Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

zionstrat

Well-known member
Have been thinking about 2 projects for a long time and wonder if I can merge them together? This is a bit different and I would really appreciate your thoughts, as it is complete fantasy now- I've done some of this kind of construction before and some of this would be new to me so open to all thoughts!

1. I would like a semi-bright, very low sustain guitar for rhythm and riffs- Inspired by a p90 powered ESS225 and fast rhythm changes in classics like "what is life" by George Harrison- Thinking this would be a good sound for Petty, old byrds/beatles, etc. Covered some of this in the recent "low sustain" thread.

2. I've been thinking about making a thin line Rickish electric 12 string but with a much wider neck-

I'd like to think about making a guitar as follows as both a 6 and 12 string-I know 'convertibles' have been done before, but I expect it will probably be more useful in one mode than the other so in time, and once I have gotten used to it, I will probably optimize it and keep it either 12 or 6 (assuming this makes any sense).

Here's what I'm thinking-
1. Start with a warmoth maple neck with 12 string nut- No surprises there

2. Build a neck block that runs the length of the guitar, accepts a TOM bridge, and a tail end piece- I want low sustain- Would basswood be a good choice and strong enough to take the pressure? Is there a stronger wood with less sustain?

3. 335 body shape- Considering I want low sustain and no feedback, shape a flat front and back using 5/8 maple (kills sustain? Thinner possible?)- No arch, no f holes- Rout the edges to accept the sides. Glue the center blocks onto the back.

4. No idea what wood the sides should be- A wood that steam bends well- I'd like a very thin body (is 1.5 inches possible?)- Bend these out one piece per side to fit in the rout edges of the top and bottom.

5. Glue it up

6. Anyone make a 12 string TOM Bridge? Could go with a trapeze tail but no intonation

7. Or use 335 trapeze tail with TOM

8. Debating on p90s vs filltrons

9. Almost definately using a rear control cavity cover to make it easy to wire-

In summary, I'm not after a resonate body, I want low sustain and just a tad on the bright side.

So time for your input!
-Any thoughts on what this would sound like?

-Wood choices

-I know this is unusual construction, but does it sound like a reasonable garage project for a first hollow body?

-Most important, any reason this can't be a good 6 string or a good 12 string when wet up correctly?

-Also what kind of software do you guys use to draw this stuff out? Freeware cad of some sort?

One other note, I like very, very wide, flat necks, so this shouldn't be an issue- I'm even considering the 2" nut as I've always wanted one for 6 string and it would leave more room for 6 courses-

Looking forward to your input!
 
Re: Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

Bump-
Ok, was this a stupid idea, or are there just too many threads out there right now?
 
Re: Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

I think the problem is that you´re asking a question in the thread title, but it´s not really clear in any way shape or form what info your looking on, because the content of the thread doesn´t really have much to do with the question, anor do we have any real idea of what you´re planning...;)

Are you attempting to make a guitar that you can change from 6 to 12 strings in minutes or something totaly different? The only thing i KNOW is you don´t want sustain. To do that I recommend (very literally) filling the hollow body with foam rubber... should sustain for seconds at very best.
 
Re: Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

Sorry Zerb- It's a long one, but I wasn't sure how to break up out any more-

Here's the basic question- If I build this psedo hollowbody as a 12 string, are there any really good reasons I couldn't use it as a 6 string (hardware is probalby biggest issue)? I expect I will like one of the 2 versions more than the other and I doubt I would regularly change back and forth assuming I like one of the two-

On the sustain issue I think I've had lots of good input, so my second major question is would this building method work? With flat top and back, routed to accept the sides, and a center block it's probably going to sound more like a chambered guitar than a hollowbody-

Wood choice would be third question- Sides almost have to be maple for me to have a shot at building-

Thanks for takign the time to parse this one out!
m
 
Re: Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

Haven´t looked at the other thread, but if I´m understanding you right aou essentially want to build a 12 string and decide later whether you want to use it with 12 or 6 strings....

If that´s so: It can be done, but you´ll have to recut the nut and reslot the saddles /use a different bridge for ideal 6 string playability ;)
 
Re: Help me decide if a convertable 12, 6 string makes sense?

Zererus- Exactly- The 12 will be playable as a 6 from the start because I am going for a really wide thin profile (may look into warmtohs 2inch custom width)- But if it turns out to be better at the 6 string side, I would probabably pull the extra tunners (more mass on the head) and move to regular 6 string hardware over time-

Assumign I ever get the time to buid this beast-
Thx for the input!
 
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