Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
So a couple of years ago I bought an Aria 70s 12-string cheaply, with a neck problem as is common. Turns out the neck block had come unstuck causing the top to fold in at the soundhole.
Looking at it I don't think I could retrieve it without more work than the guitar is worth.
But, being a bolt-on, it left me with a nice-feeling 12-string neck:
with a heel kinda like an electric:
which gave me some ideas. More to come as things develop.
Looking at it I don't think I could retrieve it without more work than the guitar is worth.
But, being a bolt-on, it left me with a nice-feeling 12-string neck:
with a heel kinda like an electric:
which gave me some ideas. More to come as things develop.
- antisymmetric
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3613
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:32 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
I like where this is going….
Watching the corners turn corners
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Well, no point being coy about it I guess - I won this auction pretty cheap on Yahoo Japan, it's a Diamond 1532T body with some 80s Fernandes neck tacked on ...
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
aaand now I realise the 12 neck is a 20-fret, with the heel at the 19th, so the scale placement is going to be ... fun.
That said, the shorter scale of the acoustic means it might just end up in sort-of the right spot:
That said, the shorter scale of the acoustic means it might just end up in sort-of the right spot:
- Nudger
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 948
- Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 am
- Location: England
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Great project!!
Did similar with a hardtail teisco ish.
Neck was off a epiphone acoustic, bridge position needed to move south considerably to intonate. (orig position under super logo)
Did similar with a hardtail teisco ish.
Neck was off a epiphone acoustic, bridge position needed to move south considerably to intonate. (orig position under super logo)
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Nice! That's super helpful, thanks. It'll be a crapshoot, won't know until it turns up in a few weeks ...
I wouldn't mind betting the two 12-string necks came from the same factory, the blocks, nut and truss rod cover are identical.
Does yours (which looks awesome) play well?
I wouldn't mind betting the two 12-string necks came from the same factory, the blocks, nut and truss rod cover are identical.
Does yours (which looks awesome) play well?
- Nudger
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 948
- Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:10 am
- Location: England
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Yup, nice roomy neck.MattK wrote: ↑Tue May 14, 2024 10:15 pmNice! That's super helpful, thanks. It'll be a crapshoot, won't know until it turns up in a few weeks ...
I wouldn't mind betting the two 12-string necks came from the same factory, the blocks, nut and truss rod cover are identical.
Does yours (which looks awesome) play well?
Also quite light weight with thin body..
Bout 6 years ago since I built/sold but can remember positioning the neck back from the front of the pocket to make bridge move less extreme.
The fb overhang allows/covers.
Would not be surprised if necks were from same factory, heel looks identical.
- antisymmetric
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3613
- Joined: Mon Apr 26, 2010 11:32 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Should be a fun and rewarding project! Are you planning on keeping the trem? I found when I did my Teisco K4L 12-string conversion that the extra string tension applied too much pressure for the spring and made the trem virtually unusable, but tuning the whole thing down E flat- E flat made all the difference. The trem is perfectly usable, plus the reduced tension makes for more comfortable playing (for me at least).
Watching the corners turn corners
- MattK
- PAT. # 2.972.923
- Posts: 3682
- Joined: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 pm
- Location: Hobart, Australia
Re: Another foolhardy idea, Aria 12 string
Interesting! I was assuming the spring tension screw might help out. Truth be told I doubt I would use the trem on a 12, I might just lock it off. If the bridge has to move I may need a Mustang setup anyway.
I’m excited to try it out, anyway!
I’m excited to try it out, anyway!