Emulating Les Paul's 1950's insane multitrack licks with a specially tuned 12 string

[jwhitcomb3]

The moderator of the vguitarsforum.com site posted this video showing guitarist Kenny Vaughn demonstrating some crazy licks and chords with a creatively tuned electric 12 string guitar. Check out starting at around 32 minutes: 

 

Apparently the tuning Kenny Vaughn uses is a variant of an earlier tuning by Jimmy Bryant (Google the "The Stratosphere Boogie" and "Stratosphere 12 String Tuning"). There are disagreements about the exact tuning Jimmy Bryant used, but here's one I've been messing with from https://www.tdpri.com/threads/stratosphere-12-string-tuning.154839/

The Jimmy Bryant tuning 
Low E -> Ab - E 
        C - A
        F - D
        B - G
        D - B
High E > G - E

and the Kenny Vaughn tuning.

Low E>  A/F
A>      C/A
D>      F/D
G>      A/F
B>      C/A
High E>  E/C 

Jimmy Bryant's tuning is based off a standard tuning for the fat strings, while the Kenny Vaughn tuning is based on an Fmaj9. The string pair intervals are the same (major or minor 3rd) except for the high E, where JB has a minor 3rd and KV has a major 3rd.

If you've got one of the wonderful Hamer 12 strings and some time on your hands, these tunings are really inspiring! I no longer have a 12 string, so instead I've programmed the (rather amazing) Boss VG-800 virtual guitar modeler to emulate these tunings. I've attached a brief damo. 

If you happen to have a Boss VG-800, you can download my presets here: https://www.vguitarforums.com/smf/index.php?topic=39279.msg289103;topicseen#quickreply_anchor

 

 

Edited December 8, 2025 by jwhitcomb3
typo

[Steve Haynie]

That is cool!

[cmatthes]

😳

[mathman]

sounds amazing

 

[Spinaltap]

Me Likey likey..

[Biz Prof]

Cool as shit.