Alternate tunings for 12 string pairs?

[egosheep]

I have seen Ric 12's in open tunings like G or E, but has anyone had any success tuning the octave strings to a different interval, like a fifth? Seems like it could be really strange sounding, like 6 little power chords.

[jps]

Let us know how it works out!

[tennis_nick]

Well, not sure how that would sound... I suppose you could tune it to 4th and have everything you play sound like it belongs in the middle ages! it is God's intervall after all! hahaha!

[egosheep]

Let us know how it works out!

Send me a 12 and I'll get my notebook ready to record my findings!!

But seriously... no one has tried anything like this? 12 strings tuned to anything non octave? I guess maybe the tension would be too much.

[egosheep]

Well, not sure how that would sound... I suppose you could tune it to 4th and have everything you play sound like it belongs in the middle ages! it is God's intervall after all! hahaha!

Yes! That's the sound!!!

[jps]

But seriously... no one has tried anything like this?

I used to do that a lot when I had a dulcimer; it works great, really.

[britinvasion]

It never occurred to me to try a non-standard tuning with my 12's. I always thought it would be too much on the neck. Interesting thread.

[jimk]

I have thought of it, but never actually tried it. Maybe I've been too hasty, but I just don't want to spend the time messing about with retuning a 12 string. And if I were serious about this retuning thing, it would probably mean having a second 12 string guitar strictly for alternate tunings.
JimK

[egosheep]

Maybe the neck could take the pairs being tuned in 5ths or something if it was downtuned a little to compensate.

[doctorwho]

Maybe the neck could take the pairs being tuned in 5ths or something if it was downtuned a little to compensate.

+1

IIRC, there is an old (perhaps very old) thread on this subject.

[paologregorio]

In the 1950s there was a "Stratosphere 12" string guitar that had alternate tunings for the harmony strings. I saw one during NAMM at the guitar geek festival , IIRC.

[jps]

And if I were serious about this retuning thing, it would probably mean having a second 12 string guitar strictly for alternate tunings.
JimK

And the problem with that is?