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Thread: A12 to F5G part 2

  1. #1

    Default A12 to F5G part 2

    A few months back I posted some pics of an A12 to F5G conversion...carved scroll, regraduated top and back, triple bound, fern headstock inlay, burst, lacquered, polished. It looked great but sounded thin and average. I decided to really thin the back out to see if that would help. Then oops, I sanded through the back! O well, let's take a better look inside ( it will be easier to take more beef off the tone bars now too). I took what was left of the back off, and here's what I found. Look at the size of this neck block! It's enormous. In addition to it's weight and stiffness, it's taking up important space in the soundbox. What was Gibson thinking? Anyway, I carved the neck block way down, thinned the tone bars, carved a new back. Now it's a monster, maybe too loud. It sounds like it's plugged in. Anyway, I think this is why stock A12s essentially never sound good. Click image for larger version. 

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    Last edited by bouldermandolin; Sep-09-2019 at 2:48pm. Reason: add picture

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    lenf12 

  3. #2
    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: A12 to F5G part 2

    NICE! Man that is some wood on that you took off, I figured they were built heavy! Any other pix?

  4. #3
    Registered User Ken's Avatar
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    Default Re: A12 to F5G part 2

    How is the neck attached? Obviously not a thru dovetail, and not seeing any bolt heads.
    Peace

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: A12 to F5G part 2

    When it comes to the lump scroll instruments the question "what were they thinking" apparently isn't part of the equation. Apparently they weren't.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

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  7. #5

    Default Re: A12 to F5G part 2

    The neck joint is a simple slot rather the a dove tail and the neck is glued in place. Not a good system. The new back I made extends over the heal joint ( the original did not). This should help keep the neck stable.

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    Ken 

  9. #6

    Default Re: A12 to F5G part 2

    Quote Originally Posted by bouldermandolin View Post
    O well, let's take a better look inside ( it will be easier to take more beef off the tone bars now too). I took what was left of the back off, and here's what I found. Look at the size of this neck block! It's enormous. In addition to it's weight and stiffness, it's taking up important space in the soundbox. What was Gibson thinking? Anyway, I carved the neck block way down, thinned the tone bars, carved a new back. Now it's a monster, maybe too loud. It sounds like it's plugged in. Anyway, I think this is why stock A12s essentially never sound good. Click image for larger version. 

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    Wow, amazing, you are practically a lumberjack with the amount of "lumber" you had to remove from the neck block. Thank you for documenting this project and please, keep it coming.

    Len B.
    Clearwater, FL

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