Official Luthiers Forum!

Although I do understand how to space the strings on both nut & saddle, I do not know how far front to back pins should be center to center. I'm guessing around 7/16"? And what is the longest 12 string bridge you have made?

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Mike McNerney

When I built my OM twelve I used a Martin belly bridge - the hole centers are 7/16 apart. My Stella-clone has a pyramid bridge and tailpiece so no holes

Remember that you can also make a 12 string bridge with 6 pins and holes, 2 strings per hole.

Mark, I am curious about that but can not find any info on them. I assume you have to cut slots in the saddle for each '2nd' string and what about any adjustment in the pins? And there's intonation?

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Mike McNerney

I've seen the two string per hole trick on both old guitars from the 30's and some modern versions. Basically the string spacing is set by slotting and ramping the pin holes. I think it would be a slight hassle changing one string, but changing strings on a 12 string is a bit of a hassle anyway.

When I built my ladder braced 12 I wasn't sure if I would end up using the tailpiece so I left enough room for six pin holes if I decided to go that way (obviously there are big differences between a pinned bridge and tailpiece). I stayed with the tailpiece but still filed small notches in the saddle to position the strings. I also made a half hearted effort to intonate both guitars, another huge hassle LOL

Measured an older Martin yesterday. Front holds were 5/16” from back of saddle slot, rear holes were 3/4” from back of saddle slot...didn’t measure bridge size

Pic only, sorry no dimensions.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

"Mark, I am curious about that but can not find any info on them. I assume you have to cut slots in the saddle for each '2nd' string and what about any adjustment in the pins? And there's intonation?"

There's a thread on the ANZLF forum on the shared bridge pin approach. The second post in the the thread addresses how to slot the bridge pin holes. Unfortunately, at least for me, the photos don't show up. Maybe you have to be a member of the forum to see them. Anyway, the written description should give you the gist of it. http://www.anzlf.com/viewtopic.php?t=354

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

I did the two strings in each hole.


I got the idea from the anzlf I found a tutorial for making a 6 pin 12 string bridge by Craig Lawrence. Here is a picture of Craigs, way better than mine.


I modified my bridge template with where I wanted the slots to be







I used the cuts on the bridge pin holes as guides for the slots after the bridge was mounted.



I have a complete build blog for this guitar

http://harvestmoonguitars.com/angel12string1.htm

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com