Thinking of putting 12s onmy 12 string Jumbo...any thoughts?

[Treem]

Well, call me crazy but I'm thinking of using 12 gauge light strings on a 12 string jumbo. The highest gauge I've used are 11s but this will be a first time for me to try 12s on my 12 string. Tell us all about it!

Having a double truss rods......I'm thinking it could handle it? Getting the max tone out of the guitar, right ? what do you think?

Thank you,

Treem 8)

 

[charliea]

Stick with the 10s. Replace the first string with a 12 (mismatched pair), and the .018 10th with a .023W. You'll get a much bigger sound without too much extra strain on the structure.

 

[Brad Little]

I had 12s on my F-212, and even occasionally 13s, for decades (literally from the 70s to the 2000s) and the neck is still rock solid with great action. I always preferred a wound octave 'A' and those were the sizes that had one, D'Angelico PBs most commonly.
Brad

 

[Scratch]

Treem,
If you tune her down to 'D' as many of us do and capo two frets to get 440, you'll be more than OK with 12s. Its a Guild my man!

 

[Treem]

Gentlemen,

I have 2 packs of Martin SP 80/20s Lights 12 string set and a 12 string set of Thomastik Spectrum 11s. When the eagle lands on Friday, I will try out the Martin SP 80/20s first! Gotta have the double truss rods working in all cylinders!

Thank you for your replies on this post. keep'em coming!

Treem 8)

 

[devellis]

I don't know whether 12's will work or not, but I do know that a neck reset won't be averted by double truss rods. Neck resets are necessitated by changes in the geometry of the guitar body and neck block. The top bends a bit, the neck block rocks slightly forward, and the neck alignment is off. It's not neck bowing. It may well be that a Guild is robust enough to withstand those forces with heavier strings. But it won't be the truss rods that accomplish that; it'll be the rigidity of the body assembly.

Guilds are very strong guitars, so none of this may be an issue. My point isn't that you'll get into trouble with heavier strings (I have no idea what'll happen) but simply that neck angle, not neck curvature (which a truss rod controls) is the reason a guitar needs its neck reset.

 

[adorshki]

I have 2 packs of Martin SP 80/20s Lights 12 string set

FWIW, I found Martins to feel stiffer even though they were gauged with a .012, which are "lights" for a 6 string. Must be the alloy. Just so you're aware of that factor if you then compare 'em to the Thomastiks for "feel". My buddy, original owner of an '87 JF3012, used to use lights but got the dreaded "bridge lift". Had it re-glued and now uses xtra lights .010 and tunes down a 1/2, but neck has never had any probs.

 

[Treem]

Bob,

Another great point to know about.

Thank you brother,

Treem 8)