I just got a new Epiphone IBG Hummingbird 12 string and went for the 10-47 Bronze Phosphor strings. I have an older economy model 12 string that had the bridge most lifted off by a heavier set of strings. After gluing the bridge back down I went for the 10-47 and found it to have more brightness. That’s how I ended up putting them on the new Hummingbird. Enjoyed this video a lot.
@pkoven
3 ай бұрын
this is the best video i've seen on string guages for 12 strings. i learned a ton from this. thank you.
@GWGuitarStudio
3 ай бұрын
Great to hear!
@SniqrsFFA
9 ай бұрын
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!
@12string
26 күн бұрын
Thanks for this video on 12 string gauge, your comments were really helpful and I could relate to it all. I am still trying a few different brands out because I was getting more string buzz at times with some sets -- (mostly in my 3rd and 4th strings). Great channel and I have learned a lot from your videos. Right now I am playing Acoustic 12 - standard tuned from capo on the second fret - with Elixir 80/20 Bronze Nanoweb 10 - 47 and like them a lot.
@GWGuitarStudio
26 күн бұрын
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.
@colimabirder
Ай бұрын
What model is your Guild 12 string with the hummingbirds on the headstock? It is a beautiful instrument.
@GWGuitarStudio
Ай бұрын
Thanks. It’s a Guild F2512 that has had some customization. I got a good deal on it because the finish was damaged. I did some additions while fixing it.
@jonathanklass9768
3 ай бұрын
Been Playing 12-string since 1967 or so learning from Pete Seeger Kpttke etcand your videos are the best i have seen on guages etc You are a brilliant 12-string player thrown in!! WELL DONE!!!
@GWGuitarStudio
3 ай бұрын
Wow, thanks!
@rc426
2 ай бұрын
Thanks a lot for the video. You've just showed me what I really need/want. Could you please tell me which exactly is the martin set you're using on the down tuned guild?
@GWGuitarStudio
2 ай бұрын
Martin MA500FX
@theotherside001
8 ай бұрын
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!
@GWGuitarStudio
8 ай бұрын
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!
@TonyBurke100
5 ай бұрын
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.
@lenorapfeffermultidimensio3155
21 күн бұрын
I like D’Addario 12’s. I play fingerstyle and like to experiment with alternative tunings, all of which are either D or C. What do you think is best for slide? Just thinking of trying it,
@GWGuitarStudio
21 күн бұрын
12s ought to be fine with slide, even tuned down.
@albatros1752
3 ай бұрын
Im using bit different set up , 8 or 9 string guitar , double E@.9ga, double B@.13ga and sometime octave G@.9ga, regular G @.24ga then single D@.35ga, single A @.46ga, and single E@.56ga, I find that this ,,hybrid "( I build this guitar my self) is giving me better bass line and crispy top. Im using lot of strumming and kind of Travis picking . What do you thinking about mix of my string gauges ?
@GWGuitarStudio
3 ай бұрын
12-string guitarists are endlessly innovative trying to work around the instrument’s quirks.
@emelle1283
5 ай бұрын
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)?
@shannonadkinsmusic5767
5 ай бұрын
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.
@GWGuitarStudio
5 ай бұрын
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.
@shannonadkinsmusic5767
5 ай бұрын
@@GWGuitarStudio yeah it's an import. A D'angelico with a solid top and laminate back/sides.
@lynnglidewell7367
2 ай бұрын
I keep my 12 string tuned a whole step down to D. I capo to second fret if I playing with other folks in standard tuning. I have 9 gauge strings on it and tuned down theirs flop unless you play gently. I'll go to an 11 gauge set when I change out again. I want more power in the larger strings. I may stay with very light gauge on G B and small E strings. My question is being tuned down to D how heavy of a large E, A, and D string set can I safely use to not stress the Guitar?
@GWGuitarStudio
2 ай бұрын
Consider the Martin Flexible Core 12-string sets. That’s what I use on my Guild. They have a .010 on the treble end and a .052 on the low E. Tuned down to D, there’s enough deep bass response and the trebles are still light enough for complex stuff.
@lynnglidewell7367
2 ай бұрын
@@GWGuitarStudio Thank you for such a quick reply. I wasn't expecting that!
@rafacortez6610
9 ай бұрын
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 👍🏻🎼🎵🎶🎸✌🏻☮️
@GWGuitarStudio
9 ай бұрын
On my Pacemaker, I use the Ernie Ball Earthwood extra-light, phosphor bronze, .009-.046 gauge. Thanks for watching.
@rafacortez6610
9 ай бұрын
@@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 !!!
@bradleymonroe6443
9 ай бұрын
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?
@GWGuitarStudio
9 ай бұрын
Beautiful song. It has been many years since I played it. I accompanied a vocalist for a wedding.
