12 string PANTERA Project

That is simply superb wormanship on this one. It is one cool 12 string for certain and can't wait to hear an audio clip of it. Great job.

Looking good...

Thanks Mortar and Hoax - and all - I still haven;t heard it yet. I have 2 neck bolts - I lost 2 somehow and don't want to take the chance of putting the tension of 12 strings on the neck with only the 2 bolts I have - so I have them on oreder, along with some regular plate screws and a flush mount jack. I think I may also have to put the battery in the trem spring area...there aint a whole lotta room left in it's normal spot.

ugh - neck bolts from stewmac are too thin for the Pantera. I guess a trip to the hardware store is in order to find something that will grip.

So another little delay, but almost there eh

Tomorrow I will :
- drill holes for the truss rod cover
- add a battery clip to hold the battery in the trem spring area for the active electronics
- Drill a hole from the trem cavity to the electronic cavity for the battery wire
- Install the new black flush jack
- Change the PUP ring for the bridge PUP - the current one is way to high
- Solder the power, jack and ground.

Once that is done, all that is left is to string it up, check intonation again, test the wiring, and I am done.

I walked into the little guitar shop yesterday to get a set of 12 strings, and when I asked if they had a light set of electric 12 strings, they said "You mean for an electric guitar?" I said 'yes'. they said "I've never heard of an electric 12 string guitar, how did you come by one?" I said 'I made it'. They said "How do you make one?" I won't go any further into this silly conversation. But as much as I like a little store, there is no match for a giant SamAsh type store where you can get anything.

So I got 3 sets ordered online to arrive next week, and then will see if I can get some kinda audio up at some point - maybe a youtube thing.

Light at the end of the tunnel.

Stay true to the course, Sarc. This has been a very enjoyable thread to follow. Great stuff!!!

Thanks eh - almost there - it's the little details at the end. I'm just glad the finish came out good. I got a lot better at finishing on this project, and will probably redo my 390 in a metallic green of the same color, and am no longer 'afraid' of doing it. sanding and practice is the key

If it has decent grain I still think a TransBlack Burst would look killer, especially if you try out Colt's suggestion to "pop" the grain. But metallic green... tasty flakes in emerald... I can see that too.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

popping the grain would be a great thing, but I will say when sanded down, these models are so dense , that they take no stain. I think a tinited spray may work better. If you look back on the original pantera project for my 390, I did try to stain, and it looked hooooooorrrrrrrible. i should have posted pics. But that doesn't mean I can;t try again

How can you work in a guitar shop and not know that 12 strings electric guitars exist?

sarcaster wrote:popping the grain would be a great thing, but I will say when sanded down, these models are so dense , that they take no stain...

Maple and similar woods won't take stain worth a poo. Coloured trans coating is the right idea Pat, as our Uncle Mats found out. Not always easy to do though on an individual basis.

- drill holes for the truss rod cover ============================================DONE
- add a battery clip to hold the battery in the trem spring area for the active electronics====DONE
- Drill a hole from the trem cavity to the electronic cavity for the battery wire============DONE
- Install the new black flush jack==============================================DONE
- Change the PUP ring for the bridge PUP - the urrent one is way to high ===============DONE
- Solder the power, jack and ground. -----------ugh - can't find my solder, will have to buy some.

Also added the neck strap button on the bottom of the guitar. Swapped the strat style knobs for something more 'modern' looking.

So all that is left is solder the jack, wait for strings to be delivered (a few days), plug it in and test the wiring, then close up the plates on the back and I am done.

I'll do some final pics once the string are on and then look into doing something audio as well.

Cool Sarc!

You achieved a really glorious finish on this one and I am looking forward to see it it up and running - and also the next project.

PS. DON'T REFINISH THE NEW PANTERA Seriously man, you will badly devalue it and regret it right away.

PPS Did you do a final colour coat on the 12 string without sanding prior to clear coating?

Hoax

hoax wrote:Cool Sarc!

You achieved a really glorious finish on this one and I am looking forward to see it it up and running - and also the next project.

PS. DON'T REFINISH THE NEW PANTERA Seriously man, you will badly devalue it and regret it right away.

PPS Did you do a final colour coat on the 12 string without sanding prior to clear coating?

Hoax

I sanded it to 1000 with the paint , then did more color, till it was even, Then did the clear-1200 1400,2000,400and the McGuirres

I had to order 12 string sets (rather than driving the 30 minutes to a store that has them), they will be here Wed. I can't wait to hear this thing eh

... Neither can we!!

corsair wrote:... Neither can we!!

Indeed!!

I'm getting excited to see AND hear this puppy when she's all ready to play!!!

Ok folks I'm 2 solders joint's from being done, but figured I set up some pics and be done with it - been a long time coming. Got my new strings today, strung it up and took some pics. Sorry if some are blurry, but I take horrible pics.

Here ya go eh -


Ok I am missing the 2 screws for the switch. they are a bit wider than the original so I will awl it out a bit - but the electronics are in their so tight I really don't need to














Cool that I left the spring part of the trem cavity as is, as it made a nice spot for the battery. Notice the tight fit of the electronics. I had to bore a hole in the wall to get the wires onto the switch - you'll even see a hint of red where there was last minute pulling of wood with pliers to make it fit.
















String Spacing is pretty good for my first attempt at making a nut. I think I need to lower the high B and E a bit at the Nut. Checking initial intonation after stretching the strings a bit is really good. I may need to tweek a bit. I may also need a string tree for the high E as it sits pretty high - but with the angled headstock it may be ok.

It was very weird stringing it up compared to my 12 string acoustics - I actually had to 'think' of which string goes where and what direction. Also weird tuning it up - i have the body end tuners turning outward to sharpen, which feels right, but makes the wrap around the post look the opposite of what I would expect to see.


All in all a fun project and glad to be done (except for 2 screws and 2 solder joins), the next pic of this will be in the Members section with a group shot of all my Panteras.

Thanks all for watching...See ya next time!

AWESOME that is one nice 12 string you have there sir. Congrats on a labor of love indeed.

mortarman120gang11c wrote:AWESOME that is one nice 12 string you have there sir. Congrats on a labor of love indeed.

Thanks eh - been about a 9 month project. I'm especially proud of the finish, I'm getting better at it. Next project is a Tele copy from scratch - my first from scratch, and then who know's?

Sarc! Utterly bloody fantastic!
I had my doubts at the start but you've made me a believer man.
The concept was a tad bizarre but you did it beautifully. Congratulations.
You must feel like a million!

Barry wrote:Sarc! Utterly bloody fantastic!
I had my doubts at the start but you've made me a believer man.
The concept was a tad bizarre but you did it beautifully. Congratulations.
You must feel like a million!

I had my doubts too sir - I and do feel good about this project. It being only my second project I was worried I was going to trash a X300, but I think I made a pretty cool unique bird.. Maybe next I will saw my 2 X350's and make a doubleneck????? kidding of course

Kidding indeed!!!

...but I have to admit I did instantly see it in my mind's eye. How cool would THAT be...

Iceman wrote:Kidding indeed!!!

...but I have to admit I did instantly see it in my mind's eye. How cool would THAT be...

I am thinking about it...but as a totally original build. But i do not have those skills yet. Once I do i think it would be a beautiful guitar and a great tribute to the brand, but those skills are far off. Starting simple with a Tele, and working my way up from there. Although I'm getting good at the finsihing part, I may start doing that on the side while I learn how to build guitars.

You're right about one thing....you do take horrible pix!!

That, my friend, is just outrageous... Absolutely stunning and I'm so glad you've shared the journey with us all!!!

A huge well done from this kiwi....

Absolutely stunning! creativity at its best right there, a huge WELL DONE Sarc!!

Um...after all this, how does she sound? Especially with (ugh) EMG's

That is stonking, good job.

Barry wrote:Um...after all this, how does she sound? Especially with (ugh) EMG's

Yeah, how does she sound and play? Excellent job on a very daring project, good man Sarc. Project of the Year on the forum for sure!!

Had family over today so didn't wire the jack up yet - so no news on the sounds, but it plays pretty good. The spacing is a bit wider than a Fender XII.
Hopefully I get to plug it in tomorrow

Sarc

I have built around 60 Teles and I love them, but....

It is pretty much infeasible to build them from scratch when the major component are so cheap.

Now, I suspect that a guy like you is doing it for the challenge/experience?

But .... don't be so damn stupid. You will get a body for $50 and a neck for $40 and I have good USA source for pickups, So, I think that you should build from scratch, ... a Les Paul!!!

Hoax

hoax wrote:
Sarc

I have built around 60 Teles and I love them, but....

It is pretty much infeasible to build them from scratch when the major component are so cheap.

Now, I suspect that a guy like you is doing it for the challenge/experience?

But .... don't be so damn stupid. You will get a body for $50 and a neck for $40 and I have good USA source for pickups, So, I think that you should build from scratch, ... a Les Paul!!!

Hoax

Yup just for the experience. I wanted to start with a flat body and bolt on neck. I already have a US Tele, so I figure it's a basic guitar and a good one to start with. I may do a strat next and then move onto a set neck - we'll see how it goes. I just gotta get a few more good tools before starting out.

Very well done Sarc, congratulations!!! She looks like a million bucks, what a great color choice you made. Outstanding that your vision paid off for you.

Sarcaster, you are my hero!

Looking at your guitar (once again) and I feel like a teenage girl at the front row of a Bon Jovi concert. Cool stuff. Never played a 12 string though, must be tough for bends (among other things) I bet. Can't wait to hear what the beast sounds like.

Looks familiar, 6 string though.

wow - check the length of the string from the bridge to the tuner - could be played like a harp

Positively angelic.

thats just crying out for a pickup between bridge and tuners!

Sgt. Vimes wrote:thats just crying out for a pickup between bridge and tuners!

Ain't it just? Like a drone thing going on there methinks.