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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I just got a cheapie 12. It actually has nice action and all that for... Whatever it is. Anyway, I have read many suggested tunings. Standard, drop D, dropping the whole thing to c-f-b-e-g-c, doubling-up the G string along with the e and b...
Obviously I have never had one of these of my own... So can those of you with more experience give me any advice?
While I wait, I will strum on my six string...
I sorta know how to do that. |
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Location: Hiram, Georgia | I'm in the same boat as you Arthur, I'm looking forward to learning a lot in this thread. Thanks in advance guys! phil |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Some of the reasons for dropping the tuning is to reduce the stress on the neck. "O"'s don't have that problem, so tuning to "concert" pitch is no problem. As to the esoterics of alternate tunings, I will defer to someone who can offer something more than conjecture. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Pssst, seesquare... it ain't an Ovation. Don't tell anybody.
But in that article that mention doubling-up all three high strings, they mentioned that the High G is higher than the thin E. That some folks liked the extra ring of that G, some scrimped because of breakage. It also mentioned that some chords for a sixer sound crappy on a twelve, and vice-versa. I got it tuned standard now.
This thing is new, came with a 30 day return-if-you-don't-like-it guarantee, and a 5 year parts warranty, so it should take the added tension. I just got it to learn.
Then the Ovation.
I am still open to pros & cons of alternate tunings.
I also am interested in song suggestions to look-up, besides ones that I already play now. |
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Location: big island | one excellent 12 string song in standard tuning is "wreck of the edmund fitzgerald" by gordon lightfoot. i did not take time to google the chords/lyrics for you but it is found easily. |
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Location: big island | http://www.guitaretab.com/l/lightfoot-gordon/10535.html
here ya go... |
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Location: ranson,wva | i taught my self tush today on my 12...i didnt have a clue how to tune so i tuned the heavys to pitch then the octaves to pitch..sound good to my ears..lol...jason |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Thanx, I go searching for that. Pre-senility, I go to chord/tab sites, then can't think of a song that I wanna find. I want... I want... 30 tacos. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Jason, I'm lucky and surprised... My cheap digital tuner actually works with a 12, once I got started. That Stellar (there, I said it) came with totally loose strings so I had to start from scratch. That's when I started this thread. Tuned the top and bottom E's to my O... then went from there.
(Glad I have guitars. Hate to try that by EAR. HA!!!) |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Lanaki-- That is awesome on a twelve! I almost sound like I know what I'm doing! |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | I've been playing 12 strings since '74 (with a 20 year break in there somewhere). My 1st 12 was/is a Madeira...not a great name in guitars. I tuned it right up there with the 6 strings and had no problems. Just make sure you adjust the trussrod (does it have a trussrod?) so the action is correct. If they left it loose at the factory you could do some damage.
Try capoing at the 5th fret. 12 strings make some magical sounds up there.
I hope your guitar turns out to be OK. It's a great way to be introduced to this side of the guitar world.
John <>{ |
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I've had my Martin 12 since 1970. It was my only guitar for 30+ years and I had it tuned to full concert pitch for 29 of them. It was one of the most beautiful sounding guitars I'd ever heard. It wasn't until I took it in to see if they could do anything about the high action that a luthier told me I should always tune it down at least 1/2 step if not 1 hole step. I had him do a neck reset and the guitar has never sounded good or played well since. I think I should have left it at full pitch and not let him touch it. |
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Location: Phoenix AZ | Ovation 12's have the best necks going. You can tune them to concert pitch and leave them for decades. The only non-O 12 I wever owned was a yamaka was was ok, but I used to tune it down 1/2 step and capo at 1st fret just because it made the action so much better. Dave |
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Location: us | I have a alvarez 12. one of the only three non-ovation guitars I have. I hung on to this one because alvarez with thier rapidly declining qaulity,managed to build this one right. Its a AD60-12 artist.this thing has a perfect action,sounds and plays great,and its a relatively cheap guitar($340). Its not often I play her, but for songs like "wanted dead or alive" "hotel california" and some of pink floyd's stuff the 12 shines like no 6 string can. I have always had at least one 12 string around, and have always kept them tuned to standard 440 with no ill results from the neck. I Hope to have a 6756LX Legend in black maybe this spring.I played one of these and loved it,the price is also within my short term reach :D |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | I've had a 12 string Papoose on my mind for quite some time, but at $700 I don't think it'll ever happen since it's sort of an "accessory" guitar.
