Discover Who Will Play 12-String Acoustic Guitar

What Is 12-string Acoustic Guitar?

As its named, the acoustic guitar has been equipped with 12 strings. This is different with 6-string acoustic guitar which is more traditional.

Besides, the type is more likely to be seen in Classical Guitars, but we can still find some models in steel string acoustic guitars, too.

Who needs to play 12-string acoustic guitar? And almost all 12-string guitars are full Solid Acoustic Guitars?

To find the answer, we should look into the difference between acoustic guitars with 12 strings and 6 string acoustic guitars.

Let’s roll.

The Differences With 6 String Acoustic Guitars

The differences between 12-string guitar and 6 string acoustic guitar concentrate on sound and designation.

The number of the strings is obvious different. One has six strings; another has twelve strings. For 6-string acoustic guitar, each string is for each one note, but for 12 strings, a pair for each note.

For 12-string guitar, the two highest pair of strings (B and E once you are using standard tuning) has the same thickness tuned to the same pitch. But for the lower four pairs (E,A,D and G), each pair contains one thicker and one thinner string. The lighter one is tuned octave higher.

Thus, this kind of setup gives a 12-string acoustic guitar a bright, full-bodied sound. Relatively, 6-string project more clearly, making each note pop out more distinctly.

The designation of 12-string guitar is varied from 6-string guitar’s somewhat. The headstock of 12-string is longer for sure. The reason is simple; it needs to be fit for holding 12 strings because there are 6 extra tuning machines. Then, wider fretboard, this is easy to understand. Besides, to balance the extra tension that those extra strings created, the scale length of 12 string guitars is commonly shorter than 6 string acoustic guitar. This causes the changes of the width of nut and saddle correspondingly.

Is It a Full Solid Acoustic Guitar or Solid Top Acoustic Guitar?

Theoretically, all kinds of acoustic guitars can be designed as 12-string type of acoustic guitars, solid top or full solid wood acoustic guitars, even laminated ones.

But, do you think an acoustic guitar beginner will play a 12-string guitar? We don’t think so. Playing 12-string acoustic guitar requires enough knowledge of how to play a guitar. That means, for a beginner, to play a 12-string guitar just like to wrestle a bear.

Thus, it is for a player of senior level or a professional acoustic guitar player. So, 12-string acoustic guitars are mainly made of full solid wood.

Another reason is that the cost of building a 12-string guitar is relatively high because the changes of the designation, consumption of material and maybe the technology.

This is why most of 12-string acoustic guitars are all solid acoustic gutiars.

Who Plays It?

As mentioned, it is not so suitable for acoustic guitar beginner. We can say 12-string guitar is not a type of beginner acoustic guitar.

Basically, the guitar is for a fluent player who is quite familiar with skills of guitar playing. And we think only those who are chasing unique sound love this type of acoustic guitar mostly.

Then, professionals. Those who needs to create extraordinary sound.

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