How do ya tune 'er?

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PrairieSchooner.thesnipehunters...	How do ya tune 'er?	Lead	[-]
(08/27/09 10:28 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : None Your favorite 12, that is. As I recall, one of Guild's marketing points was, with the double truss rods in the F jumbo 12's, you could tune them to concert pitch. I've never kept a 12 tuned to concert; always keep my F-212XL a full step low, standard tuning. Sounds good down there, but capo-ing can be a problem; maybe we need another thread about that. So, how about you? By the way, since I'm new here, if ya'll have already been down this road too many times, let me know, huh? 1978 Martin HD-28, 1977 Guild F-212XL, 1919 Bacon Professional FF banjo, 1924 Gibson A-Jr. mandolin
ecguitar44		#1	[-]
(08/27/09 10:42 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I tune down a major 3rd to C. And I use heavy strings (0.056 on the E). GRRRRRR!
magnummic		#2	[-]
(08/27/09 11:18 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I used to keep mine tuned to open C. I had about three songs that I had written in that tuning. I wish I still had a 12. Currently, I have been eying a 12 string stratocaster. If I find the right D12-20 i will jump on that as well.
mikeoso		#3	[-]
(08/28/09 12:24 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Schooner, both of my current 12s are kept tuned to pitch...the Martin is built to handle that, and the Gibson now has a JLD Bridge Doctor in it...I have .010s (extra lights) on both of them...when I owned Guild jumbos (2 F212XLs and an F512) I also kept them tuned to pitch...only one I kept tuned down all the time was my D12-35....because the nut was too narrow for comfort for me. I guess we've talked about this before, but so what.?..lots of new people on the board, and for all we know, new info or points of view...."we ain't proud...or tired" Mike the Bear HJ-28 B-1 J12-15 '64 Gibson B45-12
Davids Harp		#4	[-]
(08/28/09 1:04 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	mikeoso wrote: ... I guess we've talked about this before, but so what.?..lots of new people on the board, and for all we know, new info or points of view...."we ain't proud...or tired" I'm in total agreement with Mike on this one. Everyone of us were new here at some point, and a lot of us needed to get up to speed on the same kind of information. So we asked questions that had been asked before. So what? We come here to ask these questions (and stay for lots of reasons). In time, other people will join us, and they will ask the same questions ... and they will get answers too. David They said, "You have a blue guitar, you do not play things as they are." The man replied, "Things as they are, are changed upon the blue guitar." -Wallace Stevens
jscio		#5	[-]
(08/28/09 8:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I tune those wonderful, old Hoboken and Westerly Guilds to pitch. They positively roar.
Roger Kern		#6	[-]
(08/28/09 8:49 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Down one full step - the Es are actually Ds. Octave strings for all wound strings (3s-6s), unison for the unwound (1s and 2s). Roger Martins (standard): 1883(?) 1-21(?) custom(?), 1919 Style A Mandolin, 1931 5-17T, 1933 R-18, ~1937 Style 1 uke, 1951 00-17, 1971 D12-20 Martins (custom): Maury's Music 00-28VSMM1, Buffalo Brothers 000-16SK2 Pictures
12barz		#7	[-]
(08/28/09 10:01 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've had times when a step or two low was common, but the more I pick with others, the more I use 440, A? And I s'pose it's not a bad place to mention what has become a favorite gimmick, to capo all but the low Es at the second, and play in D. Works at standard, and perhaps better dropped 2.
PrairieSchooner.thesnipehunters...		#8	[-]
(08/28/09 10:16 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I'm not sure I've ever had my Guild at concert; guess I oughta try it. I use that capo "D" thing a lot on 6-string; too much probably, I think I'm codependent! Speaking of capos, what do you use? I have a lot of trouble using a capo without a lot of re-tuning. I finally made a shim which I put under the strings and capo on top of that; then I use this ancient brass capo that locks all the way around the neck and has a screw-down thingy on the back. Kinda funky, but it's the only thing I've been able to make consistently work. 1978 Martin HD-28, 1977 Guild F-212XL, 1919 Bacon Professional FF banjo, 1924 Gibson A-Jr. mandolin
mikeoso		#9	[-]
(08/28/09 3:12 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Paige makes a capo that works really well. Mike the Bear HJ-28 B-1 J12-15 '64 Gibson B45-12
DHM		#10	[-]
(08/28/09 5:09 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Ive got one of those "lawsuit" Takamine Martin copies...which I have always strung with light gauge strings and tuned to concert pitch....and a Rick 370-12...which is also at concert pitch...I use a Keyser capo on the Tak....and yes.....the partial capo at the second fret and play D (or the fourth fret and play C) is a good trick.... Don Miller Anchorage AK http://www.myspace.com/dhenrymiller
ChazmoRocks		#11	[-]
(08/28/09 6:56 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	If you haven't already tried a Shubb capo, do it. You adjust the thumb screw once and it's just a delight. Every 12 I've ever played has required at least a little drop down on string 9 (low A) and sometimes string 11 (low E). Usually that's it, though. The treble strings never seem to be a problem for me, and the other two wound strings seem fine too. Oh, and I usually tune down 1/2-step. I don't really watch it that closely since I don't play with other instruments often. I've had my F-512 at pitch before (making it a little easier to play with a band). Martin: 1996 HD-28 Guild: 1967 F-50R (Hoboken), 1971 F-50R NT (Westerly), 1978 G-312 NT (Westerly), 1994 JF-30-12 Bld (Westerly), 2006 F-512 (Tacoma) Taylor: 1984 655 (Lemon Grove) Ibanez: 1978 Series I Artwood AW-120, 1979 Series I AW-60 (Owari Asahi), 1980 Series I Artwood AW-75 (Owari Asahi), 1982 M310 Maple series Favilla: ~1960 C-5 Overture classical (NYC)
PrairieSchooner.thesnipehunters...		#12	[-]
(08/28/09 10:16 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I've used the Shubb capos on 6's for years and love them, but they don't work well on my 12. I looked up the Paige capo; it looks amazingly like the old one I use; definitely the same principal. I see that the Paige has different heights for the regular and the octave strings. Neat concept; I may have to try one. 1978 Martin HD-28, 1977 Guild F-212XL, 1919 Bacon Professional FF banjo, 1924 Gibson A-Jr. mandolin
Paul Data		#13	[-]
(08/28/09 11:57 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I use various tunings on my 12 strings, so I usually keep several in my stable. Currently one is tuned BEBEG#B (open E), with pretty heavy gauge strings; another is in DADGAD with medium strings. I've lately taken to using DR Zebra strings (1/2 nickel & 1/2 PB wound) as they work very well with the hybrid acoustic/electric instruments I use. I'm also fiddling with a couple of Danelectro 12 strings, one is tuned CFCFAC, the other open D. I like the neck/fingerboards of the Danos, very wide and easy, also their bridges are 'micro-adjustable', including the ability to raise the octave strings to be level with the fundamentals, which is great for slide work. I might have to try out some aftermarket pickups on the Danos though; the jury is still out on the lipstick pickups... -Paul Data
gfspencer		#14	[-]
(08/29/09 8:35 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I always tune my Martin 12-strings to standard pitch. If I use a capo I use a wide McKinney-Elliott capo. (Here we go again. ) 1969 Brazilian Rosewood D-35 2001 D-41DF - Dan Fogelberg 2004 LXM - Little Martin 2008 JC-16ME Maple Aura 2009 Grand J12-40E
tonguy		#15	[-]
(08/29/09 10:03 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	For capos, Shubb or Planet Waves. Near the fret helps with intonation. All wear extra lights and are kept up at standard pitch, too, and get tuned/checked at least an hour before I need to play. I usually keep one of my acoustic 12's in open D (usually the D-12-20) and the other 3 in standard. Tony (Forum intro - page 11) Say hello to my little friend... --Mr. Slots-- Street Name - J-Bang (Just Buy A 'Nuther Guitar) My cure for GAS - my wife asking, "Which one(s) are you selling to get that?"
gfspencer		#16	[-]
(08/29/09 5:09 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	tonguy wrote: I usually keep one of my acoustic 12's in open D (usually the D-12-20) and the other 3 in standard. That's why I need at least one more 12-string. 1969 Brazilian Rosewood D-35 2001 D-41DF - Dan Fogelberg 2004 LXM - Little Martin 2008 JC-16ME Maple Aura 2009 Grand J12-40E
frettin mike		#17	[-]
(08/29/09 5:27 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I tune my Martin and Alvy a half step down. The Martin is normally at standard, the Alvy is dropped "D". I too use a .56 bass "E" for the dropped "D" and I replace the high "G" with a .11 to .12 on that guitar. The Martin is a standard extra light set. I use Shubb capos on both. Mike Martin D-28, Martin DXM, Martin D12X1, Alvarez AD60S-12, '73 Ovation Artist Balladeer
ChazmoRocks		#18	[-]
(08/30/09 12:12 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	That does sound cool, Prarie Schooner... I haven't tried one of these, and I agree that different heights should help alleviate the intonation problems. It might, however, be hard to use such a capo -- it sounds like it could be challenging getting it into the right position. I don't know. Martin: 1996 HD-28 Guild: 1967 F-50R (Hoboken), 1971 F-50R NT (Westerly), 1978 G-312 NT (Westerly), 1994 JF-30-12 Bld (Westerly), 2006 F-512 (Tacoma) Taylor: 1984 655 (Lemon Grove) Ibanez: 1978 Series I Artwood AW-120, 1979 Series I AW-60 (Owari Asahi), 1980 Series I Artwood AW-75 (Owari Asahi), 1982 M310 Maple series Favilla: ~1960 C-5 Overture classical (NYC)
Freeman		#19	[-]
(09/01/09 2:29 PM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Currently my D12-28 is in standard two half steps down with lights, the OM12-42 is in open G two half steps down with mediums, and the Stella clone is four half steps down with "heavies". I don't use a capo on the 12 strings (I don't sing)
steam furnace.breedloveforum		#20	[-]
(09/03/09 10:48 AM) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	My oldest 12, my '82 Alvarez, has always been tuned a full step down and capo'd. All of my others, my Ric's, and Takamine are tuned to standard (440) pitch. Steam Furnace

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