Rabin Spectrum 12 string replica

As always, my projects are going to be slow, but I got the body and a neck to mess with. I have a mix of projects and they will all be

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slow, but this will be the Rabin replica project thread. Good luck to me

I got the body, and the neck - let's see if I can make it work

So I got the body and the neck for 60 USD

I don't think I can cut the headstock of the neck and make it work as my original idea. I do think that can work, but this neck is more thin at the zero line than my pantera.

So new neck will be built from scratch.

Input jack on the front will be be move to a more practical spot.

Trem cav will be filled

lots more I'm sure,but my goal is to make this like Rabin's 12



If I could only get a good look at the original

Have you asked Arlene to intercede for you? I would... Like a shot!

corsair wrote:Have you asked Arlene to intercede for you? I would... Like a shot!

I asked - real humble like...can I borrow the guitar for a year or so?

I do find it interesting that the someone on ebay had been seeling these bodies for like 70-90 bucks each for a year now, and I guess someone is buying them. he started with about 15 of them. I offerred a much lower amount and couldn't get one. then i find this one for 30 bucks (very cool ebay seller). Patience eh, i guess

That is, indeed, the key!

Back to the headstock, do you know anyone who's really good with imaging software? Given that you have a Spectrum and you have that picture of the neck and headstock, would it not be possible to extrapolate the information and make a very close blueprint?

no one that I am aware of - but sounds like a good idea

corsair wrote:...do you know anyone who's really good with imaging software? Given that you have a Spectrum and you have that picture of the neck and headstock, would it not be possible to extrapolate the information and make a very close blueprint?

That speaks to the cosmetics but I would think the primary concern is gonna be withstanding the string tension of 12 strings on such a slender design.
Here's an example from D'Addario as to what yer up against. Something like 252 pounds of tension (probably an acoustic so more extreme. Still...)



The truss design's 'nuther thing. Would a 6 string design handle the extra pull?

The idea is to get the neck angle to body/bridge right or somewhere thereabouts. Hence kicking a load of force into the neck pocket.

Even so there's plenty of strain on the neck itself.

Warmoth makes 12 string necks. You might ask them if their trussrod design or neck profile are different from a standard 6 string neck.

12 string necks are a little beefier than normal for obvious reasons.

So far the original 6 string neck on the Pantera has held up fine, but for the spectrum I think I'm going to make a neck so that it is wider at the nut to make it a little easier to play. I have seend dual truss rod necks before, so that may be something to look into

It is a laminate on the Pantera, good news.

Not sure if there's a market for maple toothpicks Sarc!

This is getting interesting, folks; like it! The neck on the electric 12 I've played that is Matt built has been thin, very like the 6 string version. Eyebulger owns these Vantages; perhaps we could ask him to measure nut width and headstock angle, and to compare VA912 to VA900??

Don......???

Hey, is TRs Spectrum a h/s/h guitar? If so, how cool is that?!

sarcaster wrote:So far the original 6 string neck on the Pantera has held up fine, but for the spectrum I think I'm going to make a neck so that it is wider at the nut to make it a little easier to play. I have seend dual truss rod necks before, so that may be something to look into

Depending on what style of music you play, it might pay to make the string spacing at the nut wider - on my Burns Double Six the string pairs are spaced wider so it's easy to play individual strings, normal or octave. If you want a look closer to the Rabin one I have a spare neck off a Clipper Six, same shape as the Thunders.

can't say I've noticed beefier necks on twelve strings, the neck on my Vintage Synergy 12 string and Vintage Giltrap signature model 12 string are what I'd expect for a 6 string, the Burns is no different to a six string model - but the 70s Hokada 12 string acoustic is like a tree trunk.

corsair wrote:This is getting interesting, folks; like it! The neck on the electric 12 I've played that is Matt built has been thin, very like the 6 string version. Eyebulger owns these Vantages...

Yup, interesting 4 sure. But ain't the Vantge necks 3 piece laminates? T'would make a big difference.

Yeah, 5 piece actually if you count the stringers between the actual lumps of wood. But the point being that if you're going to make a neck from scratch, then that's what I'd do!!

Done with most of the sanding. Left the inner horns for last as they are the big pain.

Next will be moving the jack to the bottom of the guitar and routing the lip around the trem cavity so I can fill it.

Anyone have any scrap maple pieces laying around?

Seek and yee shall find - if anyone needs small maple pieces for odd jobs like I'm doing - it's free - just shipping.



http://www.barclaywoods.com/Wood_Blocks_Free_Scrap.htm

Ok so it turmed out to be 26 bucks USD for 20lbs. I don;t need that much - but who knows what I may get myself into eh

sarcaster wrote:Ok so it turmed out to be 26 bucks USD for 20lbs. I don;t need that much - but who knows what I may get myself into eh

Ahahahaha... funny!! Maybe the other lads might need some later on, eh?!

