Description: The origins of the 12-string guitar are quite murky and blurred at best. At the turn of the century the 12-stringed guitar arrived in North America. So far there are three differing account that suggest the likely origins instruments. The first story suggests that a luthier named Fulvio Pardini, who worked for the Oscar Schmidt Co. Family likely invented the 12-stringed guitar. At the turn of the 19th century Grunwald a manufacturer in New Orleans and companies including the Chicago based Harmony and Regal also produced 12-stringed guitars. Lyon and Healy published a catalogue who advertised a 12-string guitar being a new instrument “now available in the Mexican style”. In Mexico there are three close identical cousins to the 12-string guitar, being the guitarra del golpe, guitarra doble and the bajo sexto. In 1963 Adolph Rickenbacker produced the first prototype for the 360/12 model solid body electric guitar, later came the manufacturers Dain Electro and Fender. Notable musicians who play the 12-stringed guitar include the Hawaiian slack key guitarist Gabby Pahuini. Many other blues guitarists including Rev. Gary Davis, Barbecue Bob aka “Robert Hicks”, Blind Boy Fuller, Blind Willey McTell, Heddie Leadbetter aka “Leadbelly”. Lead Belly had ordered a custom “Stella” to be made by Fulvio Pardini. During the 1960s often regarded as the “folk era” many including Leo Kotke and Barry McGuire.

The Tuning: The 12-string guitar is tuned to the same pitches as the 6-string guitar "standard" EADGBE although with double courses of strings tuned an octave above. In other words Ee-Ae-Dd-Gg-Bb-Ee.

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