12-string vs. 6-string as a first guitar

personatech · Post by **personatech** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:06 am

Although I've played bass for over a quarter century (and have owned a Rick 4001 since 1980!), I never got into guitar. Now that I'm considering doing some demo recordings, I've decided the time may be right to pick up my first real guitar and I'd prefer it be a Rick. I've noticed that there almost seem to be more 12s than 6s on the market these days, which got me wondering - would it damage the guitar were I to buy a 12, remove the unison strings to learn to play as a 6, then reinstall the strings when I want to tackle a 12? Also, have anyone here simply bit the bullet and learned to play on a 12?

8mileshigh · Post by **8mileshigh** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:27 am

I learnt on a 12. My first guitar was an acoustic 12 and then my first electric was a Rickenbacker 360/12. I've often taken the octave strings off and used both as a 6 string. You might need to change the action a little, but I've never had any problems doing this. Go for it Tom!

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:17 am

A Ric 12 would be a magnificent first instrument.

But if you're embarking on a recording venture, I'm guessing you'll soon be pining for a 6-string.

That is to say if you had a 330/12 and a LESSER 6-string, I'm afraid your Ric would get dusty.

The solution: buy a Rickenbacker 6-string FIRST.
Save your shekels -and when you're ready to move into 12-string territory, get Ric #2.

beatlefreak · Post by **beatlefreak** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 8:04 am

If you're going to be learning guitar, I'd recommend a six string. Move up to a twelve later.

personatech · Post by **personatech** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:43 am

Well, by "learning" I'm probably meaning technique as opposed to theory - I'm a pretty decent bassist so I have an understanding of chord structure from the perspective of putting together basslines. It's the whole "strumming" thang that'll be the challenge, I suspect. Anyway, thanks to all for their .02 and more comments are always welcome!

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:49 am

Definitley go with a 6, Tom. You'll find that the 12 won't be useful all the time, and using it as a 6 will have a bit of a strange feel.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 10:19 am

I think a 6 is a wiser choice. Once you get used to the sound of a Rick 6, a 12 is the next logical step. A 6 is more useful to most players on a daily basis.

jcreasy · Post by **jcreasy** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 12:27 pm

OK... Here is my uninvited 2 cents...

My advice is to go with the 12. First, the 12 will require more hand strength. Second, the 12 will require more precision.

Also, take the bridge cover off and work on muting with the palm of your hand.

Since you are an experienced musician, you will probably be able to tolerate the learning curve and when you revert to a 6 string, you will find it easier.

I play 360s... a 6 and a 12... I always feel like a session with the 12 is a workout that is more rewarding...

Again, my 2 cents. Good luck.

JKC

PS Push the envelope and try to make a 12 do in parts that call for a 6.

teb · Post by **teb** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 6:01 pm

For learning guitar, I'd start with a six. I love my Rickenbacker twelves and play them more than anything else these days, including my basses. But - to me at least, playing twelve-string stuff is a very different style of playing and not as universal as the broad variety of techniques used on six-strings. When I pick up one of my sixes, I seem to be playing very different music. In my humble opinion, if you play a Rickenbacker twelve like you're playing a six-string, you're not doing it justice and vice versa.

As far as getting a "workout" - if you're getting one while playing a Rickenbacker twelve, it could most likely use a good set-up from someone who really knows how to do it.

jcreasy · Post by **jcreasy** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:19 am

Teb,

I hear you. What I meant was that the 12 requires more precision and more finger strength if you are doing solo work and runs with bends. I like to work on those on my twelve, then swap to my six. I agree with you on styles of music for each though and the variety of the six.

sangandongo · Post by **sangandongo** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 4:13 am

I can't imagine my frustration had I tried to learn to string a 12 string, much less tune one. As a first instrument, I don't think its a great choice.

jcreasy · Post by **jcreasy** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:35 am

Dude, the guy plays bass and has played for years... We're not talking about an 8 year old trying to pick out Roy Clark.

Simple: Every Animal Digs Ground Before Eating.

Tom, the B and the E are the high notes on a guitar... A twelve is tuned exactly like a six except the octave strings are one octave higher... except the B and the high E which are tuned at the same pitch... Fretted just as a bass, and chorded just as a six string... Single noted just as a six string... except you are fretting each fundamental string with it's respective octave.

C'mon, guys... That much more difficult?

jcreasy · Post by **jcreasy** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:36 am

One last pointer... Tune the regular strings first, all the way across, then tune the octave.

JKC

jcreasy · Post by **jcreasy** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 5:44 am

Upon re-reading those last posts... Hope I didn't come off as abrasive... I'm really short and really offensive! Seriously, tone is hard to communicate on boards. Hope no one took offense. If so, I live in Atlanta and you can come slap me across the face with a wet fish.

JKC

personatech · Post by **personatech** » Sat Sep 29, 2007 7:11 pm

"We're not talking about an 8 year old trying to pick out Roy Clark."

Right. More like a 51 year old trying to pick out Paul Weller.

Thanks for your comments, Jim. While I had assumed that the 12 was strung as you described, on occasion I do discover that my assumptions are just so much nonsense.

BTW, I dig short people so much that I married one!