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I've been musing...I suspect that strings in a pair are separated farther than they need to be in order to fit the strings on a 12-pin bridge. If 12 strings can be paired on a six-pin bridge, how close to each other can they be within each pair? Taylor's offering this, and I'm in the middle of a 12-string build right now. I'm guessing that I could use the pairing distances at the nut, but I don't know if that's possible when with 12 pins the strings are farther apart at the saddle than the nut.

I'd appreciate any insight into this.

Thanks!

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Peter Havriluk

First, let me say that I have never built a 12-string. It is possible to use a 6-string bridge with a 12-sring design by putting each pair in a single hole. The ones I've seen have had two slots in the string hole and/or notches in the saddle. The main consideration would be: how close together can the strings get (both each in a pairs and each pair) before the strings start interfering with each other ?? I suspect the big companies have tried and failed to do much better. 12-strings can be difficult for many to play because of the neck widths and a method to narrow them would help sales.

I space them about 10 thousands at both the nut and bridge. I do pinned bridges with two pins and just ramp the string path and I have built tailpiece guitars with notches in the saddle to set the spacing. Its really no difference than any other multiple course instrument - mandolin for example.

There actually are players, I think Chris Proctor is one of them, who can pick individual strings within a course. I heard he likes them close at the nut and a bit wider at the saddle. One thing that I really enjoy is the difference in sound when you pick up on the course or down, Kottke uses that very effectively.

I have not tried a two-string per pin guitar yet - I guess I don't see any reason to.

I bookmarked this awhile back, maybe it will answer your questions.

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=193775#p193775

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-Marcus
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