So about a year ago, I e-mailed Brian May and gave him marching orders to the effect of 'make a 12 string Red Special', threw in a coy joke about Rickenbacker, stuff like that... actually he published my letter (and his "We'll get to it!" response) on his site.
Of course I don't really expect that to happen, it's taking forever just for the acoustic Red Special to show up (unless I've missed something). A 12 string Red Special would be a bit of a niche item anyway so I don't think it's realistic.
BUT... I'd still like one. What are my options, here? I've never made a guitar, or done any serious converting of one. Do I go about building one largely from scratch? Would it be possible to knock one together using parts of a Red Special copy?
Zebonka12 wrote:
Of course I don't really expect that to happen, it's taking forever just for the acoustic Red Special to show up (unless I've missed something). A 12 string Red Special would be a bit of a niche item anyway so I don't think it's realistic.
Oh and I'm glad I'm not the only one who's daydreamed about a 12-string RS :-D
Hey! What about a dual-necked 6-string/12-string Super RS like the guitar Jimmy Page famously uses for "Stairway To Heaven"?? *drooooooooooooooooooooooooooolsss*
Marcos Napier wrote:
I think that some parts need to be specially built for the 12-string, due to the extra string tension et al.
Agreed.. that was my biggest concern.
artemismoon wrote:
I've seen some old
90's Guild BHM that have been converted to 12 string. You can do that
with the old Guilds because of their wider necks.
Hmmm, not such a big problem for me. Until recently I'd never even been in the same room as a 12 string but having had a play on a couple now, I'm cool with a neck width that's basically on a par with my RS.
Actually the first thing I thought of was the headstock. I don't see how the extra 6 machine heads would go on there, not even in a Rickenbacker styling...
Zebonka12 wrote:
Of course I don't really expect that to happen, it's taking forever just for the acoustic Red Special to show up (unless I've missed something). A 12 string Red Special would be a bit of a niche item anyway so I don't think it's realistic.
I would love a 12-string, too. I would like the new acoustic and a proper 3/4 scale RS.
What about that second unmade BM prototype, the one that looks like an old Vox guitar? Has any enterprising guitar make used the design and made a run of them? That would be a prize.
Being realistic, I don't think it'll happen, but it's a nice thought. I'd happily try to convert a Burns to 12 strings my self but my main worries are the neck not being strong enough, and the headstock not really having enough space to accomodate more machine heads.
Converting a Burns to a 12 string wouldn't work. There's not enough spacing on the fretboard or the headstock. Like I've said before, I've seen a Guild converted to a 12, but they had a wider neck and larger headstock,
Fretboard isn't a problem for me, but the headstock is definitely.
I guess for a glued in neck this is a bit absurd, but could one ... put a new neck on? I play guitars, I've never tried building one so I've no idea if that's feasible or not.
Yes, it is possible to remove a glued neck from the body. It will be expensive though. You just have to make sure you take it to an experienced luthier.
Brian's made noises that they're building a RS bass. A bass guitar with the phasing system of a Red Special.... hmmmmm. T'would be interesting! I hope he considers the 12 string then.