12 string for fingerpicking

[Dattan]

Thanks for the advice, Nige. I will try that approach, next time I'll play a 12-string. I guess it's like learning to play with a thumbpick for the first time - a bit annoying at first, but just ignore it, keep on playing, and suddenly you don't notice it's there anymore.

And yes, I can imagine that harmonics from a 12 in an open tuning must be something special. Harplike?

Well, back to the kitchen now. I'll have some friends coming over to watch a movie and have a snack, and I have already spent a bit too much time with my Avalon...

[Nige]

My pleasure Dattan, hope its been some help.

Nige

[chris c]

On the 12-string, I play mostly with fingerpicks. I often use them on the 6-string as well. So I guess I treat the 12-string more or less the same way as a 6-string too. But a 12-string is harder on the nails (I never tried acryl nails) so I use the fingerpicks more on the 12-string than on the 6-string. Fingerpicks take some getting used to, but allow a huge dynamic range.

[chris c]

Picking this thread up again...

You've probably noticed I bought an L32 12 string (finally not the A32-12 as mentioned earlier in this post), which I think is very good for fingerstyle (flatpicking too).

I've played it a lot for a few days now and I can say it is very easy to play, almost like a 6-string if it weren't for the wider neck. It is strung with extra-lights, which is fine for me because I mostly play in standard tuning, and is very well set up from the factory. I didn't need to adjust anything.

The pairs of strings are not too close together, which is a good thing for me because I can pick octave/lower strings individually (still needs to practice this tough!). I also noticed it is easy to place the pairs closer together on the saddle if you want to.

It stays in tune very well, and contrary to what I said in a previous post, a 12-strings does not always sound a little out of tune ! Intonation is excellent, even on pairs of wound/unwound strings high up the neck.
The jumbo rosewood body really provides A LOT of volume, a very rich sound, and a good balance. The high frequencies are of course prominent as with every 12-string, but the bass is not lacking at all.

I don't have a cedar topped guitar, so I copuld be wrong on this, but it seems to me that a cedar top (apart from structural issues) would emphasize the overtone contents too much, which is already very rich on any 12-string.

This guitar sill needs to open up, but I think it will be especially beautiful in the mids, smooth and with a typical Avalon flavour.

So, to answer the initial question, I think Avalon makes very good fingerstyle 12-string guitars, and I'm glad i've chosen the L32. It is by far my biggest guitar, but the bigger body and the rosewood back and sides help to counterbalance the brightness caused by the octave strings and the heavier built of the guitar. Though I'm sure other wood combinations or body sizes can work too, it just depends on the sound you want.