How many Twelve String PSG Players Out There?

Bill Ford · Post by **Bill Ford** » 14 Nov 2009 10:31 am

12 extE9 since day 2, day one was misc 6 stringers, Gibson Console Grande 7/8, Fender 400, then S12 ext E9 since early 60s...

10 string just don't seem like enough, tried 10s but can't seem to remember where I'm supposed to be.(my Dr. said that could be a common ailment called O.L.D. )

Bill

Gary Newcomb · Post by **Gary Newcomb** » 14 Nov 2009 12:19 pm

12 stringer here. Wouldn't know how to play anything else at this point. Occaisional tuning headaches and everything, I love it.

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 14 Nov 2009 12:23 pm

I have to say for you new to 12 stringers...be patient!
It took me longer than I thought to actually feel comfortable on gigs after playing 10 strings for so long. Especially on Ext. E9. That was the first and only time in my steel playing life that I've ever cursed the D string.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 14 Nov 2009 12:40 pm

Thanks, Rick! I'm having trouble finding my favoutite string (that wonderful D!) on my new Mullen. Whereas it just falls under my thumb on a ten-string, I'm groping around for it now!

"May it pass quickly....."

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 14 Nov 2009 12:55 pm

I managed to change over in two days. But that was two days, 5/6 hours woodshedding each day.

Ivan Funk · Post by **Ivan Funk** » 14 Nov 2009 1:29 pm

Yeah - I like U12 threads.
Pedalmaster U12

John De Maille · Post by **John De Maille** » 14 Nov 2009 1:35 pm

I've been playing my U-12 ZumSteel since 2005.
I love the versatility and will not go back to an S-10 or D-10

Gary Cosden · Post by **Gary Cosden** » 14 Nov 2009 3:03 pm

I have been playing a 12 string for a few years now. Extended E9 - not universal. I like it a lot but I have come to the conclusion that an 11 string would be just about perfect for me. I use the low G# a lot but I use the low E infrequently.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 15 Nov 2009 12:10 am

I've wanted to go to 12-string steel for quite a few years, but; I never have. Now, I realize that I never switched, mainly because; I don't think I was really ready with a good enough reason to do so! Lately I've figured how what I've learned during my ‘playing-time’ has prepared me to handle such a change! I'm in the process now of selling some steels so that I can put my knowledge to use on 12-strings. My new guitar will be a D-12 with (9 & 7) and the tunings will not be exactly what you might expect! I plan on C6 tuning: Lo to Hi = C~F~A~C~E~G~A~C~E~G~B~D and E9 tuning: Lo to Hi = E~B~D~E~F#~G#~B~E~G#~C#~D#~F# and basically pretty standard pedal-changes. If I'd have switched from 10-str. to 12-str. before now, I'd have a copedent-change ahead of me now! I'm glad it took so long to decide to move forward!

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 15 Nov 2009 8:36 am

Me too, E9/B6 universal.

I have an MP3 of my classical music trio in concert, playing a tune in which I play almost the entire song on the bass strings. It's not ion the web, but I can sent it to anybody who wants to hear it.

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 15 Nov 2009 11:44 am

In my case, I use (2) Nashville N~112's and I'm not sure a lot of extra low register chords would be best suited for such a set-up! I tend to place more interest in more intricate normal-register melodies! I'm sure the lower-register configurations would sound great with larger high-wattage Amps, such as N-1000, Stereo~Steel Combo, WEBB or EVANS Amps. w/15” speakers. I don't think even (2) Lower-Wattage 12” Amps. would cut the mustard too well! But, I could be wrong! I was wrong, once.

Raybob Bowman · Post by **Raybob Bowman** » 15 Nov 2009 11:53 am

U-12 since 1978. I'd rather fight than switch.

Robbie Daniels · Post by **Robbie Daniels** » 15 Nov 2009 12:00 pm

I Have played a D12 string since my first D12 MSA in about 1968. Never played a 10 string went straight to a twelve from a Fender 600 eight string. I also like the depth that one can occasionally get from a 12. I try not to do to much low stuff so not to interfere with the bass player's action.

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 15 Nov 2009 12:14 pm

I've played S-12 E9th w/low G# and E since 1978. A few years ago I switched to a D-12 with "expanded" C6th on the back neck (includes D strings between the C's and E's). Recently I've come full circle to my roots and started playing an S-8 tuned to D6th.

There are advantages and disadvantages in every copedent. The important thing is that all of the notes you need are there. I've always felt that I needed the low E note on the bandstand, which is why I've avoided the standard 10 string E9th.

Scott Appleton · Post by **Scott Appleton** » 15 Nov 2009 12:23 pm

Been play'in 12 string ether u or ex E9 or other abridged tunings for about 12 years .. started on a little SB pro 1 then a LDG then a msa d10 then to a Sierra
u12 and now a Emmons SD 12 .. I love the extended notes when in the 12 fret or above ..

