Members Freeman Keller Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 My latest project is a copy of an old Stella 12 string, roughly based on some dimensions that I found at one of the luthier forums. The neck measurements seemed a little stout, but I figured I'd go ahead and build it that way. I got far enough along to string it up the other day and all I can say is those old blues men must have had really big hands. I simply couldn't play that puppy. So off came the neck and out came instruments of destruction I made a template of my favorite modern 12 string neck, and chisel, spokeshave and 80 grit emery paper made quick work of many coats of lacquer and a little extra mahogany A dozen or so coats (thats the way water based lacquer looks when its just been shot) and I think I'll like this a lot better Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Queequeg Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Trial-and-error.Custom-built for your playing pleasure, Freeman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Nice work! Is that KTM-9 you're using as a water-based lacquer? I've had good results with that stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TESmith Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 If at first you don"t........ Well alot of extra work involved, looks like you did nice work....so it may not be period or model correct, But if it is something you will find comfy and play then it was the right way to go.... Again, always enjoy your working pics and descriptions, you usually do quite well with this! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Krash Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 In olden times, there were still plenty of big mahogany trees around, so guitar builders didn't have to scrimp. My 1260 has a mahogany neck like a baseball bat, and a one piece hog back. I've had forty years to get used to the neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djuna Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Well, if you won't be comfortable playing it, period-correct be damned, I say. Your guitars are gorgeous, BTW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RizinRico Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 that is just too freakin cool. man what a concept!! I dont like it so I'll take it off and work it until I do. Freeman now I just gotta make me a git. for someone so good, how can I convince my wife that the devil made me buy this kit git Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamesp Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Just looking at it makes my hand feel better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stackabones Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 That's great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members outdoorgb Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Nice...a sharp tool is so cool...Always a pleasure to read your post. but, i have to tell you, when I saw "I hate my neck" and your name as poster it was a little weird...All's good:thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Melodeous Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Was it necessary to remove the neck? I can see where it makes things a lot easier but, dang, it's also a bit of work removing and reinstalling, no? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 IIRC it was a bolt-on, wasn't it Freeman? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Very nice work and thanks for the update and the pics (it sounds like it's gonna be a beauty) but I am curious...what is your "favorite modern 12 string neck" that you made the template from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tkris Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhancox Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 So it went from being Freeman's Stella to a Freeman Kella. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 If you don't enjoy playing it, you won't play it. The change makes eminent sense to me. Looks great. Thanks for keeping us posted Freeman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LaurentB Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 So how do you know whether the neck will still be strong enough after making it slimmer? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members meandi Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 That's one of the main reasons I strung up my archtop & played it for about a month before I began the finishing work on it.Looking real good Freeman!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxorox Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Always a surprise how little you have to change a profile for your hand to notice a big difference. Is it very different from the original dimensions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Well, if you won't be comfortable playing it, period-correct be damned, I say. Your guitars are gorgeous, BTW +1 If you customize the neck, it'll be a joy to play and still have that uber-cool Stella sound. Good decision, FK. Keep us posted. Can't wait to see the little beauty when it's finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Florida_Gator Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Nice work. Is there any way to make a neck THICKER? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Gary Palmer Posted March 2, 2009 Members Share Posted March 2, 2009 Nice work.Is there any way to make a neck THICKER? You can marginally increase neck size by slowly building up it's finish or stripping it's finish, reprofiling and "wrapping/laminating" the neck with veneer, but it can be a slow process. The simplest and IMHO best options are to either replace the neck or the instrument for one with a better overall feel to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted March 3, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 3, 2009 Quick answers to a lot of questions - it is a bolt on and I hadn't glued down the f/b extension. Neck has been on and off for final setting, threw some strings on and...... hated it - finish is StewMac water based - so easy for me to buy stuff from them. KTM-9 is supposed to be great finish, but I haven't used it. Water based does not "melt" into previous coats like nitro does so I will have some slight "witness lines" - The neck is about 1/16 less thick in the middle now and somewhat more vee'd. When I built my OM-12 I copied a D12-28 neck, this one is now the same. I think Martin calls it a modified oval, all I know is it is what I'm used too - how do I know its strong enough? Well, my D12-28 is 29 years old, has a non adjustable truss rod and almost perfect relief so I figured it should be OK for this one. It's longer scale, but will be tuned down - I frankly haven't calculated the tension. - making a neck thicker would be a lot of work, you could replace the fretboard with a thicker one (and a taller saddle), probably best to just replace it. With a Guild LOL Now out to the shop, I've got some setup work to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sangemon Posted March 3, 2009 Members Share Posted March 3, 2009 Nice work.Is there any way to make a neck THICKER? I dunno, but I keep getting these emails.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members C70man Posted March 3, 2009 Members Share Posted March 3, 2009 I wish I had the guts and talent to do that. Wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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