New 17" jumbo 12 string Build, red maple/red spruce
 

I have built 17" mould for a 24-1/2+" scale Prairie State and decided to make the 12 string first.
Since I have a lot of maple laying around from mandolin building I decided to try it for a 12. Should be a lot like oak with a red spruce top. The instrument will have the ladder-X bracing for the top and ladder bracing for the back, and my usual laminated bracing, tone tubes, and heavy cables for a target tuning of B. Will have a couple of surprises cosmetically.
Here's the start:

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/2-87.jpg

Routing the rosette in some WIDE grain red spruce:

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/4-54.jpg

Center strip glued onto back:

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/5-41.jpg

Thanks for looking...

That Maple looks fantastic already! I will watch for the updates.

I love 12 stringers! I'll be watching this thread for updates.

Great... Another fine build thread by MASTER BRENTRUP......And I've been GASSIN for a 12r....:D...

Thanks guys!
Rollie, I don't know about the "master" part, but as my friend Dave Ray used to say, "Too kind!".
Kyee, I love 12's too and pick up my VS scale 12 many more times than my VS scale 6 string.

What do you think of red maple Haans? Does it seem similar to big leaf in density and hardness? Plenty of it here in Maine. Nice flame!

Laurent, I've used a lot of red maple for Loar mandolin copies (originals were red maple/red spruce) and generally speaking, big leaf is darker sounding, while sugar is just too harsh. Euro is good, but I think that red has just the right balance of richness and clarity without being too shrill. It is my preferred maple and I use a very soft red for the sides and more of a medium red for the back. We'll see how it goes on a 12.
In addition, big leaf is really stringy and hard to sand. Quilted is a bear to sand.

Just a bit of progress on the 12...
Here, I've glued the P/H inlay to a piece of .1" tortoise celluloid, and am cutting it out. I will flip the tortoise over after cutout and reglue the inlay flush on the topside...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...roid/1-119.jpg

Here's the rosette VERY close up...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/6-35.jpg

The layout of the ladder-X bracing for this scale length and box size...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/5-42.jpg

Back face...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/4-55.jpg

Great details.. the red in the rossette really pops, a nice contrast to the flamed Red Maple/Adi combo.. Your hybrid X- Ladder bracing scheme is pretty cool to .. This 12r is progressing nicely ...and will be a way cool musical tool.......;)

Thanks Rollie!
Here's the neck progress...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...roid/1-121.jpg

Peghead face...gonna have to make up a set of gold Grovers...

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/2-90.jpg

Ebony buttons I think...

Here's the top braced shy a ball end patch and splint over the X...http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...roid/1-122.jpg

Still needs to be tapped out and refined.

Finally closed the box yesterday...
Here's a few photos.
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...roid/1-124.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/7-23.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/5-44.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/6-36.jpg

That bracing really looks interesting. I'm wondering when we'll see/hear that in a 6 string Grand Concert body :D

Chuck, I just don't build 'em as fast as I used to, and I don't have to compete with the rest of these builders. ;)
Afraid that ladder/X GC will be a while. A Stella 12 along with a 17" 6 string ladder/X are on the board. Maybe after those I'll get around to a GC.

Here's the box closed and bound. Next is to fit the dovetail...
http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/5-45.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...roid/1-125.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/2-93.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/3-70.jpg

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/w...oroid/4-58.jpg