12 String Problem?

[ski219]

I have a Guild F412 and I mostly have it tuned down a half step. I occasionally bring it up to concert pitch for jamming. Neck is wide but my action is low. I can get around on it and play lead fine but after a while it is a strain on my left hand.

[kr236rk]

Thanks guys, I have now tuned down to D and capo up to EADGBE when I need to - the old 12 is nicely playable now

[Tony Burns]

I have an old Yammie 12 string from 1971 ( yes i am an old fart ) would have to dig it out to tell you the model number -

but at the time i remember that its sound was great for a 130 dollar guitar - but a friend told me that they use to throw the bridge's-

guess all that tension was way to rough on those 12 strings so i caped it on the second fret and tuned it down to standard .

Plus i did the light gauge thing for the get go -about two years ago i check it out - action wasnt to bad ( had taken the tension off the last time i put it away . ) I had to ramp the string a tad and lowered the action slightly - ramping the strings put a angle at the bottom side of the bridge and kept it from buzzing . Its been a nice guitar - but honestly if it ever needed a neck reset , its probably not worth it -maybe maybe not -but it sounds great

still . But 12 strings really dont get that much playing time -from me as well as most people -

[DeepEnd]

Thanks guys, I have now tuned down to D and capo up to EADGBE when I need to - the old 12 is nicely playable now

Glad to hear it worked out for you. What strings did you finally put on it?

[kr236rk]

Light gauge, Deep End, either 10s or 9s. But I put those on before lowering the action, then leaving the Yam a month to allow the loosened off strings to allow the guitar to get used to the new poundage.

[kwakatak]

I see it's been nearly 2 years but I'm glad you're still happy. Did you ever get that setup done?

[kr236rk]

Thanks. It didn't need setting up, the pull of the strings had - after many, many years - warped the body. I had to take the tension off then leave it in its box for a month with silicon stuff to take out any moisture, then after a month carefully tune back up again but only to D (standard not slide tuning). That made it a great deal easier on the fingers - easier to play.