12 vs 6

lars · Post by **lars** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:20 am

I'm a bass player, but I'm thinking of buying a guitar. I wonder: Can a 12 string be played as a six string if one removes the extra (double) set of strings? Or is the nut cut so that the strings would be too much towards one side of the fret board?

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun May 28, 2006 5:41 am

Hmmm... i'm not a specialist, but i'd suggest: don't do it!

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun May 28, 2006 3:37 pm

Trust us, just don't do it. For the love of man, don't.

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun May 28, 2006 8:15 pm

In fact, i've seen quite a few "12-2-6"s - not Ricks in fact (those were cheaper acoustics). And i could never understand why should one buy a more expensive 12er and then remove the strings when he/she can buy a 6er, generally for less money...

lars · Post by **lars** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:07 pm

The point is to have the possibility to have both. A six string could never be a 12, but a 12 could may be be both? Just a thought...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:15 pm

I don't think it works Lars. Pretty sure it's been asked by others around here.

If you can swing it, how about a doubleneck?

sowhat · Post by **sowhat** » Sun May 28, 2006 9:33 pm

A six string could never be a 12

Well, i've come across this kind of modifications as well... they didn't look very nice, but sounded pretty close to a "natural born" 12er.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:19 am

There have been a few Rickenbacker 12-strings sold on eBay that had the octave strings removed; IIRC, there was once a 450/12 that had the octave tuners removed, too (the loose tuners were included in the auction).

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

admin · Post by **admin** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:28 am

Lars: It can be done but you will need to make truss rod adjustments as you switch from one type to another.

Also, a 12 string does look peculiar played as a 6 string.

The placement of the strings is also somewhat awkward and takes a bit of getting used to unless you change the nut as well.

Finally it is difficult to switch from 12 to 6 string songs during live performances unless you do all your 12 string songs in one set.

lars · Post by **lars** » Mon May 29, 2006 9:59 am

Ok, 12 is 12 and 6 is 6...

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon May 29, 2006 11:25 am

Fred Smith of the MC5 used a 450/12 set up as a 6....

beefandbones · Post by **beefandbones** » Mon May 29, 2006 12:07 pm

Huh, I always thought he was rockin' away on all 12. Never saw a closeup of the strings and just assumed...

My first Rickenbacker was a 6/12 convertible, so it's possibly to get both 6- and 12- string action out of the same guitar. But since they're not made anymore, you'd have to commit to buying a vintage model which probably won't save you much money over buying a six and a twelve separately.

milo · Post by **milo** » Mon May 29, 2006 2:53 pm

My 450/12 only had six strings on it when I bought it. It was useable but the spacing felt a little strange to me since I was used to playing a six string. Maybe as a bass player it wouldn't bother you as much unless you play a lot of guitar already.

I guess if you knew that you were going to want a twelve string at some point in the near future you could get away with it for now, but if the main intention is to have a six string the majority of the time I think you'd be happier with a six.

I've never played a convertible but it seems that I'd prefer a twelve string that was only strung up with six strings. I would think the muted strings would make it hard to play when the come had those six locked down.

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Tue May 30, 2006 3:48 am

why lose the perfect excuse to own more guitars???

"I know I've already got 3 fireglo Rics, darling. But I don't have a 12 yet...."

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Tue May 30, 2006 6:40 am

Get more! Buying Ricks is like eatin' a bag of potato chips-
eat one, you gotta eat 'em all!