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Hi Guys

Wonder if I could trouble you for a little help, I am about to embark on making a Twelve String, I have never made one before.

I think I have the top bracing etc. sorted, but was wondering about the neck, I am going to do it in cherry. On my six strings I use a double action hotrod alone. Do you think this is sufficent for a twelve string or should I install some Carbon Rods as well?

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciatted.

i've not built a twelve but have worked on a lot. most commercial makers use an ordinary truss rod with the exception of guild who used two truss rods, and i think the rickenbacker electric twelves may have used two rods, but it's been a long time since i've seen one of those. putting some carbon in is good, relatively cheap insurance.

Thanks Michael

I wondered about this two rod system, how were they spaced on the ones you saw ?

Many Thanks

Russell

i haven't measured one but would estimate that there is approximately 40% of the necks width between the channels. i never much liked the arrangement as one has to be very careful when adjusting them to balance the adjustment on each bar with the other, checking the relief on each side and so forth. while it does result in a well controlled neck i have never run into any problems with necks which only have a single bar that i thought two bars would have prevented. they also require a large cover plate, or offer a larger inlay opportunity, however you want to view it.

certainly carbon bars would add any needed esta stability. if you decide to use them just don't overdo it so that the truss rod is overpowered and ineffective.crazymanmichael38547.3811226852

Michael

Thanks for your Advice, very much appreciated,

I don't think I will go with the twin rod, but was curious how this was done. Thanks for the thought on the carbon I hadn't considered that you could make the neck too stiff and thus make later adjusment difficult, thanks for the heads up on that one.




Russell

Hi Russell, I've built one 12 string, in which I used two CF rods. I've had the chance to see the guitar 4 years later, and the neck is still straight as when it was built. Like CMM said, it's cheap insurance.

I think you will be pleased w/ cherry for the neck. What's the body going to be?

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Russell, I'll second the idea of CF rods. I think the use of twin truss rods could cause a potential problem. That is that if they are indeed that far apart, the neck would be getting dangerously thin behind them. So either you have a thin neck behind the rods or you have to make the neck thick. I think the CF rods will actually do MORE to keep it straight and in place.
One note that I learned the hard way. A twelve string neck doesn't need to be any thicker (front to back) than a 6 string neck. Only wider. The force on it from the sympathetic strings really isn't that much and if you build a solid neck, it should handle the force no problem.

Thank Guys for your help, I will go with the CF Rod concept.

Steve

The body on this one is going to be Walnut, with a European Spruce top.

Paul

I was wondering about the thiness behaind the Rods, as the hot rods are pretty powerful in my experience, so I could see this being a problem.

Thank you very much.

[QUOTE=RussellR]
Steve

The body on this one is going to be Walnut, with a European Spruce top. [/QUOTE]

Sounds nice, Russell. Why not throw in some walnut into the neck as well? I mean, come up with a nice pattern, and laminate the cherry and walnut together. It will not only be a better match for the body, but you will be building a more stable neck as well.

There's 2 pence for ya!

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Thanks Steve

That is not a bad idea, I have got some Walnut which would be suitable. I really like Cherry as a neck material. It is also pretty cheap here as it is a native timber, have you ever tried it for back and sides, I have a set in but haven't tried it yet.

Russell,
No, I haven't tried cherry yet. I've got a couple of big figured boards around here, but it isn't sliced up yet. So many options... so little time!

I've got some myrtle coming that will be the next experiment.

Steve

_________________
From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com