Hey everybody, just announcing a new songwriting member here. Can anyone tell me if the avatars are a good indication of who in this forum prefers the electric guitar and who prefers the acoustic?

As for me, I am a 12 string acoustic finger picker. I also have used an acoustic 6 at times, and am working to get more familiar with my electric primarily for recording purposes. But acoustics are my instruments of choice, and the 12 my preference between the two.

If you'd like to hear some samples of my tunes go to: http://www.myspace.com/basicjoesmusic

"Welcome Aboard"

...I've played both electric and acoustic 12-strings over the years, although I don't have any now. Love their 'sound'

...half of my musical menagerie of guitars are acoustic (Ovation Balladeer and Ovation EA68 Viper). Nylon acoustics are perfect for authentic Bossa Nova songs and latin jazz.

...post some pictures of your guitars!

Thanks!

My 12 is a Breedlove J350CR12, and the electric is an Epiphone SG350- a surprisingly nice ax for $200. There is a flaw somewhere in the finish, but I haven't found it yet. And being a function-before-form kind of guy, finish flaws are not a problem in this case. Now, if the Breedlove had a finish flaw, I would be concerned- it is real nice I also had a Martin-Goya acoustic 6, but sold it to put $$ toward the Breedlove. That's what has had to happen since losing my day job in January 09. I really don't like having to be practical when it comes to music!

Any advice how to post pictures? I have stock photos of each guitar, but didn't find how to upload them in the directions. My avatar is a shot of the Breedlove tuning head.

most users on this site seem to use a photobucket account for picture posts. another  idea is do what i did take a web cam of your axes and post on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s94yrXyqtNw

Joe,
      Checked out your myspace. Really like your music. Haven't touched my twelve string in years. I think I'm just to lazy to change the strings.

I have heard of that being a limiting factor. I think the 12 is a calling, or an aquired taste. It definitely isn't everybody's cup of tea.

Thanks for the reply and checking out my tunes. I am working to get my voice back after letting it fall into disrepair because I have about 35 relatively new tunes I'd like to record with some local very talented friends. Once I have everything recorded and protected I'd like to put up some whole songs instead of "samples".

I used to break G octaves on my old Yamaha, until I started keeping a capo on the first fret at all times, and tuning one fret down so I'd be tuned "normal". It pretty much eliminated string breakage, made it easier to play with lower tension, and kept the action to a minimum. I was using D'Addario strings on that, until I started using Elixers recently. I don't keep a capo on my Breedlove, it plays nicely without it and hasn't broken a string yet.

well i only tuned the thinner of the E, A, D strings up an octave the  g,b,e i just tune the same and still i broke the low E octave and i think the G the first time i tunned it

Even an octave over the low E is a tough string to break, unless you've been playing the same set for a decade or so

But then again, I saw a friend playing one of the many stages at our local huge annual music event, Summerfest, and in the course of playing her last song she broke 5 of her 6 strings. I figure she must have been using a razor blade for a pick.

That's pretty intense. A razor blade that is very metal. I have a better concept of how tuning goes these days. I just haven't got around to restring the 12 string.