MM Body dimensions

[Andymccann]

Hi

Can someone please tell me the difference in both length between the MM blues 12 and 14?

Andy

[Michael Messer]

Hi Andy,

14 fret body is 46.5cm

12 fret body is 50.5cm

The scale length of both guitars is the same, it is just the body length that is different.

Shine On
Michael

[Andymccann]

Thank you Michael

[hawgwash]

Speaking of which I look at my 12 fret blues ‘28 and wonder what you went through in the process of figuring out what body depth you’d use on production . And what difference a deeper body generally means . I notice some small body acoustic 12 fret guitars are a bit deeper than whatever would be considered standard and they always mention volume and deeper bass response .

[Andymccann]

I have a recording king 00 Nick Lucas dimensioned deep body
I wouldn’t say it was particularly louder than other 00s.
I have smaller Oscar Schmidts that are louder but lack the bass. They are much lighter braced and the woods are thinner
The bass is definitely bigger on th RK but nowhere near a dread.
Then again it’s the only maple bodied guitar I have so this may be a factor. It sure has lots of ‘snap’
So many variables going on in this area and obviously this is not trying to be comparable to resos
Andy

[hawgwash]

Yeah maple definitely seems to have its characteristics-maybe snappier quicker notes - I dunno . Had a Collings O size 12 string made in beautiful maple - took a shot -. Turned out well I think - like you said lotsa variables to be adamant this wood sounds this way or that . Still there are characteristics .

[Michael Messer]

The design and body depth of a wood bodied acoustic guitar is totally different to a National-style resonator guitar, which bears more resemblance to a speaker cabinet than to an acoustic guitar. The classic body depth for National-style resonator guitars is 70mm deep at the neck to 80mm deep at the tail. Original 1920s wood bodied National Triolians varied slightly, but I decided that 70mm to 80mm is the best one to go for. I did have prototypes manufactured with different body depths, some were intentional requests and some just arrived with the wrong dimensions. With National-style resonator bodies, more depth tends to create less clarity and a sort of water tank sound that is not pleasing to my ears. There is also the feel of a National-style guitar and for me those dimensions 70mm to 80mm are perfect. The Dopyera brothers knew what they were doing and in my opinion their designs are unsurpassable. I am in the business of selling the best possible guitars in a certain price-bracket, I am not in the business of trying to reinvent something that was perfected in the 1920s and 30s.

Shine On
Michael

[hawgwash]

There it is -thanks .