Who out there is playing one? if you reply please give me an idea how much your bass cost and do you think it is very easy to play or if i buy one will i have to relearn my instrument?
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12 string bass
- Thread starter moogboy
- Start date
I used to play a Hamer CH-12. I bought it used for $500 and sold it recently for $480. Wasn't difficult to play, but mostly involved downstrokes with a pick. There are other ways to play, but it's not too difficult. It's an easy transition from a four string.
I currently play a Hamer B12S. It cost a lot, but I think you can get them for under $2,000 if you don't run up the price with a lot of options. (I got mine in 2004 so I'm not current on pricing.) Of course, the production regular scale Hamer 12s come a lot cheaper.
You won't be able to play a 12 quite as fast as a 4. You won't probably be using it on all your songs. I've had two 8s previously, and I think the 12 is a better balanced sound. The two octave strings balance the volume of the bass string better without you having to dial in a lot of clanky highs, and you get the added benefit of phase cancellation between the two octave strings giving you the "12 string sound". I recommend you tune the bass string dead on, one octave string a couple of cents low, and the other octave string a little high, but by ear, not the tuner, to get the most pleasing sound.
I like a short scale twelve for these reasons. The bass notes are rounder on a short scale generally. The octave strings will provide plenty of clarity, so you get a fuller sound.
The strings are floppier. This is a good thing when you are pressing 3 strings at once. Also, when you dig in, you'll get an almost "slappy" tone from the multiple strings.
The faster "get around" on a short scale helps make up for the slight slowing of pressing multiple strings.
I previously played my eight strings with 3 finger picks and a thumb pick. I play the Hamer 12 with 3 bare fingers and a thumb pick. The string spacing is narrow on the B12S and I like this because it lets me play chords better.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Shameless plug: I'm thinking of putting my Dean Rhapsody 12 in as-new condition up for sale.
You won't be able to play a 12 quite as fast as a 4. You won't probably be using it on all your songs. I've had two 8s previously, and I think the 12 is a better balanced sound. The two octave strings balance the volume of the bass string better without you having to dial in a lot of clanky highs, and you get the added benefit of phase cancellation between the two octave strings giving you the "12 string sound". I recommend you tune the bass string dead on, one octave string a couple of cents low, and the other octave string a little high, but by ear, not the tuner, to get the most pleasing sound.
I like a short scale twelve for these reasons. The bass notes are rounder on a short scale generally. The octave strings will provide plenty of clarity, so you get a fuller sound.
The strings are floppier. This is a good thing when you are pressing 3 strings at once. Also, when you dig in, you'll get an almost "slappy" tone from the multiple strings.
The faster "get around" on a short scale helps make up for the slight slowing of pressing multiple strings.
I previously played my eight strings with 3 finger picks and a thumb pick. I play the Hamer 12 with 3 bare fingers and a thumb pick. The string spacing is narrow on the B12S and I like this because it lets me play chords better.
Hope this answers some of your questions.
Shameless plug: I'm thinking of putting my Dean Rhapsody 12 in as-new condition up for sale.
