Serial Number 030

First 12 String Build

Started on June 27, 2024: completed on July 20, 2024

*updated on March 05, 2025

This was eventually going to happen sooner or later. I think sometimes I had just forgotten about doing a 12 string but I remembered about it when I was playing on my Yamaha 12 string on June 26, 2024.

I feel that the timing is good for another attempt on a guitar with higher quality tonewoods. The first one would be the Fretless Classical build I did.

I am not sure how the build time will be for this one as I have two other guitar projects on the go as well.

From what I have researched, it sounds like the only difference on the body build is beefier bracing pieces and bridge plate. The bridge plate makes a lot of sense since there is much more tension from the strings. The bracing is hit or miss depending on company to company from what I read but I don’t think it would be a bad idea.

Besides from that, of course, is the difference on the neck. It will be a little wider for the extra strings. I measured the nut and 12 fret on the Yamaha and it wasn’t much wider than I was expecting it to be. I will double check those measurements when I get to that point on this build. And the headstock would need to be longer for all the tuning machines.

I was actually considering adding in a carbon fiber rod on each side of the truss rod or even order in some titanium rods but I do not think it would be necessary. From starting to laminate all the necks I do now, I have noticed that the truss rods need little adjustment – especially the necks with thicker laminations.

This guitar’s soundboard is a piece of 4A Caucasian Spruce. The grains are tight and Caucasian Spruce gives good volume. Indian Rosewood was chosen after some research. The tonal qualities of Rosewood was strongly suggested for a 12 string guitar.

Honduran Mahogany was the choice for the neck after seeing what I had in stock. From measuring my Yamaha 12 string, I needed a headstock length of 8 inches as opposed to the 7″ on a 6 string Orchestra Model. With having to cut a new neck, I decided on a double lamination for (hopefully) more strength. One lamination would be Bloodwood and Purple Heart for the other.

When I was cutting the slot for truss rod, I had realized that the longest truss rods that I had ordered (for acoustic guitars) happened to be 1 way truss rods. After some confusion as to how it happened, I checked my orders and found out I did order the wrong truss rods.

I used a Mango piece for the bridge. Pretty much all the other tonewoods I have are cut for the standard width bridges.

Measurements were taken from a Yamaha 12 string for the bridge pin hole locations, string spacing at the nut as well as other measurements.

The guitar was finished with a bit of high action with the neck needing rework on the angle. Lighter strings installed to reduce the overall tension on the neck and soundboard.

SPECS

Body Orchestra Model, 12 string

Scale 25.34″

Top 4A Caucasian Spruce

Back Indian Rosewood

Sides Indian Rosewood

Neck Honduran Mahogany/Bloodwood and Purple Heart laminations

Fingerboard Indian Rosewood

Bridge Mango

Tuning Machines Gotoh SG381 cosmo black x2

Strings D’Addario EJ41 Phosphor Bronze