Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm thinking about building a small jumbo with a 12 fret neck. I have the OLF plans from StewMac.
Has anyone done a 12 fret version? I'm thinking that it should be easy to move everything down into the body 2 frets worth.
Thinking maple with a cedar or redwood top.

Suggestions? Cautions?

Are you going to do a slot head? I think that would look great.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

Most of the guitars I've made have slotted heads and I'm getting a little tired of them. So, I'm leaning to a paddle head.

I'm sorry, can't resist: "small jumbo"? Will it be enormously small? Tiatinically tiny? Boldly restrained? Massively petite?...

There was a very nice 12 fret SJ entered in the 2013 Challenge. Maybe send a note to the builder?

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A constellation only takes shape when one maps the whole.
- Beth Brower

FWIW, I've made a 'Big' Jumbo in a 12 fret version. I did it by adding about 1/2" to the upper bout, and then sliding the bridge and X brace back the rest of the way. Without the cropped upper bout of the 14 fret, the body shape ends up looking more like the early Gibson body styles.

Obviously it could also be done just as you propose, by sliding the bridge and X brace back the two fret distance. I would probably shift back the soundhole and upper brace along with them if I were doing that, and add a second small UTB or popsicle to the upper bout.

I think that model looks more like a Jumbo Shrimp...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

What does everyone think about opening the X a little too since shifting it downward will shrink the area below the X to the rim?

I did this on my 13 fret L-00 build based off the Grellier 14 fret plan. I'm happy with the results but can't compare it to anything and I'm not experienced enough to know how much effect the X-angle had on the final sound.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Kevin, did you mean tightening the X? Shifting the bridge back and leaving the x in the same position would make the span between the legs of the X at the (new) bridge location wider (requiring a longer bridge). tightening the X angle and leaving the intersection at the same place would keep the bridge length the same, no?

I'm in the process of making a 12 fret on my regular 14 fret body shape and am trying to plan my bracing changes. In my mind it seams you have to choose between shifting the X back and shrink the size of the lower bout behind the X, narrowing the X and shrink the area between the X legs, widen the bridge (but this would take a lot of extra bridge and weight), or some combination of the three. Do I have that wrong?

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Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.

I just threw it out there for discussion.

If you shift the X down to accommodate lowering the sound hole, the area below and between the X is reduced. This is where the sound originates (through the bridge) & it seems like making this area smaller would also make it stiffer and possibly reduce the efficiency.

If you open the X, the area will enlarge and become less stiff. Yes, you'll have to adjust the size of the bridge patch but not the bridge.

Again, just a thought for discussion.

edit
Bridge plate, not patch.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

I built a guitar with the rounded look of a jumbo but smaller with a 12 fret neck. I call it a Jumbo Parlor guitar. I used black walnut back and sides with a butternut top and cherry neck.

Built several. I pretty much used a normal (whatever that is) brace pattern, but did not scallop. Looked great and big voice. I made mine from coco and either cedar or addie tops.

Thanks, Greg B, PT66, and stan t
Can you post some photos of your guitars?

It's a bit distorted from the camera but you get the idea.

Greg

Nice guitar. Is that a J-185 body? I am in the middle of designing one like it.

More pictures anyone?


Ed

This is my walnut and butternut guitar