[BillSPrestonEsq]

I need someone to tell me if this sounds like it would work well. I would aim for a sort of rickenbacker tonality, but skip the rosewood fretboard as I don't like dealing with rosewood.

12 string tunomatic bridge. - I have

I was thinking semi or full hollow. If I do semi, I think I will sculpt it a bit like I think rickenbacker does so that both sides have one continuous cavity

Back routed maple top with a flat drop top on the back.

laminate neck of maple with some pphw and walnut stripes perhaps for contrast

Maple fretboard

Pickups are eluding me as to what to put in. I don't want to spring for rickenbacker high gains or toasters. Would filtertrons get me into a similar neighborhood? Would I be better off using something else? Is there much point to a neck pickup on a 12 string?

Other than pickups, and a cheap maple back, and tuners, I think I have everything to make this...

Now, I want to have something that sounds like a ric, but I am not above putting my own spin on it.

Should I put a drop top on the front and rout from the top?

[Stormin1155]

Don't make the body too light, as 12-strings tend to get neck-heavy.

I use my neck pickup on my 12-string most of the time... seldom the bridge.

As for pickup choice... yes, Filtertrons would be a good choice. If you are looking for something similar for less money, check GFS Retrotrons (guitarfetish.com). Also, a vintage voiced humbucker will get you close.

Why don't you like working with rosewood? It is a much more forgiving wood in terms of building for a fretboard than maple. The other good choice would be ebony. I don't mess with cutting my own fret slots... I just buy ready-slotted boards from Stew-Mac. They are not expensive.

Have you built guitars before? If yes, I'd like to see them. If no, I'd be happy to make some suggestions... Making a guitar with a TOM bridge is trickier than something like a strat or tele.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by Stormin1155

Don't make the body too light, as 12-strings tend to get neck-heavy.

I use my neck pickup on my 12-string most of the time... seldom the bridge.

As for pickup choice... yes, Filtertrons would be a good choice. If you are looking for something similar for less money, check GFS Retrotrons (guitarfetish.com). Also, a vintage voiced humbucker will get you close.

Why don't you like working with rosewood? It is a much more forgiving wood in terms of building for a fretboard than maple. The other good choice would be ebony. I don't mess with cutting my own fret slots... I just buy ready-slotted boards from Stew-Mac. They are not expensive.

Have you built guitars before? If yes, I'd like to see them. If no, I'd be happy to make some suggestions... Making a guitar with a TOM bridge is trickier than something like a strat or tele.

Have I built guitars, around 10 of them. Mostly neckthroughs. I prefer TOM or pigtail bridges to work with.

Rosewood... you know how people have varying allergies to it? The one time I worked with it, my tongue swelled to where it didn't fit in my mouth and I couldn't close my mouth for a good day and a half. Really, I can't think of much less that I have done that was less comfortable.

Could it have possibly been something else? YES! Am I scared of it all the same? YEP.

With maple boards I have had good luck for the most part, but generally I prefer ebony.

I have a good dozen fretboards from 3 or 4 suppliers in my garage, including an awesome purpleheartwood one.