Description: The 12-string guitar has no specific name for this instrument. In regards to the 12-string guitar has a recent history. Many are under the consensus the 12-string guitar is often regarded as a variant of the “harp guitar”. When playing the 12-string guitar this instrument is either picked with a plectrum or played with the fingers. Some of the identical relatives to the 12-string guitar include the Guitarra Del Golpe, Guitarra Doble and the Bajo Sexto are’ closely related.

A brief history: The 12-string guitar in North American music particularly in folk, blues, Hawaiian Slack Key has its origins early as the 1920s. Early blues musicians like Blind Willey McTell, 1930s used the 12-string guitar very frequently in their recordings. Gabby Pahuini is well known for using the 12-string Guitar in his recordings. The celebrated blues guitarist & singer Lead Belly up to many current musicians, Leo Kotke there are far too many musicians to name for this article. The 12-string guitar is played by picking with a plectrum or with the fingers, strumming and sometimes even with a slide.

Electric 12-string guitars: In the 1960s the advent of the electric 12-string guitar became quite common. Many manufacturers have been producing the 12-string guitar for decades they include brand names like Stella, Harmony, Regal, Martin, Gibson and Epiphone. Today the 12-string guitar is available in both acoustic body and solid body electrics. In the 1960s the Rickenbacker 360/12 model was featured in folk and rock n' role albums. Other electric manufactures include Fender and Dane Electro.

Anatomy of the 12-string guitar: In the current designs of 12-string guitar stabilizing the neck with a truss rod is added to prevent the warping of the neck. In older models of the 12-string guitar the neck and front part of the body often suffered warping caused by the tension of the extra 6-strings. Some musicians like to remove some of the strings for ease of play and to achieve a particular type of technique and sound.

CItations: Frets.com (article: History of the 12-string guitar) > Fret-dancer.com (Vintage Guitar Museum) Dane Electro 12-strings (vendor) >