Karma Blogs

It's not as simple as "laminated = sh*t". Solid tops vibrate more freely, project more, and mature with age; laminated tops project a little less but withstand bumps and climate changes better, ideal for rough use. For recording or for the guitar to 'breathe', look for solid; for your first 12-string or for everyday use, a good laminated one will do the trick, BE CAREFUL not to be fooled, there are laminated guitars and then there are laminated guitars.

The top arches up ("gets a little belly") and the bridge lifts because the 12 strings pull with enormous force, and over the years, a poorly reinforced top will yield. This is prevented with well-designed bracing, a reinforced bridge, and a factory-installed Bridge Doctor, in addition to maintaining stable humidity.

A twelve-string guitar goes out of tune mainly due to the enormous tension of its 12 strings, new strings that haven't settled yet, changes in climate, and a poorly cut nut. This can be controlled by always tuning 'upwards', stretching new strings, maintaining stable humidity (45–55%), and using a guitar with an adjustable truss rod and a nut cut for paired strings.

To string your twelve-string guitar without trouble: change a few strings at a time (never all 12 at once) so as not to suddenly release all the tension from the top; respect the position of each pair as they were originally; wind evenly and downwards on each tuning peg; stretch each new string by hand and retune several times until it settles. Always use the correct gauge (pair strings 10-47) to avoid straining the neck.

To change your 6-string armonia strings: do it when they look dull or sound dead. Remove and replace them one by one (or a few at a time) to avoid suddenly releasing the tension, winding evenly and downwards on each tuning peg, leaving a little slack, cutting off the excess, and stretching each new string by retuning two or three times. The tuning is standard (E-A-D-G-B-E), so it's easier than with a 12-string guitar.

To tune your docerola: use a tuner (clip-on or app), tune string pairs and always tune up to the note, not down. The six notes are those of a standard guitar (E-A-D-G-B-E; they appear as E-A-D-G-B-E on the tuner), but in pairs of strings: on a KARMA, the two strings of each pair are tuned in unison (the same note). First tune one string of the pair, then its partner, and check that they sound identical.

Today, we proudly announce the official collaboration between Karma Guitars and the family of Ariel Camacho, a tribute created with respect and authenticity based on a special edition 12-string guitar to celebrate his story and his impact on sierreño music.

The new Karma “X” line, scheduled for release in mid-2026, debuts with its first flagship model: the special edition Urizonee.

In the classic 12-string guitar setup, the lower-pitched string pairs (the first four: E, A, D, and G) combine one string tuned to its natural note with another an octave higher.

10 years since the passing of the "King of Hearts." His music remains a refuge for many, and his influence endures in every chord and every lyric.