So... what're you gonna do about the neck?! Have you got onto TR or Arlene?? Keep harping at them, man!!

I think I will take demensions from the neck pocket, and make my own neck - maybe a 3 piece laminate and do my best to copy the headstock. But that is down the road after I get the body done - still lots to do there.

So I got my box of hard maple scraps today. This will be awesome for filling the trem cavity on the spectrum. Seems like pretty good quality.

If any one ever needs some small maple pieces, let me know, I will have a ton of it left over

I still need to fill the trem cavity on the Monstrosity from last year's Electrafest, so I'd be interested in a suitable piece (or two, or however many you think I'd need).

I think 1 piece for the top and mabye 2 for the spring cavity.

Send me some pics and We'll see what ya need

You should contact Trevor on this, tell him what you're up to. He may blow you off, but he may also be interested and at least respond, or even help you a little. You never know if you don't try. Some "celebs" are very personable, even the super busy ones. Since it's something unique like this he may respond.

The Chad wrote:You should contact Trevor on this, tell him what you're up to. He may blow you off, but he may also be interested and at least respond, or even help you a little. You never know if you don't try. Some "celebs" are very personable, even the super busy ones. Since it's something unique like this he may respond.

This.

Hey, you're in/near Orlando, right? I'll be down that way this weekend, no time to jam or have a beer or anything, but if you aren't too far out of the way I might be able to stop in and pick up the maple bits in person?

As for pictures, well, can't say I've got a good camera at the moment. Would have to borrow one.

Warrn wrote:Hey, you're in/near Orlando, right? I'll be down that way this weekend, no time to jam or have a beer or anything, but if you aren't too far out of the way I might be able to stop in and pick up the maple bits in person?

As for pictures, well, can't say I've got a good camera at the moment. Would have to borrow one.

I'll be in and out all weekend, so shoot me and IM and let me know when you'll be around - I'm about 30-40 min from Orlando (depending on where in Orlando you're coming from)

Finally got around to sanding down around the horns - not as bad as I thought it would be. So finally all of that ugly red is gone. Also got out a few pieces of the scrap hard maple and glued a few together so I can cut them to shape for the trem cavity

Warrn - I'll get you a few piece off in the mail soon, they should work out pretty good.

I need to route out a bit from the top part of the trem cavity, then cut and shape these to fit once the glue is good and dry.

That's the before and after for the lip that had to be routed out. The mini router works very well for doing the job. A little sanding to smooth out and let the maple pieces dry overnight and I can start filling in the cavity.

Ok, glue is dried and made some rough cuts to get it to a workable shape.

And also have some wood filler over some dings the body had.

The belt sander is my friend.

Made it a little big so I can make small adjustments until it fits perfect.

And there it is...The spring cavity is ready for glue.

Way to go, love your projects. How do you find using a dremel as a router?

I have the Dremmel Trio - and that works really good for small routes - the smaller bits make some jobs a lot easier. I wouldn't use it for pickup cavities or anything that needs a bigger bit though.

Nice to see the progress on this! I was just thinking about this project when I logged in and I was hoping it was coming along nicely. This Rabinite is utterly fascinated. haha

little by little its getting there. I won't be able to do any more this weekend as I will be traveling, but hopefully the next weekend I will get the rest of the cavity filled.

Ok, all the cavity is filled. The dark line is just glue even though it looks like it dips in. I just sprayed some primer on it and am letting it dry so I can do a quick fine sand over those areas to make sure it comes out really flat.

I also drilled out the new jack location and ordered my bridge. Once I have the bridge posts marked and drilled, then it is time to paint this one.

Bridge measured, drilled and mounted (temporarily). Final sanding and I can start to paint this one.

Looking for good paint for this one. I can't tell from the Mag pics if this should be white, or a metallic white. I need to do a bit more sanding and then ready for color - I think metallic white is the way to go.

Interesting - got a PM from Mr. Presley and he mentioned there were a couple of the Spectrum 12's built, one of which David Gilmour got via Trevor. I'd love to hear if Gilmour ever used it live or on record.

Your wood blocks made me and my filler blocks look like woodworking hacks. Oh wait, I am a woodworking hack. Excellent progress

Being a welder, wood is not my usual medium of creation.

TVill25 wrote:Your wood blocks made me and my filler blocks look like woodworking hacks. Oh wait, I am a woodworking hack. Excellent progress

Being a welder, wood is not my usual medium of creation.

It takes time to get just the right fit, but at the end of the day, it's going to be painted so as long as it is nice and smooth where the new stuff meets the old, then it should all look fine.