12-string differences?

[RJVB]

Is a typical 12-string guitar basically its sibling 6-stringer with a different bridge and headstock plus a somewhat wider neck, or are there internal differences as well to resist the (supposedly) higher string tension?

I was window shopping jumbos, saw a nice 12-string Framus that has a 48mm instead of 45mm neck and I'll admit I caught myself thinking it's great if you could just leave off half of the strings and enjoy the wider fingerboard (while still have the option of putting all 12 strings on)...

[zombywoof]

They are braced differently to handle the 250 some odd pounds of force being exerted. Once upon a time, guitars like Harmony (the only American builder to even offer a stock 12 string in the 1950s) and the early 1960s Gibson 12 strings came with the warning to tune down.

[RJVB]

Right. Would have been too good to be true if you could use the same instrument as a 6-string and have it sound as good in both set-ups.

(That Framus sounds very nice btw, for a laminate B&S that can be found for under 500€!)

"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails"

My case is worse ... I've been discussing nylons with post-penopause males =)

[Stomp]

Regarding "Double Duty" acoustic guitars, one or two members of the Guild forum have used their 12 strings as 6 strings with good results, here's a link


On the electric guitar side, there's the Rickenbacker 366/12 convertible:

[L20A]

People do convert 12 string guitars to 6 string.
Try a 6 string set on the 12 to see how it sounds to you.

Personally, I would not do it though.

[RJVB]

Thanks for the link to the Guild forum, that was fun to scan through. I was bit surprised to read about jumbos lacking bass end but that's a different subject.

Would "convert" a 12string myself this way? Only if that extra 0.5mm or so spacing between string is actually noticeable (for longer than just the first few days). And not with a valuable instrument because at this point I don't really see myself owning a 12 string as such.

[zombywoof]

Originally Posted by RJVB

Right. Would have been too good to be true if you could use the same instrument as a 6-string and have it sound as good in both set-ups.

That is why the 1961-1964 Gibson B45-12s are so highly thought of - both the slope and square shoulder versions were braced no different than their six string counterparts. Great for sound but not the best thing for survival.

[maxtheaxe]

Personally, my take is that they're different animals alltogether, since they have to be built to withstand the extra string tension without making them sound tubby and dead and without sacrificing playability. Guild is especially good at this, and that's the biggest thing that recommends that company to me...I mainly associate "Guild" with "12-string".

Taylor also seems to have this formula down...their 12-strings are excellent although with either Guild or Taylor, the really desirable ones tend to be pricey.

All that being said, I'm very impressed with the MIC Yamaha LL-16-12. The only caveat here is that they take a very nice sounding, well-made guitar and put a bunch of cheapo plastic junk on them...saddle, pins, nut, terrible tuners, glued-in plastic end-pin (yikes). I got a great deal but almost sent mine back because it sounded weak, thin, crappy, but decided instead to work it over...bone nut, pins, saddle, Grover tuners, total set-up; made a HUGE difference. The guitar really sings now.