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I am beginning a roughly SJ sized guitar, all I have is the body shape, so I am wondering what is a good location for the soundhole? Does scale length matter? If so I will probably do 25.4", 14 fret.
Thanks

Yes it does matter in regards to the whole bracing scheme. The scale length sets the relative position of the bridge which in turn sets the available relative position of the X-brace based on the splay of the X-brace which in turn sets the available position of the sound hole. You can design your bracing to accommodate a desired sound hole position to some degree by forward shifting and or splaying the X-brace. The neck block, UT brace and UT graft (if used) will need to be accounted for in you bracing design as well. You really have to look at the location of all components as a whole rather then one single component.

The only thing I can ad to what Michael states is if you are using a 19 or 20 fret board. As the scale length dictates the bracing location , I normally place the hole so the top of the hole falls within 1/8 inch of the end of the fretboard. I only personally use a 19 slot fret board on Norm Blake's or on 12 fretters.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I start with the fingerboard, which I usually make first. Then I located the bridge and soundhole. Everything else locates off of them.

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Good advice here Ed .. you need to know scale length, how many frets to the neck joint, how many on the FB as well, and then determine the soundhole placement along with the X angle required, bridge size.

Pretty much every 25.4, 14 fretter out there has the soundhole centre (for a 4 inch hole) at either 5 7/8 or 6 inches from the 14th fret. You can use anywhere from 90to about 104 degrees for an X brace and still get the bridge wings to hit it by sliding the X forward or back as needed. As well .. how much of the bridge wings do you want to cross onto the X .. out the back corner, thru the end, front corner .... you decide ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Okay, thanks guys. I realize there are a lot of variables that affect it but I just needed some sort of number to start at and move from there.