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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Anyone here play an electric 12 string? What's that like? Do you strum these guitars? Can you still play a lead?
I've always loved a nice acoustic 12 string and have wondered about the electric 12ers.
Thanks in advance for your comments.
Jim |
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Location: Upper Left USA | I suggest going to You Tube and seeing the variety of styles people play on the electric 12s.
You can strum chords, pick arpeggios, blaze leads based on the style you play and with some subtle setup techniques.
I would rate the Deacon/Preacher 12 string necks as the best ever.
Currently I have a Viper with an Ebay harvested neck that I am adjusting into this:
Koa Viper 12
And, not to turn this into a sales pitch, this Papoose Electric
Tacoma Papoose 12 Custom
On it's way in is a Daisy Rock Retro 12 string that I'm anxious to try. Keep an open mind...
I've played the Hamer Newport Pro which was awesome but the neck was a little narrow for me.
They are an acquired taste but not hard to adapt to. |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I own more electric 12s than I do acoustic 12s.
Listen to the Byrds to hear lots of electric 12 string...both strumming and leads.
If you play electric you should own one....but then I feel the same way about acoustic 12s. |
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Location: SoCal | http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZf49jYrzH8
Strumming vs. lead? Go to 4:11 seconds..... |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have three 12s, an SSB 1866 A/E that I just coincidently pulled out of the display rack last evening, removed two shims and readjusted for more play time, an EA Viper 12, and a old Hurricane archtop 12. The Viper 12 gets the most play time by far. The Vipers are considered to be more in the form of a hybrid. They feel and play like an electric with their chambered mahogany body, but with the piezo pickup, sound more like an acoustic. In response to your question, I don't really alter my playing style when using the 12, although I do back off on the effects. With the lush sounds naturally available from a 12, adding effects just seems to get some tones crosswise with one another. |
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Location: Corning, NY | I play a Danelectro Hodad 12er, and it has a very nice neck. It has a surprising variety of sounds. Rics are strung reverse, so they get a different sound with strumming or leads. I like them, but can't afford one.
As for 12 string electric leads, Mike Campbell from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and, of course, Jimmy Page... |
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Location: Tidal Mudflats of Virginia | +1 to the good Professor's observations |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Over the years I have had various 12 string electrics: Double neck Gibson and Ibanez; Gibby 335 12 and Gibby Firebird 12; Fender Antigua 12 and Electric 12; Ovation Deacon 12; numerous a/e 12's and probably several others I can't remember...
I used them for both rhythm and lead and most worked very well: if you look at the video of Stairway to Heaven from Led Zepplin: DVD recorded in 1975 at Earls Court, you can see the
use of the 12 neck in both respects: (this is among the best Zep I have ever seen)...
The 12 string in either Acoustic, A/E, or Electric is a must have in any guitarists arsenal IMHO. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I tried several 12's over the years and to me they all came off as one trick ponies. Then I discovered 10-String guitars (BC Rich) and that was what I needed.
But now, I think I'd like to get a Preacher 12 again because as others have said, the necks are amazing, but I would make some modifications.
Essentially I would turn it into a 10 string, which is a little more than just not putting on two strings.
The E and A are positioned as if it was a 6-string, and the other sets are very close together so that leads are very doable.
Clean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHK9E_2aTuE
Balls to the wall :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdcAub12u-0 |
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Location: NJ | hamer electric 12 is the hands down best |
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Location: Hot Springs, S.D. | Woody, I would be the last person to disrespect a "Daisy Rock". The name is goofy and the colors are gross, but they are darned nice guitars! One of my students has one and I really like it. I have had a few others in for re-stringing and every one of them was a decent guitar, once you get past the pink and purple glitter. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | by Mr. Ovation:
I tried several 12's over the years and to me they all came off as one trick ponies. Then I discovered 10-String guitars (BC Rich) and that was what I needed...
...The E and A are positioned as if it was a 6-string, and the other sets are very close together so that leads are very doable. Miles has them fancy USA-made BCR's... All I got is the Korean wannabees.
(Kinda like Celebrity's)
The nut is still 1-11/16" or thereabouts.
See? Side-by-side the 10 is the same width as the six.
