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When I was a teenager in the 60's, I played in a variety of bands and was always carrying around 2 Eko dreadnoughts, a 6-string and a 12 -- my fingers bled and they were dead if not plugged in. Since then, I've generally had a pair of dreadnoughts, and 15-20 years ago I picked up a pair of Martins, a D35 and a D12-28. Quite frankly, I've never been happy with the Martins, but now that I'm serious about making guitars, I figured it was time to do it right, and give myself a matched pair!

So, this is Project "Gemini". Twin dreadnoughts, a 6 and a 12, both identical in every way, and using sister pieces of wood wherever I could. The tops are sister sets of master grade Sitka (from David Freeman, Saskatchewan), with Sitka bracing, the backs/sides/headplates are Indian rosewood, the fingerboards and bridges are sister pieces of Madagascar, rosewood, and the bindings are cut from one piece of medium flame maple. The design is quite conventional, with some herringbone, side purfs and paua being the limit of my bling. Construction was with a Spanish foot, and the finish is gloss single-pack pre-cat, except for the neck shafts which are Tru-oil. The two were built side-by-side, and were set up within a day of each other.

I am very pleased with the results. Both powerful guitars, great fun to play. The 12 string was a cannon from the first chord, and the 6 has already opened up in a nice balanced way.

Let me see if I can figure out how to attach some pics ...

Tim: A couple of beauties...! Congrats..!!! Wonder how the intonation turned out on the 12 string and wonder where you picked up those nice pick guards?
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

Thanks, Tom. Actually, the intonation went really well -- but I think I got lucky. Even as I was locating the bridge, I was cursing the fact that I only routed a 1/8" slot. Martins (and many other 12 strings) come with an even thinner saddle, and it's impossible to get their intonation even close. Some folks accept this as part of the 12-string sound, but it drives me nuts. On this one, I was able to intonate every string (with my iPhone and the temporary breakpoint over a string method), but the 3rd and 4th pairs required the biggest compensation difference between the octave strings, and their breakpoints ended up on opposite edges of the saddle. When I originally located the bridge, I put it a hair forward from where I would usually put it, thinking that the octave strings would need a more forward break point, and it turns out I was right. But next time I would definitely use a 3/16" saddle.

Pickguards are Tor-Tis brand from LMII http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?CategoryName=Pickguard+Material&NameProdHeader=Tor%2DTis%99+Pickguards I'd used one before (on my avatar guitar) and really liked it. These are the 50's vintage colour in the D45 size. Only problem is the price, but if it's any consolation, that has dropped significantly over the past year.

So are these built using David's preferred method of spanish heel construction, even on SS guitars (personally, I dont get it ..) .... how do you plan to deal with a neck reset down the road ???

bTW ... they are great looking guitars

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Great work. I really like the idea of twinning guitars like you did there. I must say they are as identical as it gets.

There's more than one way to build a good guitar, and each has pros and cons. Quite happy to "discuss" the merits of spanish heel construction, but perhaps in a different thread? Yes, it's the way David had me build my first guitar, but I've given it a lot of thought since, with the perspective of someone who's spent a career studying how trees grow.

I'll accept the compliment, though, with thanks!

Hi Tim,

As long as you, the builder, are happy and confident in your methods, thats what counts. No need to "discuss" anything further. Everyone of us has their reasons to do or not do one thing or another in a certain way.

Keep up the great work.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Every time I think I am starting to do nice work along comes a thread like this one and it puts me right back in my place!

Very very nice!

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