N12SD!!

Nitebob

Hey all, as you might've deduced I've been gassing after a 12 string for a while now. Heard about a 12-string Ibby for R1500. I went there not carrying any money, as I was honestly expecting a 1972 12-string with no pick-up, and a top that's gone orange with time, and looked like an underweight pregnant teenager. Plus I didn't want to buy impulsively. However, when I laid my eyes on this beaut I was hightailing it to the closest ATM. I bought it from the sound guy for Juanita Du Plessis / Theuns Jordaan and the like. He picked it up in a pawnshop down in PE for R1500 and just wanted hs money back, as he only played it twice since he bought it (more of a bassist).

Oh and a thanks to Alan for putting up with all my PM's about what to look out for...

AlanRatcliffe

Ooh! Congrats on what looks like a great find. When you said Ibanez, I also figured it would be one of the '70s jumbo style ones with the moustache bridge and adjustable saddle.

DDR4LYF

Very nice looking guitar!!

singemonkey

Nice. Enjoy it.

Nitebob

Okay, so it's been two weeks since I bought this guitar...Surprise though is the Cort still is my go to guitar... I thought I'll get used to the broad neck on the Ibby, but I'm not. Fingerpicking songs seem too bright. Thought if I don't like the twelve string idea, I could just remove the octaves and use it as a six, but the broad neck still bothers me....

Anybody else had this kind of experience?

Squonk

You haven't given it enough time!

I played Nylon for years and it took me a long time to get it right on a steel string(the neck, strings, tension etc), in fact I still consider myself a noob on steel ?

I bought my Cort Earth Mini in April and I am only coming to grips with the smaller neck now (It's October) ?

Sean

Nitebob wrote: Okay, so it's been two weeks since I bought this guitar...Surprise though is the Cort still is my go to guitar... I thought I'll get used to the broad neck on the Ibby, but I'm not. Fingerpicking songs seem too bright. Thought if I don't like the twelve string idea, I could just remove the octaves and use it as a six, but the broad neck still bothers me....

Anybody else had this kind of experience?

As Squonk says, it takes time. I don't own a 12, but Gearhead plays his at our band practice. When I occasionally give it a go, sounds too bright/"trebly" to me, but when he plays it, sounds fine.

AlanRatcliffe

12-strings are rarely go-to guitars. Even properly set up, they are hard work. You have the choice between: big/wide necks that take some effort: and narrower but cramped. I love wide/fat necks, but still won't gig with only my 12.

As a matter of interest, I set mine up specifically for my playing style - the nut slots are cut to get each of the strings as close as possible to the frets without buzz to make fretting easier. The bridge I groove the saddles to keep the tops of the strings the same height (usually the octave will be lower because of the thinner diameter) so I can get the octaves on up- or down-strokes or while playing fingerstyle. I also usually cut both sides so the two strings in each course are closer together and the courses themselves spaced further apart, allowing me to hit pairs more accurately.

Hmmm. come to think of it, my 12 has been a bit neglected lately...

Nitebob

Maybe that's the thing. The Cort has been nicely set up with boe nut and saddle recently. Maybe once I am in Cape Town I must have it set up properly, and then I might get more enjoyment from it.... :yup:

Thanks guys...

Big-G

Keep perservering with it, but if you don't, bring it down to Cape Town, and I'll look after it for you! Love a good bit of 12 string I do! Have to admit to being a little jealous of you find!

I'd say 'Rock on', but with the exception of the eagle's, it would be more of a 'Folk on'!

Cheers
G!

Nicholas-L

Oooooooh thats nice ?.... Congrats

I learned to play on a 12 string 1975 Ibby York... Still have it ? and love it even though it hangs on the wall.