12 String

[SgtM]

Hey all.. just got a 12 string for my birthday (tomorrow).. It used to be my Grandfathers, and he passed away last November. Anyway, the thing is VERY old. Sat under his bed for about the last 15 or so years, and wasn't touched. I know that the 12 string tuning is the same as a standard 6 string, except strings 4,5,6 each have octave strings. So my dilema is this. The bridge slides from the sound hole down to the bottom of the body where there's a metal bracket that the strings are fed through. I was told by a local guitar tech that this is normal for these older guitars, commonly seen in jazz guitars, and to tune it, I have to measure from the nut to the 12th fret, and that distance should be the same from the 12th fret, to the bridge. So, I did that, tuned it normally, and got the octaves set.. should play fine right? NO..

The G strings are fine when played open. However, when I fret them, one string is 1/2 step lower than the other.

When I went back and re-tuned it, everything is out of whack. I put the new strings (Martin ex-light's) on last night, and by this time, they should be pretty well stretched.

Any suggestions?

[DMBFan63]

take it to that tech guy and see if he can fix it..

[SgtM]

That's what I was thinking.. but need to do this without spending hardly any money. Got a baby due tomorrow.. Any other ideas?

[yknSTONE]

For safety and professionalism, I'd definatley take it to a Tech, But I understand about the whole $$ issue also.

-Goodluck, congrats on a baby by the way!

[Matty Boom]

dude, if worse comes to worst...you can just give it to me

[grock]

Hey all.. just got a 12 string for my birthday (tomorrow).. It used to be my Grandfathers, and he passed away last November. Anyway, the thing is VERY old. Sat under his bed for about the last 15 or so years, and wasn't touched. I know that the 12 string tuning is the same as a standard 6 string, except strings 4,5,6 each have octave strings. So my dilema is this. The bridge slides from the sound hole down to the bottom of the body where there's a metal bracket that the strings are fed through. I was told by a local guitar tech that this is normal for these older guitars, commonly seen in jazz guitars, and to tune it, I have to measure from the nut to the 12th fret, and that distance should be the same from the 12th fret, to the bridge. So, I did that, tuned it normally, and got the octaves set.. should play fine right? NO..

The G strings are fine when played open. However, when I fret them, one string is 1/2 step lower than the other.

When I went back and re-tuned it, everything is out of whack. I put the new strings (Martin ex-light's) on last night, and by this time, they should be pretty well stretched.

Any suggestions?

many twelve strings have E, A, D and G strings with octaves. but anyways, if the open string is in tune but the fretted string is too flat, then you need to move the bridge closer to the soundhole. if it is just one string that is out of whack, and it's a G string then i would say the easiest fix is to string up the Unisons on the E and B strings, have a single G string, and then octaves for EADandG. that's the cheap solution.

John butler uses this "11 string" guitar tuning just cuz he likes it better.

[SgtM]

many twelve strings have E, A, D and G strings with octaves. but anyways, if the open string is in tune but the fretted string is too flat, then you need to move the bridge closer to the soundhole. if it is just one string that is out of whack, and it's a G string then i would say the easiest fix is to string up the Unisons on the E and B strings, have a single G string, and then octaves for EADandG. that's the cheap solution.

John butler uses this "11 string" guitar tuning just cuz he likes it better.

Thanks, I'll try that too