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June 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Long Island, NY | Hi all,
I have an early 80's Custom Legend that I have always tuned down a full step as I was told to when I bought it. I just recently learned Hotel California (the quintessential 12 string song), and it's played at capo 5, which increases to capo 7 when you tune to D. My problem is that I have a hard time keeping the guitar in tune with the capo that high. Has anybody had that problem? Is there an adjustment that I can make, or is it just "the way it is"?
Does anyone else tune to D, or am I just an old dinosaur? I was told that there is so much pressure on the neck of a 12 string that, in order to keep the bridge from lifting, I should tune to D.
Any thoughts/ideas/advice?
Thanks,
Brian |
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Joined:
April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | Ovation 12 strings can handle concert pitch. They designed them that way. If you look carefully, you will see that the bridge is a lot bigger on a 12 string, giving more surface area for the glue to work with. |
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Actually, Don Felder played Hotel California on a 12 string capoed at the 7th fret in Bm (so it starts with an Em shape). So you'd have to play it capoed at 9 if you want to match the record and continue to play tuned D to D.
My Ovation 12 has been tuned to standard for about 15 years now and there is no problem with any bridge lifting or top issues. (I just went and knocked on the wood top). The advice you got is common ... I actually had someone give me the same advice when I was playing the O12 out about a month ago. It's a sensible thing to do with a "less expensive" woodbox guitar where the construction methods are not optimized for a 12 string. But you can also tune down to get a different sound ... for instance, Peter Case tunes his Taylor 12 down to C, albeit he also uses a much heavier string gauge set (something like 68 for the low C).
As far as the tuning issue, a lot of guitars need slight tuning adjustments to make up for the intonation differences when you use a capo, especially when capo'ing high. Even more so with a 12 string. So tune the guitar with the capo on at where ever you're playing and the retune when you change capo position or take it off completely. Totally normal behavior for most guitars.
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Brian, I just saw your other thread in the welcome center. You've no doubt got a 1658, which is a 12 fret guitar (with no cutaway!) so even less room to move about as you capo to 7 or 9. Yikes! I've seen some folks Capo 2 and play out of the Am shape and chord pattern when playing HC. That might lessen your intonation problems over playing way up the neck. |
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June 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Long Island, NY | Thanks folks. I just got my guitar back from repair and Bobbo is right it is a 1658. I'm going to tune it to standard pitch and see if that helps. I am playing Hotel California with the Em shape. It's wonderful voicing that allows for some great bass runs (Right off the record). I'm going to have to play with the record once I retune the guitar. I thought the song was high before... if Bobbo is right about the 7th fret, I'll never be able to hit those notes!
Brian |
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November 2012
Posts: 23
Location: Flint Hills of Kansas, USA | Bobbo was correct about Bm. Here's Don explaining it in his own words. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JLcL4MkpJQ4 |
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Joined:
June 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Long Island, NY | I just finished tuning up and playing with the recording and Bobbo is indeed correct, it is in Bm. Thank you Kansas Boy for the youtube link because now I feel better about playing it in Am (capo 5), since that's how Don Felder plays it so he can sing it.
I'm curious about other songs that would be good for a 12 string, but I'll start another thread for that question.
Brian |
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Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I play it in Am, cuz then I can almost sing it.
Am, E, G, D, Fmaj7, C, Dm, E,
F, C, Dm, Am... F, C, Dm, E.
All in the first position. No Capo. 
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Another cool tune to do capoed at the 7th is "Stay Or Leave" from Dave Matthews.
Currently i have my Anniversary Legend high strung to B, so no capo needed. It has extremely light gauge strings on it to compensate. |
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Joined:
March 2010
Posts: 486
Location: Suisun City, Ca | <p>Capo at 7...Little Darlin, Right Bob?  </p>
Edited by AstroDan 2014-06-11 12:04 PM
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Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee |
I feel that ice is slowly melting. ;-)
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June 2014
Posts: 15
Location: Long Island, NY | Cat's in the cradle is also capo 7 |
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December 2006
Posts: 6994
Location: Jet City | Dave does "Oh" and "Space Between" in this tuning as well
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November 2011
Posts: 205
Location: seattle, wa | The 12 fret G.C. and Pacemaker sound pretty good tuned down to B.E.A.D.F#.B. with mediums...me thinks |
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12 string tuning
