Project Gemini: matching 6- and 12-string dreadnoughts

[tim mullin]

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"Originally Posted on:"Tue Jun 01, 2010 ""

I've never posted to "The Gallery". I put some of these pics on OLF, but I hope you don't mind if I also share them with my mates here in the southern hemisphere.

I've had this unfulfillied wish all my life to have a pair of matching 6- and 12-string dreadnoughts that were really high quality. The closest I came was a pair of Martins, a D35 and a D12-28, but the neck on the D35 is too narrow, and on the D12-28 it's too wide. So, I decided I would build this pair for myself.

These are true twins, identical styling, built in parallel, using sister pieces of wood wherever I could. The tops are master-grade Sitka sets from David Freeman in Canada (thank you David!!). The backs/sides/headplates are QS Indian rosewood, the fingerboards/bridges are Madagascar RW, hon mahogany necks, and the bindings are cut from a single board of medium flame maple. Spanish heel construction. Finish is Mirotone 3220, with Tru-oil on the neck shafts ('cuz it feels faster). Scale length on both is 640 mm, nut width:string spacing is 1-3/4":2-1/4" on the 6 ('cuz I like my 6's wider) and 1-13/16:2-5/16 on the 12 ('cuz I like my 12's narrower).

Both have a huge sound and are a blast to play.

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[kiwigeo]

Tim Mullin wrote:

The tops are master-grade Sitka sets from David Freeman in Canada (thank you David!!).

Tim, you havent by any chance done Dave and Paddy Burgin's course at Wellingtn High School have you?

Cheers Martin

[tim mullin]

Yup, took the course in 2007 and was blown away with the first guitar I'd ever built. I'd been in NZ for a couple of years (I'm Canadian) and business was slow. I was looking for a career after retirement from forest science, and I found it. David is a good friend and mentor, and we remain in frequent contact. Funny, I moved to NZ, only to learn guitar building from a fellow Canuck.

These days, I do less and less forest genetics and more and more guitar building.

[seeaxe]

Wow! Double wow and treble wow!. They look very classy Tim. I once had a matching pair too but sold the 12 becuase the soundboard had bowed - if only I had known then what I knew now but that was a long time ago and I wish I hadnt done it. They didnt look half as nice as yours though.

Beautiful work, thanks for posting. I look forward to more such guitar porn in the future.

Cheers
Richard

[Allen]

Can't swing a guitar without hitting a Canuck around here.

Theres something special happening there Tim. Really great styling, and your attention to detail is obvious.

I've never built a 12 string, and to tell the truth I'm a bit intimidated by the prospect. Do you have pictures of the bracing on the two tops to give us all a reference as to the differences for essentially identical instruments?

[tim mullin]

Allen wrote:

Can't swing a guitar without hitting a Canuck around here.

Theres something special happening there Tim. Really great styling, and your attention to detail is obvious.

I've never built a 12 string, and to tell the truth I'm a bit intimidated by the prospect. Do you have pictures of the bracing on the two tops to give us all a reference as to the differences for essentially identical instruments?

Appreciate the compliment, Allen, and can well understand the intimidation of a 12. I was motivated, did a bunch of research, and decided to trust my instincts. Hasn't imploded yet, and if it does, well it won't have been for a paying customer.

Extra structure was limited to slightly thicker top (about 0.005") above the X, a larger bridge patch, an extra brace across the bottom edge of the patch, closer spacing and tighter angle of the bass bars. That's pretty much it!

You can see pics of the bracing in the Gemini photo album on my web site http://www.mullinguitars.com. Happy to hear critique on the build and share ideas.

[Dave Olds]

I'm with everyone else !!

These are beautiful looking guitars with obvious attention to detail. I love the choice of binding and rosette material - very classical looking and not at all 'over the top'.

Ain't there something special about picking up and playing a guitar that you made yourself !!

I look forward to seeing more of your work on the forum.

Dave

[Taffy Evans]

It's all been said, it aways has by the time I get in, but I would still like say how much I like your work they look terrific with nice clean lines and good balance of appointments.

My # 4 guitar was a 12 string, it suffered user abuse and the ravages of harsh climate more than anything. However on it's last return to the workshop for yet another repair. Back in 1978-79, it was too expensive to repair then. I still have it and it's on the bench for restoration as I write.

You have inspired me,thanks.

[tim mullin]

Taffy Evans wrote:

It's all been said, it aways has by the time I get in, but I would still like say how much I like your work they look terrific with nice clean lines and good balance of appointments.

My # 4 guitar was a 12 string, it suffered user abuse and the ravages of harsh climate more than anything. However on it's last return to the workshop for yet another repair. Back in 1978-79, it was too expensive to repair then. I still have it and it's on the bench for restoration as I write.

You have inspired me,thanks

.

Late 70's should be wonderfully seasoned by now -- worth doing it up Taffy and having a 12-string at your fingertips. What a glorious sound, even if they're somewhat finicky to set up. The Gemini 12 is blowing my mind eveytime I pick it up.

[kiwigeo]

Tim Mullin wrote:

Yup, took the course in 2007 and was blown away with the first guitar I'd ever built. I'd been in NZ for a couple of years (I'm Canadian) and business was slow. I was looking for a career after retirement from forest science, and I found it. David is a good friend and mentor, and we remain in frequent contact. Funny, I moved to NZ, only to learn guitar building from a fellow Canuck.

I did the course in 2005 and still keep in touch with Dave on a regular basis. Dave is an excellent teacher but he needs to work on those wild Tie died T shirts he used to wear to the classes!

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