Official Luthiers Forum!

Good Morning:
    I would like to build a special guitar for my mother in law who is losing the battle with arthritis. She needs a small body style and soft strings. I think a 12 fret OOO has a nice old timey look and sits in your lap nicely. What changes would you make to the bracing and top thickness for nylon strings (ala Taylor NS series)? Has anyone looked inside one of the Taylors?
    I have a beautiful set of claro walnut and either a redwood or one of Shanes" lutz tops. Maybe koa bindings? EIR fretboard and bridge? Gold fretwire? Opinions or advice anyone?

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

That sounds like a tough project 

My really inexperienced 2 cents would buy a thin piece of Lutz, with very light bracing. Rosewood bridge seems to be a must for nylon strings (brazilian best)

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Build log

Mike-
My 2 cents worth:

If you're going with nylon strings, you might consider building a classical-type body with a narrower neck. The bracing issues will be all worked out for the nylon strings and you will just have to modify the neck and bridge for the narrower spacing. Classicals with dovetail or bolt-on necks work fine.

You may already have molds and bending forms, etc for the OOO, but..
Unless your mother-in-law is quite tall, she may find even a OOO to be 'big'- I'd look at something in the classical or OO size range for this type of project.

I've never found nylon-string guitars any easier to play than a steel-string with good action, but I'm not much of a player. The easiest-playing guitar I ever used was a little Hofner guitar (short scale) with silk-and-steel strings.

You can get nylon strings with ball ends, so you can do some experimenting with your existing guitars to see what makes things easier. Scale length is another variable to consider, since this affects tension as well.

It sounds like and interesting project and a good thing to do for your mother-in-law. Is this going to be a surprise present, or can you get feedback from her as you go?
Please keep us posted with your decisions, and the project.

Cheers
John

If she continues to lose the battle, you want to try (1) electric; or (2) Hawaiian.

You bet, Hesh!! Man, I miss Serge.


Hey, Mike, how about a nice little parlor guitar?


Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

A smaller-than-000 size is a really good suggestion.

Depending on where the arthritis is, you might consider a wedge shaped body - easier on the shoulder; or a neck/fretboard that is rotated "forward" a few degrees - easier on the fretting wrist/hand.

As for the cosmetics, if your goal is to please your Mom, ask HER! It may remove the surprise, but she'll have something to look forward to and anticipation can be a good thing, too.

Larry