I hope this subject is in the right section.

I do have a 12 strings stick and I like it a lot. Because I have these 12 strings to play chords, my way to play this instrument brought me through this way of playing the stick. My left hand play a lot chords in different positions. Is it possible (I'm just figuring the other side) that the 10 strings stick would "force" me to play more bass lines than chords positions in my left hand. I say that because I think chords positions are more difficult on a 10 than on a 12. Am I wrong saying that? Sometimes I'd like to be a pround owner of a 10...this way that would be an obligation for me to play more bass lines and develop this side of my music ideas. Of course it's possible to do it on a 12 strings but it's easy to come back to my normal habits and play chords again because I feel good to play that way.

Hoping you understand my point here and I can't wait to read your opinions on this matter subject. Thanks.

Take off two strings and find out.
I think you'll appreciate the 12 in the end
SA

Thank you Steve...I really appreciate my 12...no problems at all...lol. No...don't want to take off 2 strings...I use it too much... I hope I'll be connected this friday to see you and listen to you live...I just want to know what is the eastern time to be connected.

You just answered your own question Kataway
For what it's worth : i have 12 and 10 string. I only play the 12 string. As Steve always says, more strings, so more change of hitting the right note !


Cheers,
Bas

I had a 10-string, a 12-string grand, and an SG12. I found that I only picked up the SG and decided to sell the others and buy a performance rig. I play the one that spoke to me the most.

Another factor in 10 vs. 12 is tunings. The 12-string Sticks made the mirrored 4ths tunings possible. They don't work well with 10. I love mirrored 4ths now and only a 12-string will do from now on.

-Eric

I think if I'm following you correctly, you feel like you gravitate towards playing chords in the left hand because of all the strings available, but you would rather force yourself to learn to play bass lines by limiting the string availability? Perhaps one thing you could try is a 7+5 style tuning, limiting the bass side of the instrument while not giving up the full fret board of the grand.

I personally use a 10 string and I couldn't see myself switching to a grand. However, that's just me. I have smaller hands, so the smaller neck is more comfortable to play. And I also tend to play fairly aggressive, so I like having a little extra space between the strings.

I played 10-string for many, many years before moving to the Grand Stick. Records I made with the 10-string include Stick Figures, Shapes, Code Magenta, Water on the Moon, Sol and Lift

You can make a lot of music with the 10-string, and there are some advantages. Whether they are enough of a tradeoff to make up for not having the two extra strings is up to the player. It's important to note that the overall range of the instrument is no different, that depends on string tension

Here's a list of what I would see as the advantages of each option.

12-string:

1. More possibilities for note placement, giving you a little more timbral variety.
2. Greater overlap between the string sets, for more dense orchestrations, and a greater arrangement possibilities.
3. A higher bass chord range, especially nice for moving the left hand into "guitar chord" territory, and also for using the high bass 4th, which expands the chord voicing possibilities in the left hand.

10-string:

1. A narrower board, which is easier for people with smaller hands to cross over the strings.
2. Wider string spacing, especially noticeable with the Railboard and Ten String Grand. This is really helpful if you have particularly wide fingers, and makes collisions with the low bass string less likely when playing the lowest melody string.
3. Easier pattern recognition on a smaller surface. The two-octave "square" which covers 5 strings and 5 frets is very easy to see.
4. Easier to see which string you are playing, because of fewer visual cues.

That's how I see it. I use the 12-string now, and don't mind the string spacing, in fact I prefer the narrow spacing, but I don't have particularly large fingers.

I've been playing a 10-string (baritone melody) and I'm hoping to soon get a 12-string with classic tuning/high bass 4th.

Some of the reasons I'd like a 12-string:
- more options for voicing chords in the LH
- a bit more range (higher notes)
- having more overlap between the bass/melody

I have had a different experience. I have owned 2 12 strings now and come back to the 10 string each time.

It just feels right. Key factors, as already mentioned, were string spacing and neck width.

I did not like switching between 10 and 12 as I did not want to be dependent on a specific instrument for a specific song. Some are masters of this craft - I am not.

One instrument to rule them all...

With 10 strings, your hands have to move more to achieve what you want, preventing them from staying stuck in so called "position playing".