Wayno’s ES-12 Mahogany body.

[Wayne.Mumford]

Hi all, I have returned for round three and to try my hand at a semi hollow 12 string this time. I’ve never played or owned a 12 string but I’m in it for the challenge of the build and learn something new. This kit comes with a mahogany back and sides so I don’t know if I’m going to stain . I might go a bit redder, but the neck is maple and don’t know wheather to go natural or try to stain the same as the mahogany. I am also thinking about some radical change to the top and add some mahogany there as well. Early days yet as it’s only just arrived,wish me luck.

[Simon Barden]

Mahogany is often dyed. I do find it rather boring in its natural state (though different varieties do have different colouring anyway). Cherry or golden are the typical stain colours used by Gibson, though a dark tobacco is also sometimes used by them. But it's your guitar, so do what feels right to you.

[Andy40]

Welcome back Wayne. thats a beautiful kit mate. nice score

[Wayne.Mumford]

Thanks for that Simon, a wealth of information as usual. I will probably go with a red or cherry to inhance the reddish color it already is. It also has a killer flame top which I will be also be doing in a reddish stain to highlight the grain. I was also thinking of getting some flame maple veneer for the headstock to match. I have been watching some vids on the interweb to understand the right way to get the best flame finish.
Thanks Andy ,it’s always good to back with you guys and doing another guitar, I love this site but can’t always be on it to catch up on other builds as much as I want .

[Wayne.Mumford]

Yesterday, I got a piece of pink Meranti timber from the hardware,close enough color to the mahogany,so I could try some colours.
Out of these colours I picked the Jarrah.
,
Then I stained the back and sides and let it dry overnight. I am really glad I picked this color, it brought the grain up beautifully.

I couldn’t sleep with this bloody heat we are having,so I was up at six this morning and scraping the binding and giving it it’s first coat of wipe on poly.
.

[Andy40]

I couldn’t sleep with this bloody heat we are having,so I was up at six this morning and scraping the binding and giving it it’s first coat of wipe on poly.

Sometimes that the best time of day to scrape the binding. I was up this morning doing roughly the same thing

[Wayne.Mumford]

I was mucking around with some bits of mahogany left over from a model ship I rebuilt the deck on a couple of years ago and before you know it, it was all glued on. I was going to use the original headstock shape that came with the kit but it was so badly out of shape and the centre line on my pattern didn’t match the cut on the top, so I just cut it straight and rounded the corners. Don’t look too close at it, it’s not as good as I thought it would be.

I just need to tidy it up a bit.

[FrankenWashie]

That’s pretty sick looking mate, really different effect!

[Wayne.Mumford]

Thanks Franky, the timber grain on the neck and headstock was quite blotchy after a coat of stain so I just covered it up.
This is what I first envisioned.The boat deck I rebuilt a few years ago.

And this is the edges trimmed and an edging added.
.
I was also thinking about using some better pups in this one,does any body have any suggestions what is best in a 12 string,I have no idea.

[DarkMark]

That looks great. Reminds me of the midrib and veins of a leaf.