dusty fretz wrote:I tune my 12-stringers down to D to save breakage on the octave 'G'.
Is that really necessary, Paul?
I use an 0.008" string for the G octave (an 0.007" if I can find it), and it tunes up to the G without problems. Since a 13 will tune to E (albeit with a medium gauge tension) without problems, even a 10 should tune to G (in fact, a 10 will tune to A at Sonomatic-type tension).
Mind you, if there were a breakage problem, I think I'd rather just tune the third pair in unison than have the whole guitar a tone below concert!
Best wishes,
JN