Starcaster 12 String Build

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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bgalizio
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Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:17 am

I'm working on a Starcaster style 12 string build. The body is from Kevin at One Eyed Jack guitars. He built a fantastic body with alder back/sides and a spruce top. I asked for rear access panels, as I don't really want to fish the electronics through the f hole. Here are some photos of his process:

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I then finished the body with tru oil, about 12 coats total with some light sanding between some. The spruce top is very 3D and changes color based on the light.

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Last edited by bgalizio on Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:35 am, edited 1 time in total.

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Mon Jun 26, 2017 4:22 am

The neck is a Warmoth roasted maple 65 12 string with rosewood fretboard. I chose a Graphtech nut, compound radius, and 6105 frets. Block inlays and also mother of pearl side dots. I went with Sperzel EZ mount staggered locking tuners, with open backs. Allows me to not have to drill into the headstock at all. Locking tuners might be overkill on a 12 string, but it helps with restringing! The open backs remove some headstock weight. I am planning on leaving the neck unfinished - I did burnish the back at bit with some polishing paper to make it extra smooth.

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Last edited by bgalizio on Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Mon Jun 26, 2017 5:19 am

I'm using 3 Reverend Revtron (filtertron style) pickups with individual on-off switches. I have a neck and 2 bridge pickups. Controls will be master volume, master tone, and master bass cut. I'm using a Gotoh 12 string bridge.

We got the pickups mounted, bridge grounded and mounted, and ferrules installed. Working on the wiring. For now we have the switches wired outside the cavity.

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Last edited by bgalizio on Mon Jul 10, 2017 3:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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beauzooka
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by beauzooka » Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:12 am

Looking great! :?

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mcjt
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by mcjt » Mon Jun 26, 2017 6:13 am

very cool, man! i hope the headstock doesn't end up being too heavy!

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Mon Jun 26, 2017 8:12 am

mcjt wrote:very cool, man! i hope the headstock doesn't end up being too heavy!
I have locking tuners (GFS ones) on my Danelectro 12 string. It's a little neck heavy but not too bad. The body hardware on this one should make it more balanced.

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danp3man
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by danp3man » Tue Jun 27, 2017 1:58 am

[quote="bgalizio"]I'm working on a Starcaster style 12 string build. The body is from Kevin at One Eyed Jack guitars. He built a fantastic body with alder back/sides and a spruce top. I asked for rear access panels, as I don't really want to fish the electronics through the f hole.

Very nice! I'm starting a Saylor Starcaster style build, and fishing the electronics through the pickup openings or f holes looks daunting- I was afraid to make an opening in the back, but seeing your project is making me rethink this option- I love the Starcaster look, and won't be looking at the back very much anyway! Can hardly wait to see your finished guitar- beautiful so far! :w00t:

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Tue Jun 27, 2017 2:48 am

danp3man wrote:
bgalizio wrote:I'm working on a Starcaster style 12 string build. The body is from Kevin at One Eyed Jack guitars. He built a fantastic body with alder back/sides and a spruce top. I asked for rear access panels, as I don't really want to fish the electronics through the f hole.

Very nice! I'm starting a Saylor Starcaster style build, and fishing the electronics through the pickup openings or f holes looks daunting- I was afraid to make an opening in the back, but seeing your project is making me rethink this option- I love the Starcaster look, and won't be looking at the back very much anyway! Can hardly wait to see your finished guitar- beautiful so far!
Thanks! It is a cleaner final look without the panels for sure. With the mini toggles in particular I wanted to have some access to everything.

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slough
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by slough » Tue Jun 27, 2017 4:20 pm

love the headstock

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Sun Jul 09, 2017 3:59 pm

Got the work on the guitar a bit more today. First we got the wired switches mounted to the body.

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Then we got the rest of the wiring done. We did this part with the pots installed since there was more room to work here.

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Next we have to figure out how to best tidy up all the wiring, then we'll be able to get stuff put together.

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Mon Jul 24, 2017 3:07 am

We basically got this build done this weekend. Started with getting the output jack drilled in place.

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Got the rear panels drilled in place.

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The neck required a small side shim for proper string alignment - there was a bit of play in the pocket. But we got in on and strung up. Looks pretty good!

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I tweaked the truss rod a bit, got the saddles lowered, pickups raised a little. Definitely will need some more fine tuning as it settles in. The bass cut pot was giving us some troubles getting it threaded on properly, so we may need to change it out if it doesn't stay. Sounds great though!

Fits great in the large sized Reverend teardrop case - plenty of room for the large headstock and wide body. I'll post some better pictures when I continue setting it up and have it cleaned up.

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rumfoord
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by rumfoord » Mon Jul 24, 2017 6:37 am

OMG.

Approve

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s_mcsleazy
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by s_mcsleazy » Wed Jul 26, 2017 6:04 am

hell yeah.
offset guitars resident bass player.
'Are you trying to seduce me Mrs Robinson? Or do you just want me to solder a couple of resistors into your Muff?'

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palesnow67
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by palesnow67 » Sat Aug 12, 2017 12:29 am

Anymore to this project? Looks amazing.
10. Signatures must be no more than two lines.

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bgalizio
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Re: Starcaster 12 String Build

Post by bgalizio » Sat Aug 12, 2017 3:21 am

palesnow67 wrote:Anymore to this project? Looks amazing.
I'm basically finalizing the set up now. Takes a while on a 12 string of course. I'll post more pictures of it when I can.

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