John <>{ |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Wish You Were Here, first thing I play on anything I pick up, sounds scary-good on this thing. The action is excellent. If it starts to change over time, it does have a truss rod. For the price, this is good for me to get the feel for a 12, and know what I am looking for in a higher $ model. If it self-destructs, I didn't lose much. And that may mean it's time to get something better.
And Willard, that stuff happens with other things, too. "No no, the timing and carburetor are set all wrong. Let me fix it." Then it is never as good again, and you can't get it back. |
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Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado | I have always tuned my 12s to standard without any problem. My Giannini (see my gallery) was bought in 70 and has been tuned to standard all this time with no problem. I did have a guy who was something of a guitar historian tell me that twelve string guitars were not originally designed to be tuned EADGE. He showed me the tuning, but I don't remember what it was. I do remember it sounded like a tuning the Joni Mitchell sometimes uses. To be on the safe side, I have never used very heavy gauge strings on my 12s. Hope this helps
Cc |
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Location: Whitecourt, Ab | I have been lurking on this thread, as I bought my son a cheap 12 string for Christmas, and don't have a clue how to tune it for him.
I thought I had read somewhere else on this site that a common tuning is E A D G(the 2 strings the same)the B&E main strings tuned B&E, but the secondary B&E differently?
I assume I'm "out to lunch" on this. Any ideas? |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | The B & E are tuned the same pitch on both sets of strings...The E A D G have the second (smaller diameter strings) tuned one octive higher or the same as the lower string fretted at the 12th fret. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Okay Red; Coming from the novice, the hi E & B, both stings are the same. Everything else is tune like usual on the bigger strings. The lighter stings an octave higher. This leaves the higher G string the highest tuned string outta them all. Confused yet?
On my cheapie LED tuner, all the strings light-up true... Except the higher string on the Low E lights-up my hi E LED.
I really hope that is helpfull, but maybe someone else can explain better.
"How long does it take to tune a 12-String?"
"No-one knows." |
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Location: Utah | I've got a nice Alvarez that I bought new in 1978. So far no problems with concert pitch.
Tuning down one whole step does make it sound fuller, and it is easier to play due to the lower string tension. But I still prefer concert pitch.
One problem with 12s is intonation. I find that if it is tuned perfectly, it plays out of tune. So I tune it, then bring the octave D string in tune with a D played on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string. I tune the octave A to the A played on the 3rd string on the 2nd fret. Basically, I make the higher octave strings play in tune with the other strings, rather than being a perfect octave with the mated string. It is a small change, but it makes a big difference when playing chords in the first 3 frets. |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | OMA,
Your Stellar (I looked it up) seems like it's spec'd exactly like my early '70's Madeira...with some updates. THAT'S a very nice guitar for the money! Hold your head up high and don't be ashamed!
John <>{ |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Not too ashamed... It has nice action too. Not too loud, which is good in an apt building. I can always plug-it-in.
You may have noticed with this thread, many OFC members are admitting to committing adultery with lesser git-boxes.
Oh! An FlySig, Thanx. That sounds like good advice. I'll give that a try next time I tune. Which oughta be next time I touch it. Which oughta be frequently... |
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Location: Upper Left USA | "i tuned the heavys to pitch then the octaves to pitch..."
That's how its done.
Standard is the standard, because that's what everyone else is playing in.
I did put hevy gage on a Pacemaker once and tuned it D to D. It rumbled.
Try tuning down one step and use a Schubb cut capo. Phrasing will be normal and it will have a neat chimy sound. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i didnt like the way the ej's felt so i put elixer 13's on it today and man that thig is a tone monster...i tuned a half step down because the neck isant ovation and i didnt wanna screw the durn thing up...jason |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I've determined my 1615 is an "ugly duckling". It has a nasty neck repair, the binding is pulling off both sides of the waist (opposite of my personal experience), fissures in the top, mismatched tuner buttons, and various bruises & contusions. However, it is still tuned to pitch, and holds its tuning. Electronics work, too!
Put a light set (.009-.046) on it, just-in-case.
Took Lanaki's advice & printed off "Wreck". With my left-hand dominance (read, limited right-hand technique), I can manage a passable rendition. Now, learning all them lyrics will take a LOT more repetition, and probably, medication. |
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Location: ranson,wva | the problme ive got chris, is the left hand cant keep up with the right hands picking..lol...jason |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I have that right-hand problem too. I have no rhythm. My non-guitar friends have the mistaken idea the left-hand is the hard part. (and it is, but...) But I have trouble getting some of the strum/pick patterns down. |
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Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | I spend about 75% of my practice time on my right hand. Perhaps why I appreciate a 12'er- only so much fingerpicking you can do- unless you're gifted like Leo Kottke.
