I've just purchased an acoustic twelve string guitar and in my web surfing I've discovered that some musicians tune their 12 string to D which makes a lot of sense to me. Your videos make a lot of sense to me now all I need is to find the best string gauges for my Fender 12 string.
That riff at 3:18 gives me the desire to buy a lawnmower from Home Depot lol great video this taught me more about what I would want and need for my new 12string. Thanks for sharing this knowledge!
Thanks for the very informative demo. I currently have an Epiphone hummingbird (IBG) that came with Daddario 9-45s (EJ41). Ive used Ernie Ball 2153's. Both sound great. I finally got the action, lr baggs element vct, a bone saddle and tusq bridge pins in place. I tried the Daddario xls 10-47's (29.99) and did not like them at all, sounded muffled, went back to the lighter guages. Ernie Ball 2153's are very good. I switch back and forth between the Daddario 9s. Im just a home player now. Been playing for about 40 yrs. This is my first 12 string. I wanted a short scale neck which makes a world of difference on the tension. I have found with the short scale neck and the 9 guage string sets, i keep it tuned at standard 440 tuning. I recommend trying different picks too with any string guage. That inspired by gibson epiphone hummingbird is a fantastic guitar. Thanks again!
I have been tempted by the looks of the Epi Hummingbird but I haven’t had the chance to try one yet. It’s funny that lighter gauge strings are often more resonant than heavier ones. I know it works that way on banjo. You’d think heavier strings would move the top more and create more overtones, but that’s not the case. Thanks for watching!
Hi, greetings from Valencia Venezuela 🇻🇪.. I own an Ovation 1981 pacemaker 1615 acoustic electric just identical to the one you showed in this video but right now I’m trying to repair some issues with the truss rod. I like to use D’Addario strings 10-47 on it and on my other 1973 acoustic 6 strings Madeira A-30M from Guild and I’m gonna take your advise to try others brands. I also own a Yamaha nylon 6 strings. By the way, I wonder which brand and gauge do you use on the Pacemaker, I’m a lover of 12 strings acoustics electrics guitars and 6 strings as well. congratulations for make videos for this specific guitars that aren’t common to watch due to almost the most of them are made about electric guitars. Well done 👍🏻🎼🎵🎶🎸✌🏻☮️
I like heavy top light bottom. (12 to 52). I make the sets up myself from 2 sets of 6 strings (plus 2 addition 12 and 16 gage strings). This gives me the wound A octave. I always tune down to C#. Try to match the strings so they all have a similar tension. The Ovation is simply awesome!
Are thinner guage less prone to snapping the thin strings (sounds counter intuitive but lower guage = less tension to pitch). Alternatively are there exotic materials for thin strings (eg carbon fibre composite)?
Great channel! I have a question for you... I just got my first 12 string in about 25 years. It's a grand auditorium body, and came with 10-47 D'addario strings. I'm noticing it's bass deficient when compared to my D18 (strung with 13s) or even my 00015sm (12s). How much of this do you think might be the strings? I'm leary of changing to a heavier gage right now... But I do think I would like a tad more on the low end. I know I'm not going to make it comparable to the D18 in that regard, but was just using it as a reference.
The grand auditorium body will produce less bass than a D-18 dreadnought. You didn’t say what brand it was. Many Asian-made guitars seem to have less low end. I don’t know why that is, but most American guitars have more bass. If the new one has a solid top, it might open up as it’s played over the next couple of years. Putting on heavier strings can help, but it’s still limited at the cavity size of the body.
Hi Greg. Have you ever covered Noel Paul Stookey's wedding song on your 12 strings that are tuned to C sharp or D standard tuning using the Martin Flex Core or D'addarios?
People ask why I have so many guitars and my reply is usually have they seen golfers playing with just one golf club which usually shuts them up. Any guitarist will understand what I'm saying Guitars aren't just a single item that can do anything.
My circa 1990 Washburn D12-12n's are built like brick sh*thouses. I keep one with D'Daddario standard-lights concert-tuned at all times without ill effect other than a correctable neck bow every 10 or so years. I started out with lights, which made it sing really brightly, often producing strange overtones that sound like sitar or even harmonica. Then I tried it with D'Daddario standard mediums, which gave me the particular sound I wanted for some songs, but lost the overtones. So I got a 2nd D12-12n and put lights on that in standard tuning, and started keeping the medium-strung one in DADDAD.
In this video, the black Guild is tuned down a whole step; the sunburst Ovation is tuned down a half. (I’m playing that one with a capo on the first fret to make it standard pitch.)
You only mentioned metal strings. You didn't mention nylon strings. You can put half nylon and half metal strings on a 12 string. I did it myself and it works. It actually sounds really good. I tried all nylon at first but for whatever reason it was hard to press all those nylon strings down. I then did 50/50 and it's easier to play.
I've just purchased an acoustic twelve string guitar and in my web surfing I've discovered that some musicians tune their 12 string to D which makes a lot of sense to me. Your videos make a lot of sense to me now all I need is to find the best string gauges for my Fender 12 string.
That riff at 3:18 gives me the desire to buy a lawnmower from Home Depot lol great video this taught me more about what I would want and need for my new 12string. Thanks for sharing this knowledge!
