moving from 14 to 12 fret neck joint?

[mike-p]

Hi all,

am getting ahead of myself i know but I'm considering my next project. I am likely to stick with the l-00/ nick lucas shape with short scale but i want to do a 12 fret neck joint and all mahogany or mahogany/cedar.

So for the change i move the soundhole and the bridge I think, so what should i do about the x brace? does it simply shift down with the same angle?

Any ideas? Would it be deemed cheecky to get in touch with some makers of 12 fret l-00's and ask what they do or is that sort of info kept to one's self?

cheers all.

[ken cierp]

Scratch built?

[mike-p]

kind of, ideally i would make another of your kits but with 100 dollars odd shipping, plus 22 percent tax coming into the uk it's a pretty pricey option.

I met a young luthier at the suppliers who will teach for a very reasonable hourly rate so my plan was to get wood and work with him at his workshop to do the work that would be already done in a kit like yours. Figured i'd learn a lot and working in a real workshop would be brilliant!

I may try to buy a neck and neck block though, but it looks like it's have to come from the states, do you sell necks and blocks Ken?

[ken cierp]

I would suggest that you use at least proven plan/drawing for your first scratch built project with or without a mentor. The 12th and 13th fret models have all sorts of brace configuration I believe even simple ladder bracing -- these guitar were not made to last and in fact the collectibility is more becasue they are still on earth as a guitar, rather than how they sound.

Yes we have neck packages.

[mike-p]

Another possibility would be the martin 12 fret oo stensil you sent me. I'm slightly confused as it says you can use short or long scale but surely that necessitates a different bridge and bridge plate placement if not soundhole too?

[ken cierp]

You simply shift entire brace pattern and sound hole center 1/4" --- I think that one is normally short scale so for long scale move the pattern toward the tail block.

[mike-p]

Ken, are you saying you think the 12 fret versions are more delicate?

I've been in touch with a luthier who makes 12 fret versions and is also a gibson expert who says all the bracing simply shifts down by about the distance between 12 and 14th fret, approx 1 1/2 inches. Comparing the 00-12 and the l-00, this makes sense as the top bout in the 00-12 is pretty empty.

I'm really keen to make the 12 fret version if I can get a plan together.