12 String Guitar Setup

My latest project is a 12 String Guitar Setup. OK, let’s get this out first, It’s not a Gibson but it is shaped like a Les Paul. I purchased this 12 string guitar a year ago and quite honestly was going to sell it until my band mates said I should use it on a few songs. 

Prepare The Guitar Nut

So I gave it my undivided attention. First, I filed the nut down until the strings were as low as they can go at the 1st fret without buzzing. Low action on a guitar is essential for 12 strings, otherwise, you’ll be fighting the notorious “12 String Choke.”

Guitar Fret and Neck Work

Next I leveled the frets and crowned them and polished them to a mirror finish. Fret work is important on any guitar because it will determine how well the guitar plays.

I then oiled the neck with Linseed Oil to give the wood a drink. Oiling a guitar neck is important because it keeps the wood from drying out and cracking.

New Guitar Strings

I then put new strings on it starting at .09 up to .46. After making some final neck and pickup adjustments it’s great. Lighter gauge strings on a guitar can make a big difference in how easy it is to play.

I then set the intonation which is a process of adjusting the string length so that the 12th fret harmonic matches the fretted 12th fret note. This was a little more difficult on this guitar because it has an odd number of frets.

12 String Guitar Setup Results

I can’t believe that it plays a good as any other electric guitar I own. EZ enough to play full barre chords as high on the neck as you want. 

So in the end, all the purists will scoff at it but the real players will say it sounds and plays fantastic so the fact that it doesn't have a name on it doesn’t matter. I love the jangly sound and there are those songs that it really fits. 

If you need a 12 String Guitar Setup or any other guitar that needs help, contact Rockit Guitar Repair in Marietta GA.

Set up 12 string Acoustic guitars. Because the string tension is almost double that of a 6 string guitar, the bridge may be pulling loose or changing the shape of the guitar face. This will require a “Bridge Doctor” to bring the bridge back where it should be. This operation may take a few days to get the requisite parts and do the repair. ESTIMATED cost $75-100. 6 string guitars may also benefit from installing this device.