Thanks for the very informative demo. I currently have an Epiphone hummingbird (IBG) that came with Daddario 9-45s (EJ41). Ive used Ernie Ball 2153's. Both sound great. I finally got the action, lr baggs element vct, a bone saddle and tusq bridge pins in place. I tried the Daddario xls 10-47's (29.99) and did not like them at all, sounded muffled, went back to the lighter guages. Ernie Ball 2153's are very good. I switch back and forth between the Daddario 9s. Im just a home player now. Been playing for about 40 yrs. This is my first 12 string. I wanted a short scale neck which makes a world of difference on the tension. I have found with the short scale neck and the 9 guage string sets, i keep it tuned at standard 440 tuning. I recommend trying different picks too with any string guage. That inspired by gibson epiphone hummingbird is a fantastic guitar. Thanks again!
I have been tempted by the looks of the Epi Hummingbird but I haven’t had the chance to try one yet. It’s funny that lighter gauge strings are often more resonant than heavier ones. I know it works that way on banjo. You’d think heavier strings would move the top more and create more overtones, but that’s not the case. Thanks for watching!
I like the Earnie Ball Silk and Steel 2051, 9 t0 46 gauge. I like a softer 12 string sound, and finger picking theses string is very pleasant.
I have some in my stash, but they are too light for my liking. I need to dig in harder and they’re too floppy.
Hi, greetings from Valencia Venezuela 🇻🇪..
I own an Ovation 1981 pacemaker 1615 acoustic electric just identical to the one you showed in this video but right now I’m trying to repair some issues with the truss rod. I like to use D’Addario strings 10-47 on it and on my other 1973 acoustic 6 strings Madeira A-30M from Guild and I’m gonna take your advise to try others brands. I also own a Yamaha nylon 6 strings. By the way, I wonder which brand and gauge do you use on the Pacemaker, I’m a lover of 12 strings acoustics electrics guitars and 6 strings as well.
congratulations for make videos for this specific guitars that aren’t common to watch due to almost the most of them are made about electric guitars.
Well done 👍🏻🎼🎵🎶🎸✌🏻☮️
On my Pacemaker, I use the Ernie Ball Earthwood extra-light, phosphor bronze, .009-.046 gauge. Thanks for watching.
@@GWGuitarStudio … Thanks for your reply… I’ll give it a try as soon as I can find them and solve the truss rod’s issue!!!
Good day !!!
I like heavy top light bottom. (12 to 52). I make the sets up myself from 2 sets of 6 strings (plus 2 addition 12 and 16 gage strings). This gives me the wound A octave. I always tune down to C#. Try to match the strings so they all have a similar tension. The Ovation is simply awesome!
Yes! String tension across all the strings is a big deal for comfort and consistency of tone.
Are thinner guage less prone to snapping the thin strings (sounds counter intuitive but lower guage = less tension to pitch). Alternatively are there exotic materials for thin strings (eg carbon fibre composite)?
Great channel! I have a question for you... I just got my first 12 string in about 25 years. It's a grand auditorium body, and came with 10-47 D'addario strings. I'm noticing it's bass deficient when compared to my D18 (strung with 13s) or even my 00015sm (12s). How much of this do you think might be the strings? I'm leary of changing to a heavier gage right now... But I do think I would like a tad more on the low end. I know I'm not going to make it comparable to the D18 in that regard, but was just using it as a reference.
The grand auditorium body will produce less bass than a D-18 dreadnought. You didn’t say what brand it was. Many Asian-made guitars seem to have less low end. I don’t know why that is, but most American guitars have more bass. If the new one has a solid top, it might open up as it’s played over the next couple of years. Putting on heavier strings can help, but it’s still limited at the cavity size of the body.
@@GWGuitarStudio yeah it's an import. A D'angelico with a solid top and laminate back/sides.
Hi Greg. Have you ever covered Noel Paul Stookey's wedding song on your 12 strings that are tuned to C sharp or D standard tuning using the Martin Flex Core or D'addarios?
Beautiful song. It has been many years since I played it. I accompanied a vocalist for a wedding.
People ask why I have so many guitars and my reply is usually have they seen golfers playing with just one golf club which usually shuts them up. Any guitarist will understand what I'm saying Guitars aren't just a single item that can do anything.
My circa 1990 Washburn D12-12n's are built like brick sh*thouses. I keep one with D'Daddario standard-lights concert-tuned at all times without ill effect other than a correctable neck bow every 10 or so years. I started out with lights, which made it sing really brightly, often producing strange overtones that sound like sitar or even harmonica. Then I tried it with D'Daddario standard mediums, which gave me the particular sound I wanted for some songs, but lost the overtones. So I got a 2nd D12-12n and put lights on that in standard tuning, and started keeping the medium-strung one in DADDAD.
12-stringers amaze me with their talent for innovation and adaptation.
Whitch guitars are tuned down 1/2 or whole step?
In this video, the black Guild is tuned down a whole step; the sunburst Ovation is tuned down a half. (I’m playing that one with a capo on the first fret to make it standard pitch.)
You only mentioned metal strings. You didn't mention nylon strings. You can put half nylon and half metal strings on a 12 string. I did it myself and it works. It actually sounds really good. I tried all nylon at first but for whatever reason it was hard to press all those nylon strings down. I then did 50/50 and it's easier to play.
Interesting. I would have thought the nylon strings would not move the top sufficiently to attain good resonance.
@@GWGuitarStudio it's still pretty loud with half nylon strings. As I play I can feel the back of the guitar vibrate against my chest when I strum it.
Avoid using 8s. I had them for the 1st high E strings and the 3rd high G string. They pop easily. Replaced them with 9s.
.010 is ten thousandths of an inch