I have been playing a twelve string for more time then I want to admit. Got A few of the good one's stolen, that is a sore subject, but anyway;

You can tune it with good tuning pegs. It's worth getting them easy as pie.

Then as far as how to tune it let your action and your insticts guide you. 2 half steps down even 3 or 4. Some today like to keep it at Standard pitch because it is louder and better. But there is something fine about that low sound too, even if you use it only once in a while (rest of the time you can use a Capo)

Leadbelly is great so is Pete Seeger Mark Sposelstra from copied them when I was first starting the 12lve I based my stuff on those three. Also alternate tunings are great but practice retuning before you perform. You can imitate a train really well on a 12lve THINK(Pook a chucka Pook a chuck a) Go up to the treble strings and find a whistle with a few bass notes in it too. The back to the low first position and more (pook a chuck a)you got a train.

Eric Levine