Changing Strings on a 12. Does anyone...

[larry mal]

I have a twelve string Taylor acoustic, and I'd never bother with anything except locking tuners for that. I can't believe the hassle people to through when all they'd really need to do is put a string through a hole and tighten a button.

So the Rickenbacker situation with the open headstock, looks pretty terrifying to me.

[jimk]

I have a twelve string Taylor acoustic, and I'd never bother with anything except locking tuners for that. I can't believe the hassle people to through when all they'd really need to do is put a string through a hole and tighten a button.

So the Rickenbacker situation with the open headstock, looks pretty terrifying to me.

Well....it's a little more involved with a Rickenbacker 12 string guitar.
JimK

[Folkie]

I find it well worth the extra $$$ to leave the restringing to my trusted guitar tech. Keep in mind that I almost never bend notes on my 12-strings (and when I do, on songs like "Why" and "I Know My Rider," I only bend in half-steps), so I don't break strings. A set of compressed roundwounds will last me a year, while a set of TI Flats, which are known for their longevity, might last me at least twice as long.

That's what guitar techs are for: to take over the pain in the *** aspects of these remarkable instruments, and allows us to concentrate on our music. Just my two cents!

Robert

[jps]

To counter that, I could not see ever paying someone to put strings on my instruments.

[Folkie]

I restring all my 6-strings, but not my Rick 12's.

[bvstudios]

I've been re-stringing 12`s for decades, acoustics since the 60's and my Ric for about 5 yrs, now (I was rather late to the Ric party). My best friends are a foam wedge and a capo.

[jps]

My best friends are a foam wedge and a capo.

Don't get out much, eh?

[jimk]

Aw geez fellas, is it really that hard to put a set of strings on a Rick 12?

Restringing a Rick 12
by Paul Wilczynski

Restringing any Rick 12--whether with a trap or an "R", is quite easy if you start with the low E and highest E (the topmost and bottommost strings) and tape the tailpiece in place with a soft cloth under it to protect the finish underneath. Tune these up to some tension, so they support the tailpiece and remove the tape and cloth.

Now, work from outermost toward the center tuners, in order on each side:

High E unison
B unison
B unison
G oct
G

then:

Low E oct
A
A oct
D
D oct

If you do them in this order, there's no snaking strings over or under others to prevent interference--they fall into place naturally.

JimK

[Folkie]

I never change strings on my 330-12. It goes to my tech and he does it. I wouldn't even try. Guaranteed screw up.

+1

[xpitt]

When you own a Rick twelve and don't change strings by yourself then you never really come close to your love. That's a basic feeling. Just my two cents.

[iiipopes]

It's never been that hard for me. Granted, I do allow a significant amount of time so I make sure I do it correctly each time it needs to be done - proper order, proper trimming to length for the proper number of turns around the post, proper kinking of the 3/8 inch at the end so it will grab the Klusons properly, etc.

[jps]

And, eat your vegemite while changing them.

[Ric5150]

Another helpful hint.

Now that I have 5 electric 12-strings (3 Ricks), I find I don't have to change strings as often as when I just had one. I believe that trend would continue with additional purchases....

Ok, I believe that trend will continue with additional purchases.

[bvstudios]

My best friends are a foam wedge and a capo.

Don't get out much, eh?

Well, y'know...

BTW- when I was doing the Celtic Folk thing, I had three twelves with me most every night. One regular, one with a drop D (try doing that in real time on a 12-string!) and one as backup.

My techie charged $60.00 per 12 for a re-string, and as a rule, they all needed re-stringing every 90 days (math- $60 X 3 X 4= W-a-a-y too much money in a year). THAT'S when I made friends with the foam wedge. The capo was already a buddy from years back.

[Folkie]

$60.00 for a restringing is obscene! If I had to pay that much, I'd definitely do it myself.