Electric 12 string

[DissonantTimbre]

I'm about to purchase a Danelectro vintage 12 string. This will be my first 12 string guitar. This will also be my first Danelectro guitar.

To the electric 12 string players out there is there something you wish you had known before purchasing an electric 12 string? Any tips from the Danelectro players out there?

What are some good string brands for 12 string? What about gauges for the individual strings?

[FrankHudson]

I use the light gauge set from Ernie Ball currently on my electric 12: .009 to .046 main strings.

If you're looking for the Byrds sound or those that cop that kind of sound, the most important thing is compression. Particular for 12-string "lead" you need it for sustain.

[Song]

This video popped up on the tube today. Made me wonder (gas?).
$500! hmmmm

Please let us know the particulars if you get it.

[redir]

I had a Rickenbacker for a while. It was a lot of fun but didn't get much use. I always used the lightest gauge strings I could fond for it. IDK what advice I can offer except the usual, make sure the action is set right, neck angle, and so on.

[muscmp]

to me, there is only one electric 12 string-rickenbacker!

play music!

[The Growler]

I use D'Addario EXL150 sets (10 -46) on both of my electric 12 strings, a Fender XII and a Gibson Les Paul Traditional 12. Work great.

[Telejonz]

Check out the Jangle Box compressor.

[Steve DeRosa]

Pyramid makes a 10-46.5 flatwound set if you're after the George Harrison vibe...

[Beachrunner]

I had a beautiful semi-hollow Cherryburst Dano 12-string for awhile, and sold it for some stupid reason.. Have regretted selling it ever since.. I'm now on the lookout for another one, if that tells you anything...

Here's the one I had:

[DissonantTimbre]

Originally Posted by Telejonz

Check out the Jangle Box compressor.

How versatile is this pedal? Is it good for tele country chicken pickin type stuff? I can't justify +200 for a pedal compressor otherwise.

[FrankHudson]

I wouldn't call the Janglebox the most versatile compressor. I nails the Byrds 12-string sound easily though, and I've used with my Tele's too. I'm not a country player, so don't take my word for it, but I think it'd get in that chicken' pickin' area with it. The bright setting on the three-way tone toggle switch is kind of like a built in treble booster too.

What doesn't have is any release, threshold, or ratio settings. The fixed ratio is a deep squish and you can sort of vary the threshold by how much volume or gain you hit it with.

[Chickee]

The folks on here are calling it right. Go for light gauge sets for 12 stringers and have the guitar set up properly. These Dano 12's aren't the easiest to play to begin with, but they sound terrific especially with a compressor and chorus pedal. The lipstick tube pick ups are great with a clean, clean amp. You are going to have a lot of fun with this guitar and a side benefit is it always makes people smile when they hear it!
Oh yeah-I have a 1998 Blue Metalflake Seal pickguard 12 string Dano. 20 years of fun with that guitar. Its held up well. Only changes made to it over that period of time were a Switchcraft 3way switch and 1/4" jack.

[rrgguitarman]

These Dano 12's aren't the easiest to play to begin with

I was surprised how easy the Dano 12 I played at GC played. The action was low and the nut was cut just right.

[BoneDigger]

Yeah, I don't get the idea that they hard to play. Mine has great, low action and plays smooth as butter.

[Hobo_King]

Depends on what you mean by "vintage". If it's an original Dano from the 60s, it will have a good sound but likely will have some intonation and playability issues. They were really low end budget guitars. The Pro models from the late 90s with adjustable bridges are very nice though do have some trouble staying in-tune if you use it for outdoor gigs.