NGD!! Totally shocked

Blackjack

I have no idea what I have done to deserve it but my Hubbie has bought me a 12 string for Xmas! 
I was completely shocked when I opened it.  It is a French made Lag and it is beautiful.
It will be my first venture into playing a 12 string so I am expecting a lot of sore fingers and a large portion of frustration while I forge a relationship with a whole new playing technique. It's great to have a whole new challenge!
i am an incredibly lucky girl! 

I have not really played lately, having fallen heavily into the clutches of depression, but this is really going to encourage me to play again. 

I am so so lucky I really am. 

Schnozz

Congratulations!!

I've had x5 French Lags to date and they've all been wonderful. 80s Guitar Companies really nail playability and Michel Lag and Francois Artige came up with some great neck carves.

I'd be digging out all those 60s tunes to get my technique down (I always think of 'Bread' when someone says 12 string).

Enjoy  

thumpingrug

Pics please.

Neil

That's great!

A new guitar always encourages us to play more and I'm glad yours will get you back into the groove. 

antifash

Congrats!!

Teyeplayer

Hngd. 12 strings are wicked and definitely worth the sore fingers for a few days. Give it a week and there will be no looking back. 

Winny_Pooh

Many players tune down a half or whole step and capo up if need be, worth trying a half step down to start if the string tension is too much. Have fun!

darthed1981

Happy NGD @Blackjack ;

Enjoy changing the strings

ICBM

Fantastic .

As Winny_Pooh said, tune it down (I would go straight to D) if it seems hard to play - it will also sound better. You can always capo it at the 2nd to play in standard tuning, you don’t usually play high enough up on a 12-string that you then run out of neck .

Leadbelly tuned down to C and Leo Kottke to C#, so it’s not cheating .

mikem8634

Such a happy and hopeful post that put a genuine smile on my face. Lovely to see you achieving a new trajectory, well done to you both.

bazxkr

Congrats on the 12 stringer.....was it sat wrapped under the tree ? Takes some disguising  does a geetar LOL

That is what Xmas is all about, lovely surprises

Tone71

Congrats, 12 strings are a joy

skunkwerx

Excellent! Now where do I find myself one! 

Lol. Seriously though, always welcome to chat, I, and I’m sure lots of us have troubles with depression too. 

Stay well and enjoy!

Funkfingers

http://www.ibiblio.org/jimmy/mcguinn/

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/roger-mcguinn-rickenbackers-martins-byrds-1

Nitefly

@Blackjack what a fantastic gift, I'd love to see a pic of it. 

Agree with the others about tuning down to D and putting a capo on the 2nd fret.  However, I tried it with light gauge strings on a Seagull 12-string, and it sounded very crashy and un-musical, so I ended up just tuning back to E.

@Funkfingers - I hadn't read that Cianci piece - very interesting!

AlexC

What a nice chap your husband is!  I’ve wanted a 12 string for years now. Enjoy!

Sassafras

Everyone needs a 12 string.
Wish I'd found another one under the tree.

Humbucked

Happy new guitar day! 12 strings open up many new doors. Among many others, check out Ralph Towner's work and even Allan Holdsworth with Soft Machine. Enjoy exploring.......... 

Blackjack

bazxkr said:

Congrats on the 12 stringer.....was it sat wrapped under the tree ? Takes some disguising  does a geetar LOL

That is what Xmas is all about, lovely surprises

Yes! It was in a case and then my Hubbie had disguised it in a huge cardboard box that he had made by taping several boxes together! 
I had no idea whatsoever what it was.  To be honest he is a bit of a practical joker so I half expected it to be a little present in a huge box. It never crossed my mind that it was a guitar!!! 

Blackjack

Thank you so much, that's really kind of you. 

skunkwerx said:

Excellent! Now where do I find myself one! 

Lol. Seriously though, always welcome to chat, I, and I’m sure lots of us have troubles with depression too. 

Stay well and enjoy!

Blackjack

https://i.imgur.com/PQr29uf.jpg

My new toy!!
with my lovely Taylor in the background.. 

Have tuned it and played it a bit today.  I love it, such great fun and a whole new realm of fun to be had and skills to learn.