(Uh, the ten has the four tuning knobs at the bottom :p ) |
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| Originally posted by CanterburyStrings:
Woody, I would be the last person to disrespect a "Daisy Rock". The name is goofy and the colors are gross, but they are darned nice guitars! One of my students has one and I really like it. I have had a few others in for re-stringing and every one of them was a decent guitar, once you get past the pink and purple glitter. I have one of the white DR retro 12's and it IS a nice guitar, have a rickenbacker nut and a standard nut cut for it... so I can switch out the way it chimes with a string change. decent build quality, fair pickups, and a great deal for what I paid for mine.. I agree it's a stupid name, and some of the other styles and colors are just a little too weird...but they're marketing to young girls and beginners... but the white 12 looks conventional enough.
Glenn |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Retro 12 String
Yup, no shame here. Color may change but the build is pretty decent. When I saw the price I just couldn't say no. |
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Location: Tennessee | I recently tripped across this (warning: Taylor content):
Taylor XXV-9
It's similar to the 10 string, but only doubles up the B, G, and D strings. As Miles pointed out, on a guitar like this you need to have the string spacing optimized.
I remember a thread here a few years back when an Ovation like this was on eBay ... it could have been a custom or something but it generated a lot of interest and discussion. I've looked for it but can't find it ... if anyone else does, it would be interesting to revisit.
I like playing 12 string electrics, but they do have their place. I tend to think that heavy strumming just tends to muddy everything up, but good rhythm work is very cool. When leaning more to the lead work, I prefer to double up the G string instead of using an octave string, unless it's strung Rickenbacker style. But that's just a personal like. |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | OMA, those Korean ones are nice. In fact, unless things have changed in the past few years, I'd say buildwise they are better than anything you can get from the supposed BC Rich USA shop these days. I've had a few float through, and if I were to keep one, I would just swap the pickups. That's really the only significant weak point on the import line that I could see.
I no longer have any BC Rich's as I've replaced them with MCS (Moser Custom Shop) guitars. I'd like Neal to make one more guitar for me, but I don't see it in my near future. |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
I remember a thread here a few years back when an Ovation like this was on eBay ... it could have been a custom or something but it generated a lot of interest and discussion. I've looked for it but can't find it ... if anyone else does, it would be interesting to revisit. Here ...
And Here!
Unfortunately, neither thread has pics.
But then there is this one...
found Here... |
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| First Act has got their S**T together.. they build everything from the mass produced 25-50 dollar Wal-Mart/Kmart specials all the way up to custom built and custom designed tone monsters. lot's of them special request builds from signed and touring artists.
solid-body, hollow-body, and from 4 strings up to 12
I've seen some videos of their production facilities for the customs and they appear to have their "Act" together
Glenn |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | hamer electric 12 is the hands down best Like This?:
I love this guitar! |
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Location: SoCal | Nope, the Hamer Newport with superb bird's eye maple and Phat Cat single coils...  |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | Wow. Love the looks of those Hamer 12's. Do you buy these guitars at Guitar Center?
Mike...Is that Hamer part of your collection?
I don't see many electric 12 strings so I've always felt they must be a little bit odd in that most people don't know what to do with them.
Finally, I've seen pictures of the Hamer Duo Tone (basically an acoustic electric hybrid I think). Was wondering if a 12 string version of this exists.
Thanks for everyone's input. Good stuff.
Jim |
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | Originally posted by stellarjim:
I've seen pictures of the Hamer Duo Tone (basically an acoustic electric hybrid I think). Was wondering if a 12 string version of this exists. The photo posted above by MusicMiska (Mike) is exactly that. |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | Mike's has me confused. The DuoTone 3 holers were made in the USA, but the new ones are made overseas with an f-hole. I didn't think they made any 3 holers overseas, but his has the bridge and truss rod cover of the overseas model. So, Mike, is it a USA DuoTone, or Asian? |
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Location: Louisville, OH 44641 | The Hamer 12 string Duo Tone 2 Holer looks like a short lister. Would love to play one. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Is this mine? I'm working on it...
I'm told it is USA and very rare...
really cool guitar: eq for the electronics on the back cover...
I'll let you all know more asap... |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Here's some more info: Hamer made the Duotones in a 12-string version: they are extremely rare. This 12 has a quality sounding Piezo pickup under the saddle - plus a pair of Seymour Duncan mini-humbuckers - and you can select the acoustic output (piezo) only, magnetic output (mini-hums) only, or both, via a 3-way selector, plus a separate 3-way for the Duncan bridge-neck-both. Additionally, the guitar offers stereo outputs to route your acoustic and electric signals to two different amps (or channels), with one of the outputs wired mono, with both signals routed to it. Rather than complicate the control section with a bunch of extra knobs, Hamer uses recessed pots on the back cover to control the EQ for the acoustic tone with low, mid, high, and gain. The guitar features the classic combination of solid spruce top, with a chambered solid mahogany body and neck. The body/neck joint is constructed to allow easy access all the way to the top fret with a short heel and all but one fret is clear of the body. The action is so low: almost like playing a 6 and due to its thinline design and chambered mahogany body, it is nearly impervious to feedback, which makes it a fantastic stage guitar that also shines for studio work. |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Here are a couple of videos w/Duotone's 6 & 12...
