Anyone not like 12 strings?

[Londonlefty]

I’ve got an 80’s Eko Ranger 12, got it for just over £100, built like a tank and all laminate I think. Sounds huge in double drop D, but doesn’t get played much compared to my Martin D15 or Larrivee OM 3. As people have said a bit of a pain when changing strings too. Nothing sounds worse than an out of tune 12 though..

[Tycobb73]

I had a guy who has a 90s Taylor limited edition something play my bar last night, him, a bass, and small drum set. He just kills on it and he's one of my favorite artist that I have play. I'm thinking about getting one and asking him to give me lessons on it.

https://www.lynn-thompson.com/?fbcli...2rHF9o50pBsA7w

[louparte]

I don’t like 12-strings either. Now I buy 12-string sets and string one of my six-string dreads
w/ the octave strings from the package.

I guess it’s called Nashville Tuning or a high-string guitar. It’s cleaner and
imparts a harpischord sound to the guitar. If I need a 12-string sound,
I simply double-track w/ a regular strung guitar.

Originally Posted by TBman

I played a 12 string Yamaha dread for years as a kid. It went everywhere with me. Yes, Stairway to Heaven, Over the Hills and Far Away, Southern Man, Needle and the Damage Done, Old Man, Babe I'm going to Leave You, and others all played on a 12.

Finally I got to the point where double B's were driving me nuts. I seemed to spend more time tuning than playing (not a lot of disposable income to buy new strings when I should have) and those were the days of the tuning fork, sorry no Snarks back then.

Now, when ever I'm at GC and someone is playing a 12 string I just cringe and draw back like I saw a snake or something

My fingers hurt at the thought of playing one again.

I guess I'll have to buy an inexpensive one to get over my affliction. Kind of like a vaccine,

[Orfeas]

Me. I just don't like playing them at all.

[Mycroft]

I like 'em fine, although apparently not enough to own one. Had a nice Yamaha something or another. And the peak of 12 strings, amid-70s Guild 212XL

Although I've played a couple of smaller-bodied Taylors and Collings recently...

[lowrider]

What's with Yamaha 730 12 strings? I went to look at one on Staten Island, lastyear, and the action was a mile high. I just asked for pics at the 12th fret on another in NJ and again it's a mile high. 700's are not that old, but things seem to deteriorate quickly.

Anyone else see this in 700 series 12 strings? What about the other Yamana's?

[The Growler]

Originally Posted by lowrider

What's with Yamaha 730 12 strings? I went to look at one on Staten Island, lastyear, and the action was a mile high. I just asked for pics at the 12th fret on another in NJ and again it's a mile high. 700's are not that old, but things seem to deteriorate quickly.

Anyone else see this in 700 series 12 strings? What about the other Yamana's?

Keep looking. One of the best sounding twelves I've ever heard was an almost forty year old Yamaha. It's a righty and the guy plays it lefty too which is weird to watch (to me), but it sounds great.

[Skip Ellis]

Never liked 'em much - had one once when I learned to play "Walk Right In" back in about 1962 or thereabouts. Just never had the need for one after that - it's not something that I'd likely use to play Merle Travis tunes.

[TBman]

The Rain Song by Led Zep. Probably the only tune that I'd play on one.

All those strings, all that tuning, the zinginess....... arggghh

[Brucebubs]

I deleted my comment.

[SpiderTrap]

Musta had 4 or 5 in the 80s Guild , Tak , dont remember others but could never tune em right , tore my fingers up , extra string cost , was having hard time learning the 6's and gave up long long ago . Difficult to play, You really gotta be 12 DEDICATED Which I was not .

[donlyn]

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

I deleted my comment.

Awwww shucks.


Don
.

[MarkWW]

Interesting how many folks do not like playing nor ever want to own a 12 string. I can not imaging not having one around. I would LOVE a Guild F-512 but that is never going to happen I am just too cheap.

When I first started playing the 12 was great for Folk Music and then when Folk Rock hit...once again the 12 was integral. By the time 1970 hit I was sick of putting up with the silliness of band mates and decided solo was the way to go but I needed some ooomph and once again the 12 did it's job. To my ears a small orchestra to accompany the solo vocalist. And my vocals needed as much accompaniment as possible.

So yes I love playing and owning 12 strings. Electric and Acoustic.

[Pitar]

Went from an FG-230 to an F-412 in the beginning. I swapped the courses for the G & D strings placing the octave on the bottom to better sound them when plucking upward with my fingers. When I do visit a store I will play a 12-string as a nod to that period in my life. I wouldn't own one now but I don't dislike them.

[guitarxan]

I have had a love/ambivalent relationship with 12 string guitars. I love the sound and novelty of a 12 string. Playing iconic 12 string songs like Wish You Were Here, Walk Right In, Dead Or Alive,and anything by the Byrds is just downright awesome fun!! But I have been ambivalent to 5 out of the 7 12’s I have owned because their playability has been lacking. I have owned a Guild F112, Epiphone Texan, Angelica something,Goya,Ovation Balladeer 12, Yamaha and my current 12 the Taylor 150e. The only one that played really well was..... The Epiphone. Had a bolt on neck and action like an electric. It was a blast.....for two weeks....until the neck ripped right out of its bolts.

I was admittedly too young and too stupid to have the Guild and the Ovation set up properly.

I have had the neck reset and replaced the saddle and nut on the Taylor and it plays well now. But the guitar lacks the cannon like quality you get from a Martin or a Guild. Others swear by the 150e.....I may just have a dud.

Bottom line......12 strings are a blast IF you invest in a great one that plays really well or can be set up to play really well.