/7IueDdQZ7xrXQ5IIwBPFXj
I really wanted to hear what the guitar sounded like, tuned lower and than with CAPO applied allowing one to play in standard tuning on higher frets,,,!!!!
I’m pretty sure LaBella does. They also have the silk and steel “Leadbelly” sets that have a .070 for the lowest string. Those are made to tune down to C or B-flat.
Nice one!….question for you if you don’t mind ,my friend has bought a 1980s classical nylon string guitar.He’s having problems with the volume control,won’t go up above position 2…..he has replaced the battery too….any suggestions? Thanks
If he needs replacement parts for a Vintage Ovation, there is a seller on EBay called “Duhun-1” that sells parts. I bought some stuff from him to restore one of mine.
Beautiful! I didn't know there was such a thing as a 12-string archtop! I love my archtop, and the old MIJ 12-sstring I've just finished restoring. Your videos have helped and inspired me as I embark on this new stage of my guitar journey. Thank you, and keep up the good work. (Subscribed!)
I don't currently have a 12 string, although I did just order a double neck with 12/6. In the past, when I had a 12string, I kept it tuned either to DGCGCD or DADGAD, although I have messed around with open C tunings, so yeah, I generally play tuned down. When I get the double neck, my plan is to keep the 12 string tuned to DADGAD and the 6 string to D standard (regular tuning, down a whole step) to complement the other neck.
Sounds like a plan. Sometimes I think it would have been better if “standard” guitar tuning was DGCFAD, one whole step down. Almost all guitars sound better in that range and they can be strung with heavier strings, which gives a wider dynamic range.
Nothing fancy for 1998 Seagull. C ooen tuning mostly, typical light strings. I don't think I'll fiddling around too much with strings guages at this point.
I had my new-to-me Guild tuned down a whole step. Today I tried to tune it up to E and broke a string, so I came here. I'll try tuning it down half a step, so I can play a few more things above the 12th fret. Thanks for expanding my knowledge about the 12-string.
I would honestly say though string gauge is equally important across both electric and acoustic your electric guitar is basically a guitar that is played acoustically but recorded electronically so the flubbiness of light strings can still be heard
Aside from sound, strings are our tactile “interface” with the guitar. Choice of string gauge is a factor that has to consider touch our touch and style. For example, I love the sound and feel of .009s on an electric, but when I have played live, the adrenalin gets pumping and I tend to over-bend. I have to use .010s. On 12-string, I have to play with heavier strings to accommodate low tunings. There’s more than just sound involved.
Im using bit different set up , 8 or 9 string guitar , double E@.9ga, double B@.13ga and sometime octave G@.9ga, regular G @.24ga then single D@.35ga, single A @.46ga, and single E@.56ga, I find that this ,,hybrid "( I build this guitar my self) is giving me better bass line and crispy top. Im using lot of strumming and kind of Travis picking . What do you thinking about mix of my string gauges ?
This was by far a very informative presentation. 1 own a 74 Takamine F385 and still going strong only bc of using light or ultralight gage stings , having the neck checked for bowing and low action every 5 to 10 yrs. But the biggest improvement was ensuring I had a bone nut and saddle installed right from the get go… Thankyou again for reassuring my maintenance and upkeep plan.
@@cricklekid My experience with Retro strings is they sound "tight and punchy" for crisp single note picking, not bright and ringy for strumming. Try both and listen to the difference.
Thanks. There’s a story behind them. I got the guitar for a really low price, but there was a big chunk missing from the finish-a black guitar with bare wood showing. I repaired the finish, but there were still some imperfections. The pickguard was horribly scratched also, like someone strummed hard with a metal pick. I bought a stickers to distract the eye away from the bad spots. It looked so good, I got the idea to expand it as a theme. Here’s the link to the folks who make them. www.inlaystickers.com
Been Playing 12-string since 1967 or so learning from Pete Seeger Kpttke etcand your videos are the best i have seen on guages etc You are a brilliant 12-string player thrown in!! WELL DONE!!!
@@GWGuitarStudio You're welcome. This clip inspired me to delve deeper into my twelve string. Had finally started playing it daily, but just this week decided to visit it on occasion. Was thinking I'm not worthy, don't make a fool of myself. The instrument is Majestic and I will raise myself up to become worthy of it. I've covered good ground in the last month or so, with the aid of your channel I look forward to moving ahead. Thanks again. Peace
For my 1998 JF-30 12-string, maple back and sides, spruce top, ebony bridge and fingerboard, made in Westerley, Rhode Island. I use D'addario EJ38 Phosphor Bronze 10-47 light gauge strings tuned to E standard. This Guild has dual truss rods, one beneath the high strings and one beneath the low strings. They can be adjusted separately for possible neck twist issues. I've made no truss rod adjustments and it plays like a dream! To play in D standard I would string it with 12-52s, otherwise it will buzz from too low of string tension.
I picked up a 6 string banjo because it took me an age to learn guitar even halfway decent. I learned some banjo picking stuff to play on the bangitar to get more of a banjo sound then found I use some of the banjo technics when playing my guitar. It's a win win.
