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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 29
Location: Maryland | Question? I've read on this OFC site about
thin guage strings giving a "thin" sound, on
acoustic guitars. So I decided to jump up from
9 ga. to 12 ga. on my Adamas #1598 12 string.
but after reading the back of D'addarios string
pack and adding up total string tension, it comes
to about 325#.....that don't sound healthy!!
The top on this 12 string Adamas is "paper thin"
and a bit "wavey" Does anyone know how much this
guitar can take and for how long before "bad
things" start happening? ( i know the 6 string
has far less tension load)
I like to tune down a half step but not sure that
helps much. I ain't putten dees strings on until I hear from one of you experts. I know
carbon is strong but thats a lot of yank!!! |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | JT3
I can't give you any official technical information, but I have had a 12 string once and it is a different instrument than a 6 string. IMHO, I dont think you will gain much with heavier strings. Because of the double strings you are probably going to get all the volume you need with light to medium strings, and you are correct to be concerned about the tension, 12 strings are hell on necks and tops. If you want more volume try heavier picks, or work on your picking technique. BTW, one of the things that attracted me to a 12 string was Glen Campbell 12 string albums where he was called "Mr. 12 String" made in the 60's I think, I still have them stashed away here somewhere but I don't have a turntable anymore.
Bailey |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | a 12-52ish set is what I'd consider "medium-light" gauge for 12 string guitars and are a popluar gauge as they have a good balance of tone v playability. Don't worry about the top of the Adamas appearing thin, carbon-fibre is several times stronger than spruce. All Ovation 12-strings are designed to take standard strings at concert pitch. You'll probably need to tighten the neck-rod if you go from 9's to 12's though. You could split the difference & try something like 11-48/50 as there's a massive difference in feel between a 9 and a 12 set.
Paul
[ July 17, 2002: Message edited by: Paul Templeman ] |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | If you still have the strings on you guitar, try tuning all the way down to C. I think you'll find a whole new guitar down there.
Then if you don't like it, put light gauge strings on it and go back to standard tuning. You're guitar will be very happy with it. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 29
Location: Maryland | Thanks guys for all the great advice! I haven't
and won't put the strings on (12-52 ga.) until
this week-end. I think I will try the "lower
tuning" to D or maybe C. I don't care for the
9 ga strings, they fret easy but they sound too
"slinky" to me...a capo has to sit up on the edge
of the fret to keep an even tuning.Paul,is this a
"normal" problem with light strings?
Glen Campbell has done alot for the 12 string.
He inspired me to want to play and especially
flat pick one when I heard him on his LP record
called " The astounding 12 string guitar".
I played the "woodies" for a long time.
Took me a while to get used to the acoustic sound of my Adamas but once I starting realizing how
pure the sound is.. it has only made me appreciate Ovations like never before! |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The capo/tuning issue will depend on the type of capo you use, but lighter strings will always make it more difficult to keep the guitar in tune when using a capo, especially if you are capoing past the 3rd fret. Cheap strap or elastic capos are a waste of time. My personal favourite for tuning stability & ease of use is the Shubb, they do a wide version for 12-strings, but the Kyser capo & the similar Dunlop trigger capo are good aslo. I also like the Shubb because you can chop up the rubber sleeve to make a partial capo for instant open-tunings.
http://www.shubb.com/ |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 123
Location: Pensacola,FL | Just a bit of "technical info" (having worked in the aerospace/composites industry) carbon fiber
composites are 1/4th the weight and 4 TIMES the strength of a piece of steel the same size ;) . |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15677
Location: SoCal | Now we're getting into interesting side issues. Paul, I use a Shubb on my 12 string and a Kyser on evrything else. I could never get the 12 string Kyser to work. It was never tight enough to hold down the octave strings. With the Kyser, I crank it down almost as tight as I can get it. I'll capo up anywhere on the first 4 frets. I don't tend to go higher on the 12.
Oddly, I first read about tuning down on the 12 in Acoustic Guitar magazine. They did a big story on 12's (no Ovations were mentioned), and Bob Taylor was real strong on using medium gauge strings and tuning down to a C.
Lastly, a comment on how pure an Adamas 12 sounds.. I play a ten year old Adamas 12 ("Big Blue") and what I love about it is the clarity of the guitar. Martins, Taylors, Guilds, etc 12's that I've played tend to sound very muddy. Big Blue has clarity which I really like. And it's got a bass to beat anybody (except maybe Breedloves). I wouldn't trade it for any other 12 that I've played. |
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Guitar neck tension?
