12-string question.

Cor · Post by **Cor** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 7:41 pm

I am thinking about buying a pretty cheap 12-string ($250) from my guitar teachers shop. When I tried it, it sounded great, but it was tuned to D. I asked about it and he said, "They are suppossed to be tuned to D because if it was in E there would be too much tension on the neck" Is this true? I didn't think so because I know a bunch of the DMB songs that are on the 12-string are in standard tuning.

Can anyone shed light on me?

Cory "I like 12-string goodness" Allen

DMBFreak84 · Post by **DMBFreak84** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 8:31 pm

i have never heard anything like that, thats just ridiculous

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Sun Aug 31, 2003 8:33 pm

ive heard that it should be tuned down HALF a step (EbAbDbGbBbEb) and then you would put a capo on 1 for standard. i dont do it that way though. its preference really.

and by the way, 12 strings are awesome

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:48 am

he probably said that because the guitar is rather cheap... a guitar that inexpensive is probaly lacking in structural integrity...

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 12:58 am

you should just buy an alvarez. fatjack how much was yours?

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:00 am

shane wrote:you should just buy an alvarez. fatjack how much was yours?

600, i'm poor now, but it was most definitely worth it

Pickles · Post by **Pickles** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:02 am

maybe you can go for something cheaper than that... i believe his was a 60... might wanna go for a 20..

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:04 am

shane wrote:maybe you can go for something cheaper than that... i believe his was a 60... might wanna go for a 20..

yeah, mine is a 60

Cor · Post by **Cor** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 2:24 am

fatjack wrote:he probably said that because the guitar is rather cheap... a guitar that inexpensive is probaly lacking in structural integrity...

Makes sense.

It's an Oscar Shimdt guitar. used.

Cory "Octaves with one finger rule!" Allen

Roastbeef · Post by **Roastbeef** » Mon Sep 01, 2003 1:31 pm

Cor wrote:
fatjack wrote:he probably said that because the guitar is rather cheap... a guitar that inexpensive is probaly lacking in structural integrity...
Makes sense.

It's an Oscar Shimdt guitar. used.

Cory "Octaves with one finger rule!" Allen

I agree. I see no reason why a 12 string can't be tuned to 440. Mine is and the neck hasn't snapped off yet (!). Anyway, look into the Seagull S12+. I got mine off of eBay for $240 which included shipping. Yup, a little risky buying from eBay, but everything checked out fine when I got it. Turned out to be a steal!

geekmug · Post by **geekmug** » Tue Sep 02, 2003 1:40 am

The first 12 strings couldn't handle the tension, so yes, they are often tuned a half-step low.. modern twelve strings employ much stronger bracing and can be tuned up to standard, but if you tried to do that on an older one, you would damage the guitar, if not immediately, but at least over time

waffle_house_jam · Post by **waffle_house_jam** » Sun Sep 07, 2003 6:49 pm

i had a fender dg-12 or something like that, i sold it a year ago, but i usually kept it tuned in D, because i had heard that standard might damage the guitar over a long period of time. besides, i rather liked haveing a tuned-down guitar around.

DT · Post by DT » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:09 am

just got mine a few days ago, an ibanez pf512nt for only 204, then i spent another 35 on a nice gig bag to keep it in... i keep mine tuned down half a step, it felt a little tight at 440 and i think its a tad easier to play... plus jamming out on nancies sounds awesome tuned down

Appfro · Post by **Appfro** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:56 am

The Dreaming Tree wrote:just got mine a few days ago, an ibanez pf512nt for only 204, then i spent another 35 on a nice gig bag to keep it in... i keep mine tuned down half a step, it felt a little tight at 440 and i think its a tad easier to play... plus jamming out on nancies sounds awesome tuned down

but if you kept it at 440 would it screw it up. the 12 is my next guitar, i don't wanna buy something that's not going to have some life on it

Roastbeef · Post by **Roastbeef** » Mon Sep 08, 2003 2:48 pm

Appsoldier wrote:but if you kept it at 440 would it screw it up. the 12 is my next guitar, i don't wanna buy something that's not going to have some life on it

Read geekmug's post above. Again, my Seagull S12+ has so far been fine tuned to 440...