Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello all (again )

I have decided to place an order with LMI to get my fretboard. Not what I originally wanted to do but after messing around for hours today with a ebony blank I decided it wasn't worth me ruining a really nice piece of wood to try and get it right. Also, LMI are able to slot the fretboard & radius it for me. I would rather save the blank I have for a future build when hopefully I could justify going out and spending some serious money on more tools & equipment which I just can't do for what could be a one off thing (hopefully not).

Basically, I have made a laminated neck blank this week which is now waiting for the tapered fretboard to go on so I can start to carve for the first time . My original plans asks for an extremely wide nut of 2" which for me is way too much, especially on a parlour sized guitar. I have decided to use a 44mm (1" & 3/4) nut as I have always liked the Larriveé parlour nut. I will also be getting a 24.6" scale length as LMI don't offer the 24" scale length which again is fine for me as I have monkey sized arms. My taper will be from the 44mm (1" & 3/4) nut to about 64mm (2" & 1/2). String spacing and things like that just go over my head.

While I am making the order I thought I could possibly get a pre-made the bridge also. Again not what I would have liked but I really want it to be perfect. I have read a fair amount about this in my books but they assume I am going by the authors own plans and not how to customise. I simply don't follow what LMI offer for premade bridges & have no idea if any of them will be suitable for my build. I was hoping someone here can put it in layman's terms for me and explain what I need or even if LMI offer what I am after.

I have a fair list of items in my basket with LMI already and would like to get as much as I can in one order as P&P to the UK isn't cheap.

I know deviating from plans isn't best but I would like this guitar to be suited for my style of playing & be a bit more personal to me.

I think I'm going to need professional help soon and I mean the guys in white coats not the professional builders

I am building a parlour sized guitar with plans that were written by a friends father over 25 years ago (who sadly died a few years ago). His father was an accomplished instrument builder making violins, guitars & double basses. The plans aren't commercial ones that you can buy from StewMac which is both a good and bad thing I guess.

2 1/2 is pretty wide, especially if you like a 1 3/4 nut.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

Any recommendations Ken? Thanks.

Peter, I think many builders use a taper based on "nut plus 3/8 in." at the 12th and develop from there. (Makes my 1 3/4 necks about 2.29" at the 22nd)

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Dave
Milton, ON

And your bridge pin spