MrDBM

always wanted one of these as they sound awesome - does anybody have any easy tuning methods? As I understand it the opposing g,b and e strings are tuned normally, whilst the e, a and d are tuned to what?

I have a pants ear for tuning and almost always used a digi-tuner, anybody got any decents shortcuts?

Dave.
MY82 Standard Strat and MY99 EC Signature

douglasb

Six of the strings (e,a,d,g,b,e) are tuned normally. The bottom four second strings are tuned one octave higher. The top two second strings are tuned the same as the top two first strings.

So, you have e,e^, a,a^, d,d^, g,g^, b,b, e,e (don't know the correct notation for an octave higher, so i've used ^)

(Edited for spelling)

Doug

[Edited by douglasb - 8/29/2003 8:30:49 AM]

DRUNKNORGY

Not 100% on this but my neighbours a guitar teacher and has a couple. I understood that they (EADGBE) were normal tuning but the strings were an octave apart.

DRUNKNORGY

There you have it

Bubba po

Douglas B is correct. Your digituner will recognise notes an octave higher, so no problem. The idea of a 12 string is that every note has a twin for a fuller sound.It's impractical for the wound strings to have an exact partner, so thinner, octave-tuned strings are used instead. This gives the characteristic "shimmer".

SiPie

Just sold mine

Pain in the *** and you soon get bored of it

Hope that hasn't put you off

MrDBM

right, with you - it it shouldn't be too much hard work then... I think the rewards are well worth it though, they sound amazing.

Anybody got any recommendations?

Obviously they are fairly limited, you won't able to capture that classic Kirk Hammett sound so I wouldn't want to spend a great deal on one.

beemerboy

cue badger stuffer and his stairway to heaven picture .....................LOL

BB

Bubba po

Like buying any guitar, the name on the headstock is only a guide. There are dogs under any brand name. Play several; take advice from your friendly music shop; don't buy private unless you're confident that you can tell a good one from a bad one.

And SiPie's right. They're v. limited in scope and harder to play. I'd borrow one if you can and see how you get on.

SiPie

Bubba has it in one

What I mean is that it's not a 'take away camping' guitar as you'll soon get bored of playing Hotel California and a few other things that you can muster

It's just an effect and you will soon get sick of it.

Lovely sound though but it's only an imstrument for accompaniment (sp) IMHO

Picked up one for £150 last year and twas ok but got bored and sold it

*Sonic*

They arent just an instrument for accompniment

Ive heard some awesome 12 string playing, I have a 12 string myself, and what I did for a novel idea, was to remove all the 'normal' strings,and just have the high strings

Then record on one channel a nice picking pattern, take one completly different acoustic (my Yamaha 6 string) and record the exact same part on a different channel

You get a really nice 12 string part with different tonal qualities from both guitars, and I pan them slightly too, and you also have the benefit of using different effects on each channel too

Yes they are harder to play, the Yamaha Electro Acoustic looks & is soooo easy to play

Blackbird by the Beatles sounds realy good on a 12 string

Steve

Bubba po

Sounds like a really nice special effect *Sonic* but still a special effect. It's just that I don't think it's a good everyday instrument. I don't suppose many people would have a 12-string as their only guitar, anyway, and MrDBM might even take to it- though he's still better borrowing one and sticking his toe in the water, don't you think?

*Sonic*

Yes I know what you mean, it is a special effect as such, but then arent most recordings

Point taken tho, yes I do think a 12 string guitar should not be your first guitar, you should have at least one 'normal' 6 string guitar as well

It is good when my mates come round and we have a bit of a jam, as I have an Electro Acoustic Bass too, which is pretty cool

I do have about 6 guitars tho too