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Thread: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

  1. #1

    Default 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    I have an old 70's 12-string Yamaha FG-230 that I don't use much and am looking for a Cittern... so I decided to kill two birds with one stone. I'm not much at lutherie so I took the minimalistic CHEAP approach - leave the nut and the saddle alone...
    1. I removed the G pair.
    2. I slackened the remaining strings and moved the D pair to the G bridge holes, The A pair to the D bridge holes, and the E (bass) pair to the A bridge holes (the strings remained on their pegs ( 2E's, 2A's, 2D's, no G's, 2B's and 2E's) - 10 strings. All the strings except the D pair tuned down thus relieving tension, and the G pair removed - even less tension - probably will allow me to switch the octave strings to pairs and put on heavier bass strings...
    3. I retuned them to cC, gG, dD, AA, EE - but settled on dD, gG, dD, AA DD

    So at no cost, and very little labor, I have a Cittern (with octave bass strings). Certainly good enough to play and decide if I REALLY want a Cittern...

  2. #2

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Sample: cCgGdDAADD

    Last edited by Eddie Sheehy; Jun-30-2011 at 3:57pm.

  3. #3

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Good job
    Yours sounds pretty good
    I picked up a 12 string a couple of weeks ago , to do the same conversion
    I just have to order some strings for it

    Thanks

    Robert VanLane

  4. #4
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    I just found this thread while independently Google researching the same subject. Very interesting info. So, how did it work out for you? Any further insights?

    bratsche
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  5. #5

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    It made me decide I really wanted a Cittern. After further cannabalizing an Ovation Doubleneck (the top neck became a 10-string cittern with a new nut and saddle and even string-course spacing, I finally settled on a Crump C-III Cittern. But I still have the double-neck...

  6. #6
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    So is your 12-string guitar back to its original orientation once again? I've kind of been keeping my eye out for a "cheap but good" one, since I know I'll never afford a real cittern...

    bratsche
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  7. #7

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    I sold it on a while ago - anyway, the action was bit high. I have a nice ovation vintage 12-string with nice action and an on-board pre-amp but it's just taking up space. The downside of selling it - besides a local pick-up on Craigslist - is the cost of shipping... Check out your local Craigslist, vintage Yamahas and Ovations (go for the US-made ones) are pretty reasonably priced, a new nut and saddle to respace the 5 courses - leave the other two tuners vacant - and you have something to practice on to see if you get the Cittern bug. The fretboard is a little wide but you'll get a feel for it...

  8. #8
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Yeah, I'm looking on CL (not much at all down here, so far) as well as ebay - and am in absolutely no hurry. Is it permissible to add two strings to a 6-string guitar to make a mandocello or bouzouki, or would that be guaranteed to warp and ruin the thing? Only thinking out loud, because the neck might be a bit narrower than a 12 string...

    bratsche
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  9. #9
    Registered User Pete Braccio's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    This thread was a God send. My zouk is in the shop, I have gigs coming up, no spare in the house, and then I read this. My twelve string from the 70s is now my backup zouk!

    Pete
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  10. #10

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    @Bratsche, adding two pegs to a6-string guitar is ok, if the peghead is long enough. Youll have to plug the current holes and redrill all 8. New nut, new saddle - extra holes in bridge... A job for a luthier but not a major one. There's a thread on this forum of someone doing just that, I'll see if I can find it.

  11. #11

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion


  12. #12

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    And here's the double-neck thread:

    http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...itar-OM-Guitar

  13. #13
    MandolaViola bratsche's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Pete - I'm glad I bumped the thread into the present year! Let us know how it works for you! What kind of 12 string guitar do you have?

    Eddie, thanks... I saw that thread too, before I found this one. What I was really wondering about was whether the inner structure of 6-string guitars would support extra strings, and if so, which ones would be sturdiest and whether there are some to be avoided altogether for this purpose. I know very little about the construction of guitars, but 12-stringers must be built with stronger bracing than 6-stringers, no? I also notice some of the 12 strings have tailpieces. I'm thinking that must add support too...

    bratsche
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  14. #14

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    I don't know about the support thing. The Tuning on CCGGDDAAEE strings is less tension than the standard guitar tuning EADGBE and the string gauges are lighter. I think a PM to Graham McDonald could yield the relevant information.

  15. #15
    Registered User Pete Braccio's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    I'm using a Cortez 12 string (Martin copy) that I've somehow managed to hold on to for about 40 years. It sounds pretty good with a set of D'Addario lights tuned to DGDAD. For some reason it sounded a bit muddy when I tuned the high string up to E

  16. #16

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Guess i've found the reason to live for my spare Simon & Patrick 12 string Although it's yet another tuning to learn !
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  17. #17

    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    bump

  18. #18
    Oscar Stern s11141827's Avatar
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    Default Re: 12-string guitar to 10-string Cittern conversion

    Thomastik 10 String Mandocello strings could give you a nice Jazzy feeling CGDAE Tuning

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