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Simply AWESOME JJ! I have a 12 sting Suzuki that I have owned new since 1981 or so. It is also a slothead. So I will be saving a pic of yours for inspiration as I really want to make one of these one day. Awesome job and thanks for not taking the lead from Hesh and painting that top!

Shane

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Canada

Shane...here's my favorite pic of your top...incredible silking!...I want more!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

When I saw this at Joe's, I knew it was going to be a real winner, but I agree, this one is out of the park. JJ, you are becoming a seriously good builder with this kind of craftsmanship and masterful choice of materials. Cheers, I can't wait to hear it.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

JJ She looks fabulous. Can't wait to hear a sound clip.
By the way that bracing sure seems light for a 12. Did you leave the top extra thick to compensate or am I still suffering from newbie paranoia?

Regards

Craig

Unbelievable!

This guitar is just absolutely stunning!

Beautiful.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Craig...good questions. I am always reluctant to show bracing that has not been proven and this guitar is a perfect example of an unproven bracing scheme. I'm always open to opinions as well as predictions.

The top is stiff to begin with...and also about 10% thicker than I would have left it for a 6 string. The X brace is 25% higher than a 6 string X. The bridge plate is about 20% wider than a 6 string bridge plate, and in addition has a supplemental brace behind the plate. As I build more guitars (this one is #10 acoustic), my paranoia diminishes, hopefully this guitar will justify that judgment. If I'm wrong, I will have learned a valuable lesson. My judgment of the sound has already justified those decisions in my mind...let's hope it will pass the test of reasonable time.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Real pretty JJ and well done for sure. Do you use parabolic braces all the time? I'm a real fan of sloped shoulder dreds for sure.

I don't know what "parabolic braces" are so I never use that term. I have used tapered as well as scalloped braces over the years.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ,
Excellent 12 string! One of the finest I've seen anywhere!!
What kind of neck joint do you use? If bolt on, Do you glue down
the fingerboard ext. or bolt that too??Just curious how you did it for a 12.
Also,I've got to say the top toner Joe sprayed on is just perfect!!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Dave...Thanks for the kudos. I use a bolt on M&T and use barrel bolts (not threaded inserts) in the tenon. The FB is bolted on as well.

On the toner...I am delighted with Joe's choice. He has the finest and most sensitive eye for color details and I trust his judgment implicitly. We used the naturally aged finish of my 37 year old D-35 as a target for the toner shade and intensity. Check out the following comparison...I think he nailed it.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

JJ,
Just gorgeous! Great choices all the way around. Just wish I could play it! Did you build this for anyone, or is this yours?

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Nice!

Thanks for the pics JJ. I predict it will hold together just fine. I have not built a 12 yet so the bracing patterns really interest me. Nice job.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Hey JJ, looking very, very sweet and Joe certainly has done a great job on the top.

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Bob Connor
Geelong, Australia

Thanks JJ
I will keep this info in mind when i get round to doing a 12 string.
By the way did you use Adi or Lutz for the bracing?

Regards

Craig

Tracy... I'd love to hear you play it as well. I really like listening to your intro on Robbie's You Tube tutorials. The guitar was made for no one in particular, so I guess it's all mine for now.

Craig...The bracing is Adi, which is all I've ever used. I'd be interested in knowing what experience others have had using different species for their braces. Ever since Mario's interview was posted where he touted the use of more flexible bracing (Engleman) in conjunction with CF laminating, I've been pondering this as well. I never much thought about the effects of having braces that were too stiff!

Terry...Thanks for the vote of confidence on the bracing. Interesting to me is the fact that since having been at concert pitch for 4 days now, it is holding tune and movement seems to be stabilized. Still need to tweak the relief and action but I really don't expect any structural issues to appear anytime soon. This is a 24.9" scale and I currently have Martin extra light strings.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

This looks great and thanks for posting - just out of interest have you ever made a 7 or 8 string and if so how do you think you would need to adapt the bracing if at all?

Looks super JJ, a job well done. Love the top silking, waiting ofr some new tops from Shane myself .... but, having just finished up a couple slot heads, and restrung them a couple times already, I dont envy you one bit when changing strings on that monster !!!!

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

Yes I found that interesting as well. I can't remember exactly but didn't Mario say that the Adi/carbon fiber combo was too stiff. So just assuming(very dangerous I know) that the Adi on its own didn't quite measure up . I guess I will have to try it sometime.

Regards
Craig.

Hi JJ, super job! I bet it sounds huge.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Fantastic guitar JJ!
I didn't read all the comments, BUT is this one finally for YOU?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Craig...The reason he used the more flexible Englemann was to achieve the required top movement. The purpose of the CF then was to achieve and maintain the top dome over time. One could assume then that spruce alone will relax over time and result in flattened bracing. Then again, all of the vintage gems we drool over never used CF but I'm uncertain about the nature of their radius. If they've lost their dome and sound as they do then one could argue to look elsewhere for the mojo. I guess Mario will just have to come back and explain himself!



Thanks, Lance.

I'm not spoon-feeding you on this one...you'll just have to go back and read the comments for the answer to your question. <BSEG>

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

A stunner in every respect, JJ! Congrats - you must be proud.

Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Great work JJ! I'm loving it.

Can I ask where you got your purflings?

Flori...The B/W stuff I got from Euphonon. The red purfs I believe I got from RC Tonewoods. Then again it could have been LMI or StewMac.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com