Bassists and 12-string guitars

[AnchorHoy]

Maybe it's my imagination, but over the past 30 years or so I've noticed that quite a few bass players who also play guitar in a serious way seem to be much more strongly drawn to 12-string guitars as opposed to the far more common 6-stringers

I have a theory or two about why that's the case, but was wondering if anyone else noticed this....

Theory #1:
12-strings are pretty much the 'anti-bass' of stringed instruments. Lots of high-frequency chime and harmonic overtones galore. A completely different (and complementary) set of tonal colors to put on your musical palette

Theory #2:
We've already got plenty of muscle power as a result of playing bass, therefore the physical demands of the 12-string aren't the huge obstacle that it presents to most guitar players - especially the ones who normally play electric with super-slinky strings

Whaddaya think?

 

[bassbrad]

I like the sounds and the wider neck on my old Hoyer 12 string, but i do also spend a bit of time on classical guitar.

 

[Bloodhammer]

It's a rhythm thing. You typically hear a 12-string guitar playing the rhythm part while the 6-string tackles the lead.

I love 12-string guitars and I also want a 10-string (octave courses) bass. That would be piledrivingly heavy.

 

[jmlee]

Funny, I just bought a Takamine 12 after years of not having one and it brought back all the years I had of playing one and loving it. I agree completely with the OP. I think it's largely that it's a rhythm instrument mostly but also that it's inherently textural and we bassists tend to think across the harmony and rhythm and try hard (at our best) to build texture and feel into music. Whatever, I've been playing this thing at night and grinning ear to ear. I even did a show back in January where I willingly gave up the bass chair for 3 songs to play the 12. Now that's gotta be love!

 

[Rage1331]

No.

I guess I like the strings to sound chunky. 12 string guitars sound too bright IMO.

 

[lowfreq33]

I can dig it. My singer has a 12, and I find it quite fun to play.

 

[lunarpollen]

No.

I guess I like the strings to sound chunky. 12 string guitars sound too bright IMO.

Try one with humbuckers. I have one with mini-humbuckers and it's way too dark for my taste... I plan to get a couple of vintage-style Rickenbacker single coils to swap them out with.

 

[Mystic Michael]

Maybe it's my imagination, but over the past 30 years or so I've noticed that quite a few bass players who also play guitar in a serious way seem to be much more strongly drawn to 12-string guitars as opposed to the far more common 6-stringers

I have a theory or two about why that's the case, but was wondering if anyone else noticed this....

Theory #1:
12-strings are pretty much the 'anti-bass' of stringed instruments. Lots of high-frequency chime and harmonic overtones galore. A completely different (and complementary) set of tonal colors to put on your musical palette

Theory #2:
We've already got plenty of muscle power as a result of playing bass, therefore the physical demands of the 12-string aren't the huge obstacle that it presents to most guitar players - especially the ones who normally play electric with super-slinky strings

Whaddaya think?

Well, I don't think it's your imagination. I've noticed the same trend. Michael Rutherford of Genesis being just one example that comes to mind right now...

Reasons/theories? I never did come to a conclusion as to why. But I would guess it's because the 12-string is such an inherently big, full-sounding instrument. Not unlike the bass guitar...

MM

 

[Roscoe East]

I love 12-string guitars and I also want a 10-string (octave courses) bass. That would be piledrivingly heavy.

+1
Every time a guitarist I'm working with whips out a 12-string guitar, I whip out my 8-string bass (presuming I have it with me) and for the next ~30 seconds we make a gloriously hellacious noise.

Generally once the laughter winds down we then come to our senses and realize that one of us has to go back to a single-course instrument...but every now & then it really is the perfect sound for shaking the mountains and the sky.

 

[DeadHeadSF]

I *have* a 12-string guitar, but it rarely gets played. It mostly just kind of sits there collecting dust.

It is fun to try to play certain fingerstyle tunes on it though. Adds a whole different dimension to a song.

 

[Ric5]

I've noticed that bass players tend to also play acoustic guitars.

 

[Bloodhammer]

+1
Every time a guitarist I'm working with whips out a 12-string guitar, I whip out my 8-string bass (presuming I have it with me) and for the next ~30 seconds we make a gloriously hellacious noise.

Generally once the laughter winds down we then come to our senses and realize that one of us has to go back to a single-course instrument...but every now & then it really is the perfect sound for shaking the mountains and the sky.

I know a guy who plays a 12-string bass [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]!

His tone is like thunder!

 

[Stilettoprefer]

I like the feel of 12 string guitars. The two strings under each finger makes it feel like there's one huge string (probably just my callouses though).

The sound is nice to me, but I play a telecaster guitar, so I'm probably biased

They also look really impressive to non musicians because there's a so many tuners on them

 

[DeadHeadSF]

They also look really impressive to non musicians because there's a so many tuners on them

And to us musicians, it just means they're a pain in the arse to tune

Well, it could be worse - it could be a sitar (yes, I have 2 of them - it takes me about 20 minutes to get each one fully in tune).

 

[P. Aaron]

Sold my Guild Jumbo 12 in order to buy my Precision V.

Loved the 12. Sounded great, played well. I was always mining good stuff out of it.

 

[mellowinman]

I find uses for my 6 string Martin, but when it's time to jam as part of the rhythm section, I would be lost without my 12 string Ovation.

And yes, our big strong fingers are a match for those nasty 12'ers.

 

[Wrilley]

I've noticed that bass players tend to also play acoustic guitars.

As a bass player pondering learning guitar on the side, I feel totally drawn to an acoustic 12 string. I guess I'm living the stereotype lol.

 

[bassplayer8953]

It's a sure thing that a 12'er doesn't compete with a bass in any way/shape/form. Great, full sounding rhythm instruments without competing with the bass. For simple leads, that doubled sound from a 12 string adds a different dimension.

I play bass, also guitar. Agree with others here that acoustics and 12 strings hold a special place. My 12 string Ric and my Ovation acoustic are favorites when I'm not playing bass.

 

[SBsoundguy]

I love a fat neck on a guitar. It's a shame you can't find an electric with a classical sized neck.

 

[fep]

I love a fat neck on a guitar. It's a shame you can't find an electric with a classical sized neck.

Not as big as a classical neck but bigger than most electrics:

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