Tech: Guild 12-string string sizes.

Subject: Tech: Guild 12-string string sizes.
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 04:15 PM

Hi,
I used to play a 12 sting guitar and my favourite strings were the "Guild 1200" set. My 12 string has long gone but I have need to know the sizes of the strings, particularly the diameter of the four 'octave higher' ones.
Can any one help with this information?
Thanks, - BobH

Subject: RE: Tech: Guild 12-string string sizes.
From: Commander Crabbe
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 08:47 PM

From the Guild guitar manual.

Due to the tremendous amount of tension exerted on the neck by the 12 strings, we suggest that you use a light-gauge string set, such as the Guild XL-1000 or L-1250 on your 12-string guitar.

Couldn't find a reference to the first set however the second is listed as follows:

Guild® L1250 12-string Acoustic Guitar Strings - Light gauges 010-049

I can't find the actual intermediate gauges for the above set but the following will not be too far off.

String Type    inch   mm

E-1st Steel   .010   0.254
E-2nd Steel   .010   0.254
B-3rd Steel   .014   0.356
B-4th Steel   .014   0.356
G-5th Wound   .023   0.584
G-6th Steel   .010   0.254
D-7th Wound   .029   0.737
D-8th Steel   .012   0.305
A-9th Wound   .038   0.965
A-10th Steel   .018   0.457
E-11th Wound   .049   1.245
E-12th Wound   .027   0.686


CC

Subject: RE: Tech: Guild 12-string string sizes.
From: Hovering Bob
Date: 09 Jul 10 - 04:54 AM

Thanks for that CC, just what I needed. Thanks also for the advice. I always tuned my 12 string down a tone and capo'ed up to get concert pitch.
(To my shame I loved watching others at sessions trying to match what I was playing and wondering why, with the capo set as mine was they were in a different key!)
The effect of the reduced tension is quite dramatic, the guitar stays in tune much better and it prolongs the life of the instrument. I sold it to 'Leadfingers' some 30 odd years later and the neck was as straight as when I first bought it!
BobH