Suggestions for a good 12-string electric?

[DHart]

Dan tone sure sounds great in this demo. This guy really knows how to demonstrate a 12-string guitar!!! Picking individual strings of open chords. He makes the Danelectro sound great. No jabberwocky blabber... just a great, thorough demonstration.

 

[rze99]

I tried a whole bunch when I was looking to get 12 string electric.

The best bang for buck was absolutely the Danelectro 12.

However I couldn’t get a black Rickenbacker 12 out of my head and so I spent twice what I had on a Ric 12 and I have never regretted it as such an amazing thing nothing sounds quite like it and I use it quite a lot on recording for special needs and texture and chime.

 

[fretWalkr]

I've never played a 12 string Ric, and for me it's hard to tell from recorded music when you don't know what the signal is going through.

The Rics sound and look fantastic. The nut width is the main concern. Most of the 12s have the strings so close together they're really difficult to play.

I've heard that the 660-12 has a wider nut width and plays well. But I haven't played one or even seen one.

 

[Tom Grattan]

If you're going to think about buying the Taylor I'd strongly suggest looking on line for a used Ricky 12. They're in your price range and great guitars.

 

[rze99]

The Rics sound and look fantastic. The nut width is the main concern. Most of the 12s have the strings so close together they're really difficult to play.

I've heard that the 660-12 has a wider nut width and plays well. But I haven't played one or even seen one.

It’s true pretty narrow. But I has skinny long fingers so no problems but stubby fatties stay clear

 

[Jimclarke100]

i got mine, a Gordon Smith GS1.5/12, in the mid 90s ‘cos I couldn’t afford a Ric. Never regretted it and still play it regularly now.
I keep thinking about reworking the nut to have the harmony strings below like a Ric, but never got round to it.

 

[rze99]

i got mine, a Gordon Smith GS1.5/12, in the mid 90s ‘cos I couldn’t afford a Ric. Never regretted it and still play it regularly now.
I keep thinking about reworking the nut to have the harmony strings below like a Ric, but never got round to it.

Nice

I like the GS guitara especially the Jr types but always felt the headstock on the 12 looked like it would be a real neck diver. Never tried one.

A tech would sort that nut for you not too expensive

 

[fretWalkr]

It’s true pretty narrow. But I has skinny long fingers so no problems but stubby fatties stay clear

I've been gassing for a Ric for a long time. Which model do you have?

 

[rze99]

I've been gassing for a Ric for a long time. Which model do you have?

2009 330/12 Jetglo

 

[rze99]

..and its best pal in my house, my 1998, 330, Fireglo. My wife boult this for me as am engagement present because "I remembered you said you wanted one". We are still very happily married.

 

[rze99]

For Rickenbacker 12s strings matter a lot.

I've personally had the best results with Rickenbacker's groundwound strings. Not fully flat, they are still bright but very focused and without unwanted overtones. Last forever too and really hold their tuning.

I also use a discrete layer of cut packing foam under the bridge retainer "R" to prevent the pre-saddle string causing unwanted harmonics that can creep through into the signal path.

Finally, as well as the must-have compressor, I VERY slightly detune the one of the top E and B pairs to give a nice shimmering chorus effect and play with a thin pick.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

For Rickenbacker 12s strings matter a lot.

I've personally had the best results with Rickenbacker's groundwound strings. Not fully flat, they are still bright but very focused and without unwanted overtones. Last forever too and really hold their tuning.

I also use a discrete layer of cut packing foam under the bridge retainer "R" to prevent the pre-saddle string causing unwanted harmonics that can creep through into the signal path.

Finally, as well as the must-have compressor, I VERY slightly detune the one of the top E and B pairs to give a nice shimmering chorus effect and play with a thin pick.

My 12-string experience is only acoustic (so far; still holding out for a Squier Electric XII!), but I also like slightly de-tuning the B and high E pairs to compensate for the lack of an octave interval between them. I tune each pair to unison, then tune up one of each pair till the pair sounds slightly chorus-y.

I also find I like thinner picks than my usual when playing my 12.

 

[rze99]

I've been gassing for a Ric for a long time. Which model do you have?

My 12-string experience is only acoustic (so far; still holding out for a Squier Electric XII!), but I also like slightly de-tuning the B and high E pairs to compensate for the lack of an octave interval between them. I tune each pair to unison, then tune up one of each pair till the pair sounds slightly chorus-y.

I also find I like thinner picks than my usual when playing my 12.

yeees - small details but they make a big difference

 

[arlum]

The Rics sound and look fantastic. The nut width is the main concern. Most of the 12s have the strings so close together they're really difficult to play.

I've heard that the 660-12 has a wider nut width and plays well. But I haven't played one or even seen one.

The first thing to remember about Rickenbacker is they reverse the string pairs when compared to most other twelve strings and this is what makes Rickys sound completely different. I own the Rickenbacker1993 Plus. Ricky's sound more chimey than bright because the thicker string is struck by the downward pick stroke first with the thinner octave string following. Danelectro's and most all other 12's are set up with the thinner octave string in front of the thicker string on a downward stroke. The octave string coming first makes for a much brighter tone. This arrangement is perfect for acoustic guitars but on electrics the octave string on top can sometimes be too much. Of Note. The reason I chose the 1993 Plus 12 string is because it's the only other 12 string Rickenbacker builds with the same wider nut / string spacing as the 660/12. 1 3/4" at the nut. See the specs below.

1993Plus

www.rickenbacker.com

 

[rze99]

per @arlum

Looking down at the guitar when playing, the thicker string is first followed by the thinner one. Like this:

 

[Nogoodnamesleft]

My 12-string experience is only acoustic (so far; still holding out for a Squier Electric XII!), but I also like slightly de-tuning the B and high E pairs to compensate for the lack of an octave interval between them. I tune each pair to unison, then tune up one of each pair till the pair sounds slightly chorus-y.

I also find I like thinner picks than my usual when playing my 12.

You and me both. The biggest regret of my musical life is selling off my 1966 Fender Electric XII. I'll never replace it. But a reasonably affordable new one would be amazing.

For the time being, recording using Nashville tuning is as close as I'll get.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

You and me both. The biggest regret of my musical life is selling off my 1966 Fender Electric XII. I'll never replace it. But a reasonably affordable new one would be amazing.

For the time being, recording using Nashville tuning is as close as I'll get.

I almost bought one of the Alternate Reality ones right before they were discontinued. If they'd come down just a bill or two I'd have bought it, but instead I decided it wasn't the time. Now some people are asking twice as much.

But a Squier version has to be imminent, right?

 

[RCinMempho]

Digitech Mosaic pedal. Easy to carry. No need to switch guitars.

 

[rze99]

You and me both. The biggest regret of my musical life is selling off my 1966 Fender Electric XII. I'll never replace it. But a reasonably affordable new one would be amazing.

For the time being, recording using Nashville tuning is as close as I'll get.

Fender Japan did a 12 string fender re-issue recently and I think it was about 1000 bucks

 

[39martind18]

I've been the proud owner and player of this Epiphone Elitist Riviera 12-string. I bought it 8 or 9 years ago for $1k, and the asking price has skyrocketed to around $3-3.5K. The minihums in mine give both the good solid bottom of humbuckers but without the mud, and a nice jangle in the highs. I also find the neck to be a great fit for my hands. I occasionally look on Reverb, and there is a non-Elitist Riviera 12-string equipped with minihums on there in the $1100 range. Not having had a hands-on experience with one of these, I cannot comment with great authority, but if it's half as nice as mine, it's a steal.