0 Body w/ long scale?

[jread]

Collecting opinions on whether a 14fret Martin body size 0 would work well with a long (25.4") scale. I am wanting to start a 0-14 project and got to thinking a long scale neck might be fun similar to a 90's Martin 000C-1E we have. If it were for me, I'd go 0-12 as I think that is a really sweet sound so am just wondering if extending the scale from 24.9" to 25.4" might be something someone has done to bring out more sound in the 0 body. So basically, I can be easily convinced to drop that idea and go w/ standard 0-14 specs.

thanks!

[tippie53]

of course it will

[Diane Kauffmds]

I don't stick with the Martin specs; I mix it up. For instance, I just built an OM and regular dreadnought, both 14 fret, but both short scale 24.9". My Delilah, which started out as a 12 fret, short scale OM, ended up being a 12 fret short scale 00.

Personally, I prefer a short scale, so I'll make a short scale for my own use, no matter what the body. I'm working on what would be considered a 0 body, with a long scale. It's a 1950's guitar with a tailpiece and adjustable bridge.

[jread]

Cool thanks. I guess my research has been focused on traditional specs and could find no examples of this so thought I'd post hoping to avoid, "why did you do that?" later. :D

[MaineGeezer]

Like Diane, I see no particular reason to make my guitars exact copies of specific Martin guitars. Martin already builds Martin guitars better than I ever will. Build your guitars the way you want them. If somebody wants a Martin, let them buy a Martin.

I think sometimes it gets a bit silly. My first guitar is an OM body shape with a 14 fret neck. I put a peghead with blind slots (they don't go all the way through) on it. One guy I showed it to got all upset because apparently Martin never put slotted peghead on a 14-fret neck, and they never had blind slots. Why should I care?

[phavriluk]

'Why did you do that?' Because I wanted to. Next question, Mr. Bystander. We build the guitars we want to experiment with, or enjoy, not mimics of storebought instruments. I can buy all the Chinese mimics I want for an awful lot less expense than I'd go to making one.

I'm having the time of my wasted life making guitars I can't buy. There's worse things to do.

And, Mr. OP, the only opinion that matters is yours. Go to it.

[MaineGeezer]

None of this should suggest that there is anything wrong with trying to duplicate, say, a 1937 Martin, either, if you are in pursuit of "that sound." Also, if it's your first guitar build, copying a proven design will give you a much greater chance of success.

The point is, do what you want.

[jread]

Thanks so much. Indeed, I wasn't seeing the forest through the trees. My goals for early on are to make the Martin's I won't ever buy before I branch off into my own designs. I gave away a 1953 0-18 to a traveling guitar master friend mine and now I have to make one. Thanks for the fresh perspective.

Ps. I got the back/sides for this project from Exotic Wood Zone so thanks for the tip on the big sale going o there!