How to string your 12-string guitar without it becoming a nightmare

Why stringing a 12-string guitar is not like a six-string

Restringing a 12-string guitar can be intimidating at first, and for good reason: it has twelve strings grouped into six pairs, double the work, and much more tension pulling on the soundboard. If you do it haphazardly—loosening all strings at once—you abruptly remove all the tension the guitar is accustomed to, which can cause the neck and soundboard to shift. Doing it correctly isn't difficult; it's a matter of order and patience.

What you'll need at hand

A set of strings of the correct gauge (for paired strings, 10-47), a string cutter, a string winder (this saves a lot of time with so many strings), and your tuner. Nothing else. Having everything ready before you start makes all the difference.

The golden rule: a few at a time

This is the most important part of the entire process: do not remove all twelve strings at once. Change one pair, or a maximum of two, at a time. This way, the soundboard and neck never lose tension, and the guitar doesn't 'shift.' It's the number one mistake beginners make with 12-string guitars and why many go wildly out of tune after a poorly done string change.

Each string in its place

Respect the position and thickness of each string as they were originally: each pair has its specific position and gauge, and mixing them up will change the sound and tension. The simplest trick to avoid confusion is to change them pair by pair—remove the old pair, put the new pair of the same thickness in the same place—instead of stripping the entire guitar. If you replace them with a complete factory set, everything will fit exactly where it should.

Step-by-step winding

Pass the string through the bridge and secure it (with its bridge pin or whatever system your guitar uses). Bring it to its tuning peg, leaving a little slack—neither loose nor about to snap. Always wind downwards and evenly, without the turns overlapping, so that the tuning remains stable. Once the string is taut and in tune, cut the excess. Repeat pair by pair.

Stretch and retune (the step almost everyone skips)

New strings stretch on their own during the first few days, which is why they go out of tune so much initially: it's not the guitar, it's the strings settling. Speed up the process by gently pulling each string with your hand along the neck and retuning. Do this two or three times per string. Always tune up to the note. After that, your 12-string will hold its tuning much better.

Mistakes to avoid

Four classics: removing all strings at once (causes the guitar to shift), using a different gauge than the correct one (stresses the neck or sounds loose), winding unevenly or with too few turns (goes out of tune), and not stretching new strings (you'll be constantly retuning). Avoid these, and stringing will no longer be a torment.

How KARMA solves it. Your KARMA 12-string comes with 10-47 gauge paired strings from the brand, installed and intonated at the factory. When it's time to change them, replace them with the same gauge in paired strings to maintain the tension and sound it was designed with—you have the KARMA replacement set for that. And if after the change you feel it needs a slight adjustment, its dual-action truss rod and bone nut cut for paired strings make it easy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change all 12 strings at once?

It's better not to. Change them pair by pair (or a maximum of two pairs at a time) so that the soundboard and neck never lose tension. This prevents the guitar from shifting and going out of tune.

What string gauge should I put on my 12-string?

The correct one for paired strings: 10-47. Changing to a very different gauge can stress the neck or make it sound loose. For KARMA guitars, replace with the same factory set.

Why does it go out of tune so much right after stringing it?

Because the new strings are stretching. This is normal: gently pull them by hand and retune two or three times, and they will stabilize in a day or two.

GET YOUR KARMA REPLACEMENT PAIRED STRINGS