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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | I took 2 of my guitars to GC (I like the luthier that does their setups), but he wasn't in. I needed to have a buzz fixed in an electric that had just been setup the week prior. He said it might happen since the truss rod had been disconnected for like 15 years. Another of their techs fixed it easily.
I showed him my Balladeer 1751 12-string and asked about lowering the action. He takes it out of the case and starts playing it, his eyes getting wider as he plays. He then calls another of the staff over and lets him play it. He asked, Who set this up?. I replied, I did. He then said it was the best playing 12-string he had ever played... bar none, and I should not mess with it in the least. It was better than any of the high end guitars they had as well. His co-worker agreed.
I can play my other guitars for hours. After 30 minutes with the 1751, my left hand aches. It made me feel a bit stupid. I guess I need to work on my hand strength. |
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September 2005
Posts: 3620
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | I have yet to find one 12 string that can come close to a USA Ovation 12. (and I have tried LOTS of them) It's just another one of those best kept secrets. |
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March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I have yet to find one 12 string that can come close to a USA Ovation 12 +1 on that... |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | 12 strings just require more hand strength and they do have a wider neck.
You have the right idea to just increase your practice time on it until you can easily play it for an hour or so at a time.
nice story and always pleasant to hear someone else compliment our guitars. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | +1 on the necks, both solids and acoustics. I have a buddy that has had his Applause 12 string since the early eighties and even at the entry level the necks are apleasure to work with.
You can try lighter strings but the real trick is to practice more. |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Embarassingly, I already have .009 - .049 on it. But yes. I am playing more... much to my wife's dismay. And playing the 12-string more.
I have 2 cousins that want me to play as part of a trio. The thing is with my parts, a 12-string is a better fitter fit. So 3 hour practices with them are brutal. Luckily I bring my Elite for a little relief. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | At the SSSJ, I played 12ers for at least a third of the time. I found that taking a 'break', i.e. goin' to a 6er or the cooler, aided in hanging in with the 12ers.
Maybe take a 6 string or 6 pak 'break' in a set...  |
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December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Originally posted by MusicMishka:
I have yet to find one 12 string that can come close to a USA Ovation 12 +1 on that... |
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August 2002
Posts: 398
Location: So. Cal. | Joe,
I do enjoy playing 12-string quite a bit too. I find that relaxing your hand/wrist/fingers is more important than sheer strength. In more traditional classical guitar training, they always talk about relaxing your hands anyway to in order to play at a certain speed. A lot of people gets excited with their music and playing, they tend to increase the grip (thus, more tension). Try relaxing your hands and posture... and see if that helps. |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| Originally posted by Capo Guy:
...the Pacemaker and the 1758 are the best sounding and playing 12 strings. Except for a 1538... |
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January 2009
Posts: 29
Location: Citizen of the Galaxy | 1688? |
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November 2006
Posts: 3969
| I was excluding Adamii, TANS...
But yeah, 1688 for volume. I prefer the wood tone of the 1538 for a 12-er, 'tho. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by G8r:
I prefer the wood tone of the 1538 for a 12-er, 'tho. and the G8R just happens to own one :D . |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Those Trebles are not so hard t` push , but them Basses can be ..
Ye could perhaps try CFM M180 gauge 10 - 47 , even I can get along with those.
They are well-balanced and last surprisingly long for Bronze strings , give a clear ring in the treble and a warm,rich bass ( on a 1618 which is a deepbowl )
Vic |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Thank Y'all for reminding me to dig-out my 2058T and play it!
Playing a 12 is always good exercise.
And the 'Action' on the 2058T is about the same as my other T's.
And it is the Only Ovation that I've gotten New from the Factory that I did Not have to remove any shims.
It came set-up and in tune, except for the High G string (which was tuned to high D).
As to the Bass... My T-12 has plenty of Bass.
I believe that is Seems that 12-strings have less bass, but they have Octave strings which makes them sound higher.
Just cuz the subject was mentioned, I thumped the Real "E" string, and it sounded Bassy just fine.
But when you are playing you are also hitting E, A, D and G strings that are an Octave higher.
Hence, that Heavenly Choir Effect.
Thanks again for inspiring me to go get the T-12! :cool: |
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October 2008
Posts: 639
Location: NW of Philadelphia | Originally posted by playadamas:
Joe,
I do enjoy playing 12-string quite a bit too. I find that relaxing your hand/wrist/fingers is more important than sheer strength. In more traditional classical guitar training, they always talk about relaxing your hands anyway to in order to play at a certain speed. A lot of people gets excited with their music and playing, they tend to increase the grip (thus, more tension). Try relaxing your hands and posture... and see if that helps. PlayAdamas,
You have a very valid point. When my hand feels that wide neck, I instinctively try to increase the fretting pressure, which is unnecessary. So keeping my hand relaxed while playing is something I will be working on. Thanks. |
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March 2008
Posts: 2683
Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Try this experiment: take any guitar, it doesn't have to be a 12er. Press down on, oh say, the third fret. Look closely from the side so you can see what's going on. Now do NOT press so hard that your finger OR the string are touching the wood of the fretboard. What you will discover is that you still get a clean sound. You really don't have to press that hard! And yes, relax your hand. And if you play your 12er for 15 minutes at a time, at least three or four times a day, you will get used to playing that way and it'll become second nature. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Good point..
Applying the Vulcan Death Grip is a waste of effort and energy. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | The Smooth and Easy FERENGI approach is , indeed , a better deal. |
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Got quite a compliment