Good for building left-hand strength & stamina, though.
Some of Dylan's stuff sounds OK, and Hotel California, well, that's a natural- long & LOUD!! One of the classic chord progressions of all time.
Anyrate, whatever tuning you choose, it just takes time. A 12 is a different critter, altogether.
I do an interesting drill with playing the 1615, or 1115 for awhile, then switch to Shine, the JW, with similar wide neck & 12 frets. I can hear different overtones & helps with the rhythm & cadence. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I recall someone mentioning a 12 string as an "accessory guitar". I'll have to agree that one can do without a 12, but I personally find it an absolute necessity at times. I have been short a second guitar player in our worship band for the last three weeks, and that 12-string comes very close to filling the void, that is IF it is a deep-bowl Ovation (:
I feel so blessed to have come across this beautiful Custom Legend. I haven't found another 12-string that even comes close to playing and sounding so good. (and I've tried plenty) I only wish I could some day try an old Adamas 12. I've never tried the alternate tunings, but I hope to some day when I get the time. |
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Location: ranson,wva | i xan keep perfect time strumming but since my accident a few years back my chord changes have got verry slow. so thats a challange but ive been known to overcome most...i love playing my 12 but by far my most played critter is still the folklore...jason |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I'm having fun with my Christmas Present to self. The action is nice, but I have to get used to the wider neck. And the High/thin G seems so light, I have to Look! (Do I got it?) Also some of the songs in my repetoire do sound crappy on a 12. But a bunch sound like a symphony.
So I guess I oughta switch to my other Christmas Present to self... the 1621-4.
[What's the "4" for?] |
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Location: NJ | Color-(Natural). |
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Location: ranson,wva | my favorite finish color...jason |
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Location: South Jersey | The -4 is the color code. Yours should be a natural color (light wood). I just bought my 6751-4 from a friend. It is also a 12 string. I am enjoying songs like "Wish You Were Here" and "Mr. Tamborine Man". I always wanted a 12 string and this is a beauty, 2 years old. just hummmmmsss. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Oh? Thanx! |
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Location: ranson,wva | #4 finish on 1567-4 legend ssb  |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah, that's the color my 1621-4 is. The 4861 is lighter. |
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Location: ranson,wva | that one is 23-24 yrs old. it now resides with oster in canada....best sounding ssb ive ever played or owned...jason |
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Location: Canada | Originally posted by johnny cash 83:
that one is 23-24 yrs old. it now resides with oster in canada....best sounding ssb ive ever played or owned...jason Cheers and Merry Christmas Jason! I haven't got it yet but apparently it is on my side of the border so maybe this week. :cool: |
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Location: South Jersey | The one in the picture is a lot darker than my newer 6751 12 string. I guess the "natural" depends on the wood - duh. Some are darker than others. Anyway, I am also a big fan of the natural color. I have two sunbursts (one cherry and the other tobacco). The natural color is my favorite. |
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Location: ranson,wva | merry christmas owen. i just looked the number up this morning and seen its in country now. you should have it this week....jason |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Okay, I've had this 12 string for six days... I take it outta the case, and the High G string is broken!! It wasn't broke when I put it away!? I have not gotten extra strings in the mail yet, and I ain't walking to the store for one string. So I put a regular G string that I had in the sixth slot, and I tuned it to regular G. Sounds okay, but even I can hear the difference. (And I got a 79 on the tone-deaf test!) So I gotten tuned like I mentioned before, for people who break their hi-G too much.
It broke up at the head, right on the peg. Did the folks who strung it screw-up?
Has this happened to anyone? [the string breaking in the case]
All comments and suggestions gracefully accepted. |
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Location: SoCal | I don't know what to tell you. Strings don't break on Ovations..... |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Yeah,yeah... Just twist the knife alittle... |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Interesting challenge. Send me the guitar, I'll put a new set on (at my expense) an give you my opinion as soon as I have one.
But I still have The Police cranked and my friends are leaving for my prefered "home town" of Puerto Vallarta tomorrow and I p'd off and jealous....so don't trust anything I say.
(I warned the wife, but she didn't listen 30 years ago....) |
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12-String Tuning?