L-00 build, ideas, pifalls?

[Greg Steil]

This winter I am going to start on an L-00 build. I have two sets of plans, Mahogany for the B/S, and Adirondack for the top. I have built many Weissenborns, and a few Ukes and Mountain Dulcimers, so it's technically not my first rodeo. Just looking for bits of wisdom from those that have done this before. I'm thinking about making the body as deep as my side material will allow, since I can't afford a Nick Lucas either. Thanks in advance!

[Pat Foster]

It'a a great body shape, one of my favorites. Comfortable and they sound great.



Pat

[Gilbert Fredrickson]

Some of the top industry builders use a mortise and tenon bolt-on neck, instead of the standard dove-tail joint. I was pleasently surprised when playing a new Gibson L-00. I'd use Khaya and Sitka, with an Indian neck and bridge, and a Khaya neck on that little rascal. Tip: the Gibson headstock crest is not as easy to carve as it looks.

[Mark Swanson]

You'll love it! What plans are you using? 14 frets or 12? Don't worry too much about getting it deep, it takes away from the comfort factor and doesn't really add as much to the tone as you might think.

[Greg Steil]

I have the GAL plan(Kerry Char) and one that I stumbled across as a PDF. E Mailed it to a local "copy store"...ta daaa two copies, one laminated..cheap. The whole process technology wise made me giggle.

[Mark Swanson]

Depending on what plan you are going to work from, I would not make the X brace joint the way Kerry's plan shows. it is a plan that is true to the way the originals were built, but make the joint there a lap joint like we do these days.

[Pat Foster]

Mark might be too much of a gentleman to mention that the MIMF has his excellent L-00-based plan for sale. It's what I started from.

Pat

[Jamie Unden]

And he designed them...

[Mark Swanson]

Yes, well there is that! And Jamie drew those plans too.

[Patrick DeGreve]

I made a L-00 about two years ago from the GAL plans. They are very good plans, and it came out very nice. I used Mahogany and Engleman, I love it. I agree with Mark, I would not make it deeper. I think part of the character of the "blues" tone of the L-00 would be lost if you deepen the body. Good luck with it. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. Please post pictures when you are finished.

[Mario Proulx]

If I can offer-up one suggestion, it would be to actually make the body a bit -shallower-. It will make it even more comfortable to hold and play, and helps lend the guitar a "quick" response. Build it correctly, and the tone won't suffer one bit...

[Greg Steil]

Thanks guys! One of my concerns was/is that X joint. I was going to lap it. This will also be my first build with any radius to the plates, and first dovetail joint. I've had a friend say brace a bit heavier as well, but we'll see. Maybe if i keep waiting/putting it off, one will fall on me...or not.

[Doug Shaker]

Yeah, well if one falls on you, I'll bet it won't have Adirondack spruce for the top. You had better build one.

[Warren May]

I have the MIMF plans that Mark drew up and they are well done, especially giving details on things like the sides shape without being overly techie or overbuilt. I like the shape and size of the L00 and think it looks good fairly unadorned. Looking forward to seeing and following your build.

[G. M. Seigmund]

I recently finished up my version of a 1937 Nick Lucas special. John Arnold supplied a very detailed tracing of his original 1937, I tried to get as close as possible to what Gibson did (I went with a 13 fret neck) Great little guitar.

[Dave Sayers]

For what it's worth if you're going to fit an internal pickup try and do it before closing up the body. I managed to fit one to my L1 but it was a real tight squeeze through the soundhole getting the end pin in place. A stick throiugh the hole into the jack assembly helped locate it, but it was still difficult. IAm I too late posting this? Sorry if so.

[Michael Lewis]

For installing jacks I use a 18" section of copper wire ( one strand of ROMEX ) with a very small hook in the end. The wire goes in from the outside and the hook engages the jack via the small holes in the side of the smaller section the outside button threads on. Easy to hook up right in the sound hole and just pull the jack into place with the wire. The wire looks rather crude as it has been used like this for about 15 years, but it still works well.

[Mario Proulx]

I use a length of 1/4" wood dowel(it's a nice friction fit), in the same manner that Michael does. Makes installing the pickup and jack a breeze....

[Tim Allen]

I have the L-00 plans that Mark drew up as well. I don't know if it might create potential for a "pitfall" but that plan does not show bracing around the sound hole. In a previous MIMF discussion, IIRC, Mark stated that he left them off with the assumption that the end user would know that some braces were required there and put some in.

The Grellier plans, free on line, would be one place to look at soundhole braces for an L-00 to supplement the MIMF plan if you wanted specifics.Not that an experienced builder would need that, of course.

[Greg Steil]

I would love to see that Lucas plan, since that was what I really want as well as an L-00.