12 string Jumbo Euro Spruce/Red Gum, now with sound

[Herman]

No 33, my first 12 string.
Difficult because of the dimensions. No one tells you how thick the plates must be. So you are out there in the dark.
The top, before sanding, I made 3.0 mm. (0.120"). Plus the 3 tone bars and a larger bridgeplate. That must do the trick. Well, it turned out very nice. I made a compensation on every string at the saddle (1/8 " wide) and a slight compensation on the nut.
In stores most 12 strings sound out of tune to me. But this one all is just right.
The new customer will make us a sound sample, so give us a minute.

Red gum is a great tonewood. It looks satin so you expect a walnut like sound, but it has an excellent good clear ring to it. On the net it says: "....but when Dana Bourgeois calls and says that Red Gum sounds (his words) "fantastic", he gets our attention."

Here are some sounds:
Sound 1

Sound 1

For more pics look at my site:
https://www.hermanarendsenguitars.nl/33 ... 20gum.html

[John Parchem]

Gorgeous guitar! I would love to hear the sample. I have a 12 string on the list of guitars I have on order. On my last 12 string I kept the top in my steel string thickness range and up the braces about 20%.

[Dave Bagwill]

What a beauty. I'm going to look for some red gum.

[Herman]

Thanks boys.
The bracing was made 8mm wide (5/16"), with a bit more height. You can find a pic of the bracing pattern on my site. The bridgeplate is significant larger (2").
O, and I tucked the lower end of the X braces in the side, which I usually never do.
The back was kept on the thicker side (2,8mm)

BTW: the sustain of the sound seems manupulated. But honestly, this thing rings forever.

[Kenny Wiebusch]

That's a beauty Herman. You also take great pictures of your guitars. I have found that to be pretty difficult!

[Herman]

Thanks Kenny,
The way I make pics nowadays (I used to take them in the park) is not very difficult.
I got a good camera with good lenses. But any decent camera will do.
Furthermore, I bought me a studio cloth 10"x20".
I hang that from the wall and I wait for good daylight. .....click. Thats it.
I tell myself to iron the folds next time, and I do that.... the next time
Herman

[Herman]

This guitar prooves a top with a wider grain (12 per inch or so) does not have to be a lower grade. This one felt very stiff to me, as I looked for the stiffest top for the 12 string. My view is: as long as it is stiff, it is stiff. Period, despite the looks.