Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi folks,
I have been sitting on some sinker redwood and black walnut (not claro or figured) for a couple years now. I was originally going to build a 000 12 fret. Recently I have been considering a 00 14 fret. Any of you have strong thoughts about either size? I am not as experienced in the overall tonal differences between the two sizes. As always, thanks for your thoughts and comments.

000/OM - thought by some to be god's choice for the fingerstyle player?
00 - can be more intimate, easier to hold, armchair player?
What do you want the guitar to be used for?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I am a finger style player and play a D28 and a 00028ec. I've always liked the 000's but thought it might be nice to have a 00 as well. That is not the only reason though. I am more of a tone driven guy. When I bought the 000 I played lots of various instrument sizes and makes. I even played another 00028ec in the same store, as well as an OM. The one I purchased was far above the others. Now that I am starting to build however, I wonder about models/sizes.

++ for what Colin says

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

I love playing my 00. It is a great instrument to pick up and play for a couple of hours. I also love the sound. Consider that the same string tension is driving a smaller top.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

Then I'd go for an 00.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I gotta say I really enjoy the smaller sizes! My new fav is the L-0 shape


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The double O 12 fret body is one of my favorites. I think the added length compared to the 14 fret body adds a lot to the sound. A little more bass maybe - better balanced. It is close to the size of a modern classical. I have built a number of them, some a little deeper than standard, and have been happy with all of them.
Since I'm old and fat, I personally go for the size 1 guitars, but for people who are less than morbidly obese the OO-12 is a nice size.

I have a 13 fret, 000 on the go at the moment (sinker/ Choc. mango) ..... love the size.

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Blue Ring Acoustics
blueringacoustics.ca

Been away for a while but have to say 00.
Here is one I still play 4 years later:
viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=45548

I have built single, double and triple ought guitars, as well as OM's, in a variety of woods.



All of the ought guitars have been 12 fretters, the OM's are 14. Of the three ought sizes, the triple is the most versatile, its just a great fingerstyle guitar. The double ought in the picture is all mahogany, it is my little blues box. It lacks some of the bass of the 000, has a little more boxy tone. Some of that I'm use is wood, some size. The single ought is a lovely little intimate guitar - sweet voice, more or less like playing the top five strings on the 000.

One side comment is that both the 0 and 00 were played at the last GAL conferences in the Steel String Listening session. The lady sitting next to me said she liked the 00 better than the modern braced guitars that were being played that day, one guy sitting in the back of the auditorium commented about how well the 0 projected.

I think OM's are just a little better all around guitars, I'm playing my cedar over cocobolo OM most of the time now. It does anything and everything well. I just finished another OM in sitka over mahogany, its still pretty tight but I'm liking it too. Except that I sold it.....



If I had to choose one all around guitar it would be the OM. If I was going to have two it would be the OM and 00, or the 000 and 0. If I was going to build a guitar out of special wood it would an OM (which is what I did).

My two cents

My go to guitar is an OM. Actually the first acoustic I built, and I got beginner's luck. Still the sweetest, most balanced and versatile guitar I've built. Unfortunately, I have not been able to duplicate it, even after 4 other OMs. I just completed a 00 on commission. First playing before completely set up was a winner. Built mostly from the Grellier plans, though a little lighter on the bracing once I voiced it. And I am definitely going to explore this one more. Would I play it to a bluegrass, gig, No. But on first impression it is going to be a versatile guitar.

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Tony Thatcher
Bozeman, Montana

I made a 14 fret 00, and a 12 fret 000, and I reach for the 00 more often than not. Compact, but sweet, with surprising volume.