rjl's JMA 12-string

[wokkaboy]

hey RJL, maybe the cool weather in Melbourne hasn't helped the curing process of the final coat. I'd lightly sand it back with fine steel wool and go back to the intensifying coats. Unfortunately there are no shortcuts finishing a guitar

[wazkelly]

Looks like the coat before applying final was still green. It does take a bit of time to cure between coats. Be careful with the 0000 steel wool as it may be better to wait for things to dry out first otherwise you may risk things rolling up into little gummy balls of goop.

[rjl]

Thanks for the suggestions! Will try to find a warm resting place for it till the weekend. One lives and learns...

[rjl]

Thought I'd post a quick status update on the 12 string project.

I got fed up with waiting for the finish to dry so I put it together anyway. In my impatience I whacked in the bridge posts without laying the ground wire through the channel first. D'oh!

Strung it up and found a couple of problems. Firstly, the nut was cut way too high, so I deepened the grooves using the edge of freshly cut strips of sand paper. Secondly, the action, whilst playable, was about 5.5mm at the 12th fret with the bridge bottomed out.

Fortunately I have a very competent amateur luthier friend, who not only supplied a blank for a shim but also tapered it on his belt-sander. So it plays very nicely now and is reasonably in tune for those all important open string chords.

Next steps - learn how to adapt my (limited) technique to playing 12 string! And – when the Melbourne weather gets warmer – disassemble it and have another go at finishing the finish...

Apart from neck alignment, all errors were my own, and one of these days I may try another kit. I like the idea of a Firebird with Seymour Duncan p-rails with tripleshot wiring and palm-benders.

On the other hand, I would just as soon pay someone else to make it for me whilst I go off and earn the money to pay for their services. I'm strictly a software sort of guy: this hardware business is too hard!

[wazkelly]

Might need to buy a Capo if you don't have one already as 12's sound great on open root chords but not so good on barre chords higher up the neck. I feel your pain and frustration as we all have had some set backs with at least one or more of our builds. Thankfully this forum has some fantastic contributors who are full of great advice on how to work around or solve almost any issue.

Warmer weather should soon arrive in Melbourne and hopefully that will help speed up the curing process.