Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a potential customer who wants me to build him a 12-string, and I have a few questions for any of you that have built one.

How much beefier does everything need to be? Customer wants a cutaway, will this affect the upper transverse brace to any significant degree? Will it affect the tone?

Does 1 7/8" sound like a do-able nut width?

Any experience with maple b/s and sitka top on a 12-string?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave, don't think of it much differently than a 6 string. I made that mistake on the first one. I made everything beefy, the top was thick, the braces were big, the neck was thick...and the thing sucked. The next one was built pretty much by 6 string specs. I went a bit taller with the braces but not any fatter. Top was the same tickness. The neck was only slightly wider but not any thicker. I built this neck at 1 13/16 which is pretty tight but the customer wanted it that way. It took some pretty careful cutting of the nut but it's very comfortable to play at that spacing.
The cutaway will be fine. The transverse brace will stop early but so will the top so there's really no issue there. Keep in mind that you'll have to be wider at the cutaway to accept the wider neck. If I were you, I'd draw it all out on paper full scale. then do it again to make sure you didn't forget something. It's kind of hard to have 6 strings on the brain and then make the shift to 12 strings.
I don't have any experience with maple on a steel string at all because I'm not very fond of that rather brash sound. But there's no reason it would be any different on a 12 string than a 6 string.

What Paul said...I really had to bite my lip every time I thought about leaving something more massive...I went back and shaved the neck down twice after I'd initially shaped it...the headstock and the width at the body join are obviously different than a 6'er...and the bridge plate on mine was maybe a hair or two thicker...other than that, nothing much changed...have fun cutting the nut!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Thanks for the replies guys! I really hate it when I get into something that I didn't bargain for. So, I thought I'd ask ahead of time for a change.

Any thoughts on a good set of plans for a 12?

I'm still not sure that maple is the best choice for this thing either. I haven't built with maple yet and am not sure of its tonal qualities. But that is what he says he wants.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

BTW, do you guys charge any extra for a 12-string? Seems like you would at least have to charge for the extra tuners. And things like cutting that nut.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave: plans? just build off your favorite set of 6 string plans and adjust the neck for the strings. Bridge plate will be slightly bigger as you'll need more "belly" on the bridge to hold all the pins.
I'm not aware of any plans for 12 strings but that's because I don't build from plans other than mine. They might be out there I'm just not aware of them.
Heck yes, charge more. I'd charge more for the cutaway and then find a price you are happy with on the 12 string issue. Think of things like, you might have to build the neck twice, two nuts, two bridges, etc.
If maple is what the client is asking for then she probably knows what it sounds like. Build it. I'm just personaly not a huge fan but there are lots and lots of people that are.
Feel free to ask questions as they come up.
Best, Paul

Thanks again Paul! Man, it's nice to have a place to come to with questions like this and get honest feedback from folks who have already been there.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

[QUOTE=Dave Rector] BTW, do you guys charge any extra for a 12-string? Seems like you would at least have to charge for the extra tuners. And things like cutting that nut. [/QUOTE]

Yes, you have double time on nut, saddle intonation. for mr a 12 string is a $200 add-on

Thanks Michael, that's the kinda thing I was wondering about!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Scott Antes has a 12 string plan LMI has it.

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?NameProdHeader =Dreadnought

Thanks Keith! Based on what Paul and Larry said I may not need plans, but if I do it's nice to know they are available.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

I am almost done with my 1st 12string. I just built it from Michael P's SJ
plans and added a 3rd tone bar. Maybe slightly higher braces, and that was
it. (Bigger bridge plate and 1 7/8th neck)
Unfortunately this is the guitar where the neck broke in 2 on shipping back
from Tony F's
Now that I have fixed the neck, I hope to have it playable in about 2-3
weeks. I will let you know.
Andy

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