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Old 09-16-2021, 11:45 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Default Shortage of options for 12 strings ???

I have two 12 strings.
Like most I tune them one tone (in American - two half steps) to Dd---dd

On my Martin D12-20 I use D'addario EJ37 (12-.054)

On my Harmony H1270 I use Martin M190 (same gauge but bronze).

Both have an octave G which is a silly .010" string.

Thought I'd buy some stocks today, so looked around on ebay, Amazon and some specialty string dealers.

Well Amazon doesn't seem to understand the concept of a 12 string guitar.

I even looked on Da'dd and Martin websties (I meant to type websites but if the shoe fits...)

I can find NO 12 string sets in lights/mediums apart from the D'add EJ37s and Martin M190s.

Huh???

Anybody know better?

Why


I foud NO sets of 12 strings with .012"
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Old 09-16-2021, 12:22 PM
boombox boombox is offline
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I wonder if it's just here in the UK that it's like that? I often see threads with people talking about different options in the States, but here yes, we are not as well served it seems. I tend to use 10s tuned to standard, but we don't even get the options for Elixirs, nano or polys.
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Old 09-16-2021, 01:11 PM
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ssstewart ssstewart is offline
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yes, same thing happened to me in July when i went to buy some at local long & mcquade store...only had one set of 12gauge 12 string. so had them order a few sets in for me in case ( like the toilet tissue shortage) and picked up 6 sets of D'Add 12s phos br/Earthwoods/Martins last week when they got my order in.
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Old 09-16-2021, 01:53 PM
DCCougar DCCougar is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
I foud NO sets of 12 strings with .012"
Gee, you might have to go with .010s, like everybody else.
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Old 09-16-2021, 02:43 PM
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BoneDigger BoneDigger is offline
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You are way beyond me!

"Ooooh, some light 12-string strings!" In the cart they go!

Done.
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Old 09-16-2021, 02:48 PM
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In UK, try newtone strings if you're not in a hurry (up to 14 days for delivery)
https://newtonestrings.com/shop/mast...tic-12-string/
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  #7  
Old 09-16-2021, 02:52 PM
FrankHudson FrankHudson is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ssstewart View Post
yes, same thing happened to me in July when i went to buy some at local long & mcquade store...only had one set of 12gauge 12 string. so had them order a few sets in for me in case ( like the toilet tissue shortage) and picked up 6 sets of D'Add 12s phos br/Earthwoods/Martins last week when they got my order in.
I tried stringing my 12-string with toilet paper. Even tuned down a full step the dang G string would always snap. Shame I couldn't make it work. I thought it would give my sound more.....



.



...bottom.


OK, I'm all serious now, onto Silly's actual problem. I keep one of my 12-strings tuned to Steve Tibbetts' tuning, which uses unison pairs for some courses instead of octaves as well as being tuned down. I've resigned myself to needing to buy two sets of strings to do that, and as much as it seems wasteful, one may need to go to such extremes.

I don't know if Tibbetts was inspired by Leadbelly's practice, which I read about back when I got my first 12-string in the 70s, of using unisons not octaves for the "G" string course. Ever done that, or considered that, Mr. Moustache?

Of course (Am I being silly again? Surely I must have intended the pun!) one would likely need to modify the nut to try these more unison pairs schemes.
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Last edited by FrankHudson; 09-16-2021 at 03:38 PM.
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  #8  
Old 09-16-2021, 03:00 PM
donlyn donlyn is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
I have two 12 strings.
Like most I tune them one tone (in American - two half steps) to Dd---dd

On my Martin D12-20 I use D'addario EJ37 (12-.054)

On my Harmony H1270 I use Martin M190 (same gauge but bronze).

Both have an octave G which is a silly .010" string.

Thought I'd buy some stocks today, so looked around on ebay, Amazon and some specialty string dealers.

Well Amazon doesn't seem to understand the concept of a 12 string guitar.

I even looked on Da'dd and Martin websties (I meant to type websites but if the shoe fits...)

I can find NO 12 string sets in lights/mediums apart from the D'add EJ37s and Martin M190s.

Huh???

Anybody know better?

Why


I foud NO sets of 12 strings with .012"

Hey Andy,

Not much better in the states. My favorite (favourite) brand is Elixir, and like a lot of other brands, strings were harder to find as the pandemic killed everything. A few months ago I was in a Guitar Center when the got in their first shipment in quite a while. But it was just basic strings, no exotic gauges or 12 string sets. Bought a couple of sets of Lights just in case.

A month or so ago I got some Elixir PB HD Lights (.013-.053), a gauge with which I string most of my six strings, from Sweetwater, so that gauge is available again.

But 12 string sets are hard to find. My guess is that they might be considered a niche item among Guitars and guitar strings, so they are probably waiting at the end of the projected production line. I'm a bit fussy, but I am getting tired of waiting. I have one i(n case of breakage) backup set left, so I'll be looking too.

Good luck on your search. Maybe you might be able to cobble together a set out of existing 6 string sets and adding some loose strings of the appropriate gauge? By way of experiment and ideas, Lead Belly used unison courses for the treble e, b, and g strings, and used an unwound treble 'e' string in his base 'E' course, which is 2 octaves higher instead of one, of course.

Don
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Last edited by donlyn; 09-16-2021 at 03:09 PM.
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Old 09-16-2021, 05:43 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Hi I used to own a Del'Arte Leadbelly which had a recommended 1st course of .014" and a bass on the 6th course of .064" but it had a 26.5" scale and was tuned to cC-cc.

My two 12 strings (24.9 and 25 scales) and I'm happy with light gauge string sets 54/30 - 12/12, but why are there no Martin sets in PB and why no D'addario in Bronze, and why does no-one else offer standard light gauge?

I am a flat picker and even tuned down one tone, .010" strings are, surely , too feeble to drive a dread or jumbo top, or even stay in tune or not break?

Is it just me??



https://youtu.be/2YEM_5t45tQ



https://youtu.be/RYkEwGn_xEs
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  #10  
Old 09-16-2021, 05:54 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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Strings by Mail sell a John Pearse .013-.056 Heay PB 12-string set with .014 octave G https://www.stringsbymail.com/john-p...-56-18831.html

Everything else in a Medium 12-string set has a .010 octave G.

As mentioned previously, Newtone Strings UK sell custom sets - so you can configure your own string type, end, core and gauge. https://newtonestrings.com/shop/cust...-configurator/
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Last edited by Brucebubs; 09-16-2021 at 06:47 PM.
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Old 09-16-2021, 06:30 PM
FingahPickah FingahPickah is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
I have two 12 strings.
Like most I tune them one tone (in American - two half steps) to Dd---dd
On my Martin D12-20 I use D'addario EJ37 (12-.054)
On my Harmony H1270 I use Martin M190 (same gauge but bronze).
Both have an octave G which is a silly .010" string.
Thought I'd buy some stocks today, so looked around on ebay, Amazon and some specialty string dealers.

I foud NO sets of 12 strings with .012"
Hope this helps.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/daddario-ej37-12-string-phosphor-bronze-acoustic-guitar-strings--medium-top-heavy-bottom

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/martin-ma190-sp-12-string-80-20-bronze-light-authentic-acoustic-guitar-strings

https://www.elderly.com/collections/all/products/d-addario-ej37-medium-top-heavy-bottom-12-string-acoustic-guitar-set

https://www.elderly.com/collections/all/products/martin-ma190-authentic-acoustic-sp-80-20-light-12-string-acoustic-guitar-set
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  #12  
Old 09-16-2021, 10:54 PM
donlyn donlyn is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Silly Moustache View Post
Hi I used to own a Del'Arte Leadbelly which had a recommended 1st course of .014" and a bass on the 6th course of .064" but it had a 26.5" scale and was tuned to cC-cc.

My two 12 strings (24.9 and 25 scales) and I'm happy with light gauge string sets 54/30 - 12/12, but why are there no Martin sets in PB and why no D'addario in Bronze, and why does no-one else offer standard light gauge?

I am a flat picker and even tuned down one tone, .010" strings are, surely , too feeble to drive a dread or jumbo top, or even stay in tune or not break?

Is it just me??

* *
Andy,

> Is it just me??

Might be the guitars too. I play Taylor 12 string guitars and they are built on the light side, both with Taylor 'standard' 25.5" scales. I tune mine to D# and fingerpick with my nails. So when I use the Elixir 12 string Light gauge (.010-.047) on them, they sound really great, especially the Spruce over Rosewood 458e-R Grand Orchestra 12 string. I think of it as my personal 'wall of sound' instrument.

I now keep my 355 in DADGAD, but since I started in D#, it is now in C# in DADGAD intervals. It is a total Drone Factory for ragas and reels.

Don
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99 Taylor 355 sitka/sapele 12 string Jmbo
06 Alvarez AJ60S englmn/mpl lam med Jmbo
14 Taylor 818e sitka/rosewood Grand Orchestra
05 Taylor 512ce L10 all mahogany Grand Concert
09 Taylor all walnut Jmbo
16 Taylor 412e-R sitka/rw GC
16 Taylor 458e-R s/rw 12 string GO
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22 Guild F-1512 s/rw 12 string Jmbo
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  #13  
Old 09-17-2021, 08:59 AM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FingahPickah View Post
Hope this helps.

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/daddario-ej37-12-string-phosphor-bronze-acoustic-guitar-strings--medium-top-heavy-bottom

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/martin-ma190-sp-12-string-80-20-bronze-light-authentic-acoustic-guitar-strings

https://www.elderly.com/collections/all/products/d-addario-ej37-medium-top-heavy-bottom-12-string-acoustic-guitar-set

https://www.elderly.com/collections/all/products/martin-ma190-authentic-acoustic-sp-80-20-light-12-string-acoustic-guitar-set
Hi thanks for that, but as I said these are the ONLY options available in standard light gauge 12 strings everything else seems to be extra/ultra light, and so Martin ONLY make MA190s which are bronze and D;add only makes EJ37s which are PB.

I know 12 string guitar isn't that popular at present, but I find it strange that these are the only options.

BTW - as I'm in the UK - I doubt there would be much advantage in buying from the USA.

Also whilst I used to have a good relationship with Malcolm at Newtone - I don't want round core low tension strings.

Thanks all.
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Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer.
I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom!
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  #14  
Old 09-17-2021, 10:05 AM
birkenweg42 birkenweg42 is offline
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I have been playing 12 string guitar for the last 20 years and never had problems buying strings until recently. Since I usually tune down two half steps and play in open tunings I use medium and sometimes heavy strings. It took quite some time of searching the internet before I found a set of La Bella mediums last week.
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Old 09-17-2021, 10:25 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by birkenweg42 View Post
I have been playing 12 string guitar for the last 20 years and never had problems buying strings until recently. Since I usually tune down two half steps and play in open tunings I use medium and sometimes heavy strings. It took quite some time of searching the internet before I found a set of La Bella mediums last week.
Just another reflection of shortages caused by "international disease issue". Give it some time and they'll come back. Until then we'll all have to deal with some "lack" in our lives.
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