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Please help me clear up some confusion-I know, nothing new.
The Origional Gibson L-00, early '30s:
The 12 and 14 frets-Are there differences in the dimensions between these two. If so, what are they?

I have been told that some of the orig 12 frets had a total of 19 frets. True-or how many?

Any difference in location of soundhole-is so what?

Bracing-any difference-If so what?
Thanks much, I really want to get mine right.

Bob take a look here at an old post. I posted a link to some good info on the L-00.
Maybe James Burkett our resident Gibson expert will be able to give you some answers.

http://luthiersforum.3element.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID= 1306&KW=L%2D00#forumTop

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

    I found out recently that Gibson not being German influenced actually used the same L-00 body shape for both the 12 and the 14 fret model. The 12 fret was built for Hawian Steel string. The 14 fret for the acoustic. The 12 fretters are about a 1920's to 30's built guitars.
      I was also told that there was a 13 fret available. I can't find this information but my source is very qualified in Gibson and thier guitars.
     The changes to accomodate the postion of the bridges in the different sizes required movement of the X braceing .
    This is pretty much what Martin did in the Norm Blake guitars.
   Hope this helps
john hall
blues creek guitars

Bob C, On the thread you posted above there is a link to www.lutherie.net. That site now is dedicated to county issues (coastal dairies, pigs, etc).

Any idea where the L-00 info you referred to may be at now?

Roy I don't know what the problem is. It appears to be just the home page. Here is another page I got to with a google search on "L-00 13 fret" http://www.lutherie.net/model_h.html

_________________
Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

I have been doing a lot of research on this as I build both 12 fret and 14 fret L-00 models. I have tracing from both and can lay one on top of the other and they are identical So they obviously uused the same body shape. My research has sugested that previous to 1930-31 the 12 freters were the smaller bodied L-00. I have read that Officially the L-00 were introduced in 1932 but there are a few earlier ones kicking around (please explain this to me). There were a few 13 fret models made but I can't remember the exact year. It seems that Most 12 fret L-00's had 19 frets total with the bracing and soundhole shifted as John states above. Some only had one lower traverse brace and others two but again, the actual bracing pattern was identical, just shifted. It does also seem that Gibson did some 12 Fret L-00 guitars with only 18 frets total. I have the bracing pattern from one of these but is is almost identical to the bracing patern from the 14 fret Model. Soundhole is same place and the X brace is same position. Even the Bridge plate is in the same position as on the 14 Fret model which of course means that the bridge totally misses the bridge plate and the X brace. To me it looks like they just took a 14 fret body and used a 12 fret neck. My basic impression is that the 12 Fret L-00 Gibson's were rare and they probably weren't very consistant with how they did them. I have found that 19 frets total with the Soundhole and bracing shifted back seems to work great for me.

   Thanks arvey seems we must know the same guy. The fact they held the bracing at the same spot amazed me as the bridgeplate has to be out of postion. I know that there are a few 12 fretters with a date of 1927.
    I guess as it tool off and the personelle and managment changes like at Martin some things changed without much documentation
john hall

Try this guys

http://www.provide.net/~cfh/loo.html

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Mark Joy

mjoy Guitars

While they held the bracing on the 18 fret total ones they did shift it for the 19fret models. this tendancy to miss the bridge plate and X brace on the old gibsons probably helps explain the reputation they developed for bellying and bridges ripping off.

Thanks for the link Bob. I've actually looked at that site in the distant past so it was good to go through it again and get a refresher.