John Groover McDuffie · Post by **John Groover McDuffie** » 15 Nov 2009 1:59 pm

I have been playing s-12 XE9 for the last 5-6 years. I played the same s-10 E9 for 20 years, and I still drag out a 10 string on rare occasion but consider myself a confirmed 12-stringer.

Connie Mack · Post by **Connie Mack** » 15 Nov 2009 4:47 pm

bought the frankendekely a year and a half ago. never looked back. absolutely love it. i guarantold ya'. a u-12 tuning e9/b6. sold both my emmons d-10's and bought a cooped sho-bud. i'm thinking about getting a new 12'er too. been messin' round with my own version of a copedant to mirror my playing. will end up with a 7ped and 6 knee rig.

Chuck Snider R.I.P. · Post by **Chuck Snider R.I.P.** » 15 Nov 2009 6:45 pm

People might argue whether I'm actually playing at all, but I've been at it about a year with the GFI U-12 single. I started psg about 3 months before that with a Carter-Starter. After a couple of months I knew I wanted to get a pro-level guitar and continue the effort of learning to play. The quandry I was in was whether to get a single 10, or double 10, or U-12. After a little research I felt I hadn't gotten used to a 10 string, and the U-12 had all the E9 stuff there even if I never used the B-6/C-6 side of things. And it wasn't gonna weigh as much as a D-10 which from what I could tell, many players never use the C-6 neck. I figured I wasn't blinded by all the knowledge and experience of playing a 10 string, so I had nothing to lose, got the GFI U-12, sold the Carter-Starter, and haven't had any second thoughts about my decision. Matter of fact, I just got a Carter U-12 single to keep set up in the house. So, I'm committed to make more use of all the strings some day. I suppose some folks think I should be committed. Whatever, I'm having fun with it.

-Chuck

Dave Van Allen · Post by **Dave Van Allen** » 15 Nov 2009 7:37 pm

Zum U12 since '98. I play an S10 (Stage One) and a D10(ZB Custom) as well when the whim strikes but my primary gigging guitar is the U12 Zum.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 15 Nov 2009 11:24 pm

I have been playing a 12 Uni..Bb6/Eb9 for about 5/6 years now.
I don't know why I would need anything else.

I started on 6 string Strat years ago. Bought a T3 Stringmaster, put a 6th tuning on one neck. Learned how to play it, learned where the notes(intervals) are.

Next step was a S12 Uni Milly. I need to get back with a band, because that is where I learn the fastest.

R2

Mark Dershaw · Post by **Mark Dershaw** » 16 Nov 2009 12:40 pm

Just got a Kline U12 about 6 weeks ago. Just learning the B6th stuff and probably will be for some time to come, but I can tell you... I'm not going back!

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 16 Nov 2009 5:20 pm

I cut my teeth on an MSA U-12 in '71 and have never switched to 10 strings. I get completely lost on 10 strings if I have to play faster than a ballad. Muscle memory is just too powerful!

Now I've got 4 of these monsters and love each one like it was kin!

John Sims · Post by **John Sims** » 16 Nov 2009 7:43 pm

U-12 baby!

Bob Simons · Post by **Bob Simons** » 17 Nov 2009 6:47 am

Two identical Zum U-12's 8/5. One black, one white. Yes, they sound different!

I've never played anything else...I wouldn't want to play blues and rock without the bottom and all those guitar-like open notes in E. For blues the enormous uninterrupted pentatonic scales have become indispensable to me.

THe blending of E9 and C6 type chord forms seems to be an advance to me...makes a steel more like a piano in it's universal musical nature....but I don't exploit it very well.

My only wish is that there were room for more knee levers un der a U-12, but then my whole life is jammed with toys and I don't make full use of most of them...there may be a lesson it it!

Hmmmm....maybe a D-12???

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 17 Nov 2009 7:45 am

Bob,
If you'd consider a D-12, then perhaps you might be a candidate for knee levers positioned on a single-12 in the way that double-neck players do. You could easily add a LKL, LKR, and LKV starting at about the P5 position. Actually I had thought about doing something similar myself -- for the E9 (far left) levers, put LKL (and possibly a staggered second LKL) and LKV as usual and put LKR as close to the front of the guitar as you can. Put a second vertical and LKR with enough clearance to allow you to just shift slightly to the right, over the sixth tuning pedals. You could even stagger another LKR for the sixth tuning. That can give you 8 or even 9 levers.

FWIW, I've always resisted that approach, even though some players -- Bill Stafford comes to mind -- use knee levers in the center for additional sixth tuning functions (like the Emmons C to C#, A to Bb, and A to Ab on C6). I seem to recall that Mr. Bill has a central lever that duplicates the B pedal function -- which is the same as A to Bb, which is probably the 2nd most commonly used C6 lever. I like having everything there all the time, so I hit my limit at 7 levers. Staggered right levers didn't work for me at all. My Fessy has 8 and I never use the staggered RKL.

Again, FWIW.

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How many Twelve String PSG Players Out There?

Re: How many Twelve String PSG Players Out There?

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