6 string Duotone
12 String Duotone |
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Location: Texas | The 12 video is not too clear, but it looks (and sounds) to me like he's got 11 strings, (Only the bass low E) and that it is strung Ric style? |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | It is not a clear video...but the only one of a 12 Duotone I could find on You-tube... |
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Location: Tennessee | With all due respect to Hamer (note: I have had Hamers for 10+ years and value them highly), NOTHING compares with a Rickenbacker 12 string. The build quality and playability is second to none. The sound they can produce is beyond compare. To borrow a phrase from Porsche ... there is no substitute.
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Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | bobbo,
That bottom Ric is WOW!  One day...
Reminds me of...
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I agree with Iffy. Some day, I have to have a Ric 12. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | Well, its not a Ric but it was affordable!
And this one helped me to expand my learning curve.
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | I owned a vintage Ric 12 and while it had the Ric 12 sound (that no other 12 duplicates IMHO), the neck on the damn things are so narrow I found it nearly impossible to play. Maybe smaller hands or someone with more precise fingering skills could have made it chime properly.
I hated to part with it but the new owner was thrilled and I moved on to my Deacon 12 which was much more comfortable to play. |
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Location: Cincinnati | Originally posted by stonebobbo:
With all due respect to Hamer (note: I have had Hamers for 10+ years and value them highly), NOTHING compares with a Rickenbacker 12 string. The build quality and playability is second to none. The sound they can produce is beyond compare. To borrow a phrase from Porsche ... there is no substitute.
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Location: michigan | I know I might get bashed for this, but I could never get used to the thin neck on the rics.
My favorite (and only) solution at this time for an electric 12 comes from the Fender VG (modeling)Stratcaster (now discontinued). It has very convincing 12 string sounds (electric strat, electric tele, acoustic 12). I love the neck profile (9.5" radius) on the standard american stratocaster . One of these days,I want to post something on youtube. If you get a chance to play a used one, check them out. Some stores may still have NOS. |
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Location: Upper Left USA | You need to try some Post Production Ovation BFLG specials...
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Location: Indiana | Way back, I had a 65 Rick 360-12. The sound was great, but I did not like the small string being on the bottom. Most others have it on top. I traded it for a 62 fender Jazz Bass. Had a Gibson EDS 1275 doubleneck. Never liked it. Traded it for a PRS. Still have a mid 60's Fender |
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Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Originally posted by beatlejuice53:
Way back, I had a 65 Rick 360-12. The sound was great, but I did not like the small string being on the bottom. That's what gives the Ric it's distinctive sound.
I love it and have on occasion changed out the nut and restrung some of my 12s Ric style. |
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Location: Tennessee | If I could figure out a reasonable way to change the bridge on my Deacon 12 to be able to intonate correctly strung Ric style, I'd do it in a heartbeat. |
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Location: SoCal | What bridge do you have on it? The early brass one or the later Schaller? |
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Location: Tennessee | The later Schaller. Look at the individual saddles ... they are cast to intonate correctly but it's a single saddle for each string pair. I thought about flipping them 180˚, but then figured out all by myself that was a bonehead idea.
It seems like getting a new nut cut is the easy part. Not sure how to handle the bridge issue and still be able to play in tune.
Any and all ideas and suggestions gratefully appreciated. |
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Location: SoCal | Play a Ric.... |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Bobbo... I'm missing something I think..
Are you saying you are not able to get your intonation correct? I've had a few with those bridges and really though they were the best, although tone wise I like the early ones.. but these are more accurate and stay in tune better.... at least that has been my experience. Your mileage may vary. |
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Location: SoCal | Stringing them a Rik, Miles.... |
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Location: Tennessee | Yeah, what Moody said. I'd like to string the Deacon 12 Ric style, but the bridge would prove to be an issue. The way it is now, it intonates just fine, but with the strings reversed I'm gonna have a problem. |
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Location: Reisterstown, Maryland | MWoody
I have a Daisey Rock Retro 12 String in the white and I love that thing. Crank it up, it's great.
Anita |
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Electric 12 String Guitars