Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi
I am considering building a 12 string guitar. My music teach has been
wanting one for a long time and I thought I might suprise her by making one
for her. I have a Scott Antes 12 string drednaught plan set. I am probably
not going to use a dreadnaught body size, but either an OM or SJ.
Any tricks or words of advice in building/bracing etc?
Thicker top plate???
Thicker bridge plate???
Thanks again
Andy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Here's what I've done: don't go any thicker on the top, bridge, or bridge plate. Make the braces slightly taller (maybe 1/16") and that's all you need. The bridge will be bigger in order to fit all of the pins on there.
Resist the temptation to make the neck more bulky too. If you laminate a neck and use carbon rods, you'll be fine with keeping it the same depth as a six string. Of course your width will change.
If you are making a cutaway, make sure your neckblock is the width of your new 12 string neck and not a six string neck. Don't ask me how I know that one. Arrrrrrg.

Any one have any dimensions for the nut and bridge pin width on a 12 string. That's the one thing that has me thinking.

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    12 strings are not the big a deal , the biggest change is on the bridge and plate. The spacing is still based on the 1 3/4 2 1/4 taper with the 2nd set of strings offset about 1/16 so figure that into the neck.

What about all those 12 strings with thier tops bellied in?

With Bruce's science project, it seems like a lot of extra force on the neck and bridge with those extra strings.

Just curious.

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

John, I think 1 3/4 will be pretty crowded with all 12 strings. I've gone 1 7/8 and been very happy with the playability.

When I build 12 strings I make three structural changes to the bracing of the
top. 1) the cross brace behind the soundhole needs to be beefier- I go from
1/2" to 9/16", 2) if you are using a conventional "x" brace design I add a 3rd
tone bar coming off the "x" brace, and 3) I increase the size of the bridge
plate 1/2" over my 6 string design. I also do not scallop the top braces. I
learned these changes from Bozo Padudavac, who, in my opinion, has always
made the best sounding 12 strings. I also find these changes eliminate the
tops bellying. I make no changes to the back bracing. I make the neck in the
same way as a 6 string but the freboard is wider 1 7/8" - 2 5/16". Therefore
the fingerboard taper is slightly different than my 6 strings. I hope this
helps!

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Thanks
Andy

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Thanks also.

_________________
My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson