Official Luthiers Forum!

For my next build I`m planning a Om cutaway.I`d like to make it a 12 Fret.Besides being really sweet to play ,especially a 24.9 scale,I just really don`t see the need for a 14 fret with a cutaway.Anyway by using a 12 fret it pushes the bridge back on the body towards the rear end about an inch.I didn`t know if anyone has done this,I haven`t seen any 12 fret Om `s that I can recall.I know it happens with OOO`s ,but I`ve been there done that.I`m a little concerned what effect it would have on the sound.Also the bracing would have to be moved back.Any thoughts would be appreciated.
                             James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Martin makes a 12-fret 24.9 scale with an OM body, called the Norman Blake. John Hall might know particulars.

Here's a composite image I worked up a few months ago comparing from the left, the OM, Norman Blake, and 12-fret 000.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Oops.

Here's the image.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Thanks Burbank,that`s exactly what I`m talking about with the bridge being pushed back.I guess I`m good to go to build similar to the center guitar in your picture ,except with a cutaway.If you haven`t played a 12 fret with a 24.9 scale ,it`s a real treat.
                              James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

Sure Todd confuse me more.
            James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

As I understand it, even Martin hasn't always followed it's own nomenclature as OM and OOO models have changed throughout the years.

I have a Larrivee Pete Anderson signature model that's a 12-fret OM, I really like it. It's really comfortable to play with the shorter neck and the shorter 14-fret body.   It sounds good, too, good projection. It's a full 25.4 scale, though. They also made a very limited model for the Larrivee discussion forum, but I think they only made 20 or so of those.

I'm in the very early stages of a 12-fret OM with a florentine cutaway for a friend of mine, but I haven't laid out the bracing yet. I'm going to use my Larrivee as a guide.

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

It sounds like I`m building exactly what you said Todd.And never mention ex girlfriends around the old lady.Trust me on that.
                    James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

The centre guitar which is the Norman Blake model has a 19 fret fingerboard.

Cheers

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

[QUOTE=ToddStock] Maybe a little fretboard extension on the treble side would get the 20th back? A nice little S curve might work.[/QUOTE]

Hands up all of you that have had a customer complain because they couldn't play the 20th fret

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

[QUOTE=ToddStock] I think I read something about Norman mentioning his need for better access to the higher frets for his incredible acoustic shred solos. Think he mentioned that the next NB would be a double cut...[/QUOTE]

. . . and a whammy bar

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

<LOL> I raise my hand. I actually have a current build going on that the client had me rework my standard cutaway because he wanted to play 18,19 and 20 better True story that still makes me laugh

In March, I finished a guitar which is very similar to the one you are planning.
This instrument was designed to shorten the reach of my left arm & hand. (Carpal tunnel & tendonitis make playing a longer scale, 14 fret guitar a numbing AND painful proposisition)
To shorten the reach to the first fret I used a 24.9" scale length & moved the soundhole & the waist up as far as I could without ruining the aesthetics of the instrument. The fingerboard projects well into the soundhole to get 21 frets.
It was designed to be a Venecian cutaway, but a cranky piece of Sapelle insisted that a Florentine was going to work out better (CRAAACKK!)
Moving the soundhole up, gave me lots of room to widen the X brace angle & get the bridge location looking "right". I also widened & lengthened the lower bout to achieve the volume & bass I was looking for.
This guitar turned out really well, feeling & sounding excellent. I can play this guitar for more than an hour with no ill affects to my poor old hand & forearm.
Ten minutes with my old (14 fret) OM & I'm done in!
I like the design so well that I'm building two more now & expect to make more in the future. I've had many comments on how comfortable this guitar is to play... And not just by old f**ts with gibbled hands.

Daniel,

I need to build a similar instrument for myself because of an old left shoulder injury. Yes, both the injury and shoulder are old!

Any chance you could post some pics of your "short" guitar?

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

[QUOTE=Daniel M] In March, I finished a guitar which is very similar to the one you are planning.
This instrument was designed to shorten the reach of my left arm & hand. (Carpal tunnel & tendonitis make playing a longer scale, 14 fret guitar a numbing AND painful proposisition)
To shorten the reach to the first fret I used a 24.9" scale length & moved the soundhole & the waist up as far as I could without ruining the aesthetics of the instrument. The fingerboard projects well into the soundhole to get 21 frets.
It was designed to be a Venecian cutaway, but a cranky piece of Sapelle insisted that a Florentine was going to work out better (CRAAACKK!)
Moving the soundhole up, gave me lots of room to widen the X brace angle & get the bridge location looking "right". I also widened & lengthened the lower bout to achieve the volume & bass I was looking for.
This guitar turned out really well, feeling & sounding excellent. I can play this guitar for more than an hour with no ill affects to my poor old hand & forearm.
Ten minutes with my old (14 fret) OM & I'm done in!
I like the design so well that I'm building two more now & expect to make more in the future. I've had many comments on how comfortable this guitar is to play... And not just by old f**ts with gibbled hands.

[/QUOTE]

I may have to do something similar for the same reasons,,, however if I can remember to do my B vitamines - it REALLY helps the symptoms!
try it, it may work for you too...
Cheers
Charliewood

Charlie,

Good to see you posting again!

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Pat your really going to love a 24.9 12 fret.It`s almost a chore to pick up my 25.4 dread 14 fret.Daniel I`d also like to see your guit.
                  James

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

The problem with being old enough to have gibbled joints is that you're probably old enough to forget to take your vitamins... Thanks for the reminder Charlie!
Since I don't know how to shrink pics, Pat has graciously offered to post them for me. You should see them soon...
Thanks Pat!

Here are the pics that Daniel M sent.

Very nice instrument, Daniel. Just might be what I need. Maybe I'll do a 24.9 scale 12-fret L-00. Something with that short reach would be just the ticket.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com