@wolfgangloss2187
12 күн бұрын
I have three 12 strings: an Ibanez PF 10-12, a Daion Mugen Mark 1 (both acoustics), and a Rickenbacker 360/12. All have the same problem, which I havn’t found a solution for, yet: Intonation of the octave pairs. I have tried several string brands and gauges, with mixed results. I ended up with Elixir Lights (10 to 46) on the acoustics and Rickenbacker (10 to 46), which are very hard to find, on the Ric. These gave me the best results so far. I installed a 12 saddle bridge on the Ric and found that for correct intonation (at the 12th fret) the saddles for a pair of the lower four string pairs need to be adjusted quite far apart. This way the intonation is fine for open strings and on the 12th fret, but far off at around the 6th or 7th fret. My acoustics have fixed bridges (no intonation adjustment), but show similar effects. This is caused by the difference in stiffness of the (thicker) «normal» strings and the far thinner octave strings. While a 12 string gets ist special «singing» sound by very slight differences in frequencies between the two strings of the pairs, this issue is so large, that instead of singing, the guitars simply sound out of tune if playes about the middle of the fretboard. My solution as of today is a compromise in tuning of the octave pairs to minimise this effect, but that is not very satisfactory. I guess the solution could be a set of strings where the octave strings have similar stiffness to their «normal» counterparts. I have contacted two manufactuarers (D’daddario and Pyramid), but did not receive any response. Does anybody know of string sets, which avoid this problem?
@GWGuitarStudio
11 күн бұрын
I re-cut the nut slots on some of mine so that the bottoms of the strings are at the same height. This feels less smooth on the fingers, but the length of travel to the fret was the same.
@wolfgangloss2187
11 күн бұрын
@@GWGuitarStudio I did the same on my acoustics, but unfortunately that does not solve this issue. I also installed a (Zero Glide) zero fret, like almost all of the German Guitars, but also the older Gretsch had in the past, on my Ric. I did that for improved tuning stability, because it reduces friction at the saddle. Of course, if a saddle is properly cut, that can solve some of the intonation issues at the lower frets, but the problem with different string stiffness remains. 😮💨
@gregring895
4 ай бұрын
Your analysis would apply to any guitar...good video!!!
@freddysnewchannel8885
5 ай бұрын
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.
@c.a.k.comedy692
3 ай бұрын
And every guitar is unique and makes you write different songs
@timothym.johnson3485
2 ай бұрын
I love my Rickenbackers. I love my Yamahas. I love my Gibson LP, SG. I love my guitars. I'm gonna build my own stratocaster this winter at a class I'm going to take.
@jbrobertson2758
3 ай бұрын
For my 1998 JF-30 12-string, maple back and sides, spruce top, ebony bridge and fingerboard, made in Westerley, Rhode Island. I use D'addario EJ38 Phosphor Bronze 10-47 light gauge strings tuned to E standard. This Guild has dual truss rods, one beneath the high strings and one beneath the low strings. They can be adjusted separately for possible neck twist issues. I've made no truss rod adjustments and it plays like a dream! To play in D standard I would string it with 12-52s, otherwise it will buzz from too low of string tension.
@GWGuitarStudio
3 ай бұрын
I played A D4-12 back in the 1990s. That was a great guitar. It had the double truss rods. All 12-strings ought to have them.
@kingrobert1st
9 ай бұрын
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!
@GWGuitarStudio
9 ай бұрын
Yes! String tension across all the strings is a big deal for comfort and consistency of tone.
@tikigodsrule2317
9 ай бұрын
Whitch guitars are tuned down 1/2 or whole step?
@GWGuitarStudio
9 ай бұрын
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.)
@wayneclewell
4 ай бұрын
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.
@GWGuitarStudio
4 ай бұрын
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.
@kyleradigan4687
3 ай бұрын
Nothing fancy for 1998 Seagull. C ooen tuning mostly, typical light strings. I don't think I'll fiddling around too much with strings guages at this point.
@cyruss3813
5 ай бұрын
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.
@GWGuitarStudio
5 ай бұрын
Interesting. I would have thought the nylon strings would not move the top sufficiently to attain good resonance.
@cyruss3813
5 ай бұрын
@@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.
@c.a.k.comedy692
3 ай бұрын
I would honestly say though string gauge is equally important across both electric and acoustic your electric guitar is basically a guitar that is played acoustically but recorded electronically so the flubbiness of light strings can still be heard
@GWGuitarStudio
3 ай бұрын
Aside from sound, strings are our tactile “interface” with the guitar. Choice of string gauge is a factor that has to consider touch our touch and style. For example, I love the sound and feel of .009s on an electric, but when I have played live, the adrenalin gets pumping and I tend to over-bend. I have to use .010s. On 12-string, I have to play with heavier strings to accommodate low tunings. There’s more than just sound involved.
@genepozniak
9 ай бұрын
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.
@GWGuitarStudio
9 ай бұрын
12-stringers amaze me with their talent for innovation and adaptation.
@JeffLeites
7 ай бұрын
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.
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