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Ok,

I picked up an X series 12 string that the top pulled completely off the guitar from the heel to the sundial. The top is toast. The back had 2 hammer sized holes, but the sides are good, neck is perfect.

It was 75.00. What I want to do is re top this and re bottom with solid wood and just use the hpl sides.

What wood would you use for the top? Sitka? Mahogany to tone her down? Cedar? Redwood?

I will use a mahogany back. I figure for about 200.00 I can have a decent 12 string for the house. I have a lot of tortoise binding I can use. I can put some doit makers in the fretboard as well.

Perhaps our OP could drop a dime on Martin and see if there was available a surplused orphaned body (Guitarmaker's Connection). Sure would save a lot of work and the decal could remain on the headstock, with explanation.

I have one of these with a sitka top and it is a pretty decent guitar.

I guess calling Martin might be an option, but where is the fun in that? I am not concerned with the label in the slightest. I just like to tinker.

For 80 bucks I can basically make a new guitar. I have plenty of spare parts. I was just getting opinions on maybe a different soundboard than what came on it.

I don't think you can use binding with those HPL sides.

I will call Martin and ask about surplused bodies.

I might just be keeping the electronics, bridge and neck with tuners and fingerboard and blocks. At this point it would cost that much more to throw a set of sides. At 75.00 its was worth the parts.

Thanks,

The Martin bodies are all rejected from production for reasons of workmanship flaws like routing thru the sides or sanding too thin to wood defects such as windbreaks, etc. Ask questions about the specific defect -- the ladies there are great at advising and helping you pick something that matches your needs. If you are handy at repair this becomes a good option. Martin's standards are very high; some of the rejects are 'no-brainers' to fix. Others are quite challenging. Check my post about my first kit; some of the other instruments I completed this past year and pictured in the post are these very same reject bodies.

Well I called Martin today and the Mexican bodies stay in Mexico. But I ended up buying some B stock wood. I bought a sitka top, and some EIR back and sides. So, now it will be a J-40ish 12 string eventually.

Well after 2 weeks. I built a new body for this old girl. I had to strip the Martin head plate off the neck. But I built this girl for about 300.00. I used 5/16 non scalloped bracing for the X's, 1/4 inch for everything else. I copied the bridge plate. I was able to salvage the blocks, full complete neck assembly with electronics.

I am getting close to finish. Here is what she looks like. we call her Bertha because this guitar is so huge! 16.25 lower bout, 11.75 upper, and 9.75 waist with dreadnaught depth.

Thanks for the advice guys,

That looks good! well worth using the salvaged rims and neck.