The Birth of the American 12-string Guitar

https://www.harpguitars.net/history/grunewald/12-string.htm

Comments

babblingbrookJul 27, 2026, 11:44 AM
What I love about links like this is that we see information being shared just for the love of it. This person has done a lot of work simply to share knowledge with the world about something they are passionate about. This is what great about the internet and is easily lost amongst all the commercial content.
plucJul 27, 2026, 11:25 AM
12 strings is one thing, but how about microtonal? That's instead of adding strings, you add frets!

If you haven't heard them yet, you're in for a wild ride: https://www.youtube.com/@AnginePoitrine

bilegeekJul 27, 2026, 11:48 AM
That's the first time I've heard microtonal work in a rock setting. Pretty good!

I see your added frets, and raise "add frets on the fly using Lego":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPCEImSfCwc

defrostJul 27, 2026, 11:34 AM
A bit spotty, but alright; meanwhile the Italian instrument makers said guitar-harp? Hold our expressos, this'll take some discipline:

* https://www.delta-harp.com/

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IdUztFVwi3I

jagged-chiselJul 27, 2026, 11:29 AM
Why frets? Orchestral strings don’t use frets.
bilegeekJul 27, 2026, 11:40 AM
For plucked instruments, besides ease of use, it adds clarity and sustain. Orchestra AFAIK only has Pizzicato where that would matter.
analog31Jul 27, 2026, 11:39 AM
Frets make chords possible.

You only have to put your finger somewhere in between two frets to get a particular note, so you can play more than the tiny handful of chords that can be played on something like a violin.

There are non-fretted guitars but they are rare, and I think early banjos were not fretted.

jagged-chiselJul 27, 2026, 12:03 PM
Frets make chords easier