Interesting 12 string use

[MC3]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone know of songs that have interesting 12 string electric guitar riffs/playing/etc? Maybe using effects, maybe just playing something a bit less traditional with a 12 string. Anything and everything, I'm happy to hear it!

I know John Dwyer has been known to use a 12 string sometimes, but besides that I can't come up with anything off the top of my head

[Firecat]

Thurston Moore has a piece called 'Alice Moki Jayne', which is played on 2 12-strings and a BassVI, the whole piece is like an hour long, but here's an excerpt: https://youtu.be/mWvBWrND-zg

[UlricvonCatalyst]

I find Jim/Roger McGuinn's brief 'raga rock' period very interesting use of a 12-string. String bends on a 12-string aren't the easiest thing to pull off, and McGuinn's are more tasteful than most. Recommended track: What's Happening?!?!

[Tele295]

I used a 12 string with a shimmer reverb on our last record. That part sounds like a synth. Bass VI has the riff. https://youtu.be/CeVX7NA3Xac

[Larry Mal]

Does it have to be electric 12 string?

This guy is pretty fun.

[MC3]

Wow, thanks everyone for the awesome replies already. Glad that everyone's suggestions sounded very different to each other as well.

[cestlamort]

I'd suggest:
Savage Republic (who use a 12 string mono guitar: all E [edit: all B actually]) old: https://youtu.be/GAf0KIYocXQ new: https://youtu.be/38_zx5eriGs (all good)
Mahogany (two 12 strings, almost always unusual models/brands) https://youtu.be/G30Ar3MxMNQ https://youtu.be/cs8Gr1szk64
The Church (more "traditional" but just great in the Marty Willson-Piper years)

[marqueemoon]

Real Estate and Ducks Ltd. are two current bands with some out front 12 string action.

[s_mcsleazy]

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

i've played that xii

[antisymmetric]

If you're ok with acoustic 12s, there's Luke Hurley

[MattK]

Man that is such a killer version of San Pedro

[andy_tchp]

Viet Cong / Preoccupations
Mahavishnu Orchestra

[stevejamsecono]

Mahavishnu is a great suggestion.

Will Sargeant of the Bunnymen pulled one out a lot on Ocean Rain, even if he was kind of ripping Harrison with a lot of reverb.
Dave Gregory's playing on English Settlement is also great, if fairly 60s influenced.

[rbrcbr]

Not sure what defines traditional for you (maybe like jangly 60's folk rock riffs?) but Daniel Rossen rips on a 12 string acoustic. The main hook/riff in this tune is really cool, to me it sounds almost like a violin accompanying the guitar, it's wild.

[SignoftheDragon]

Mahogany (two 12 strings, almost always unusual models/brands) https://youtu.be/G30Ar3MxMNQ https://youtu.be/cs8Gr1szk64

I was going to point them out- Andrew Prinz is my 12-bro twice over- he's been playing a Charvel Surfcaster 12 since back when I got mine in the '90s!

For fun, I'd invite you to peruse tracks of my band Elemental's work- ALL of the guitar tracks are recorded with 12-string, although it's not always apparent through the effects haze & layering.

https://www.reverbnation.com/elementalthemusic

Always love objective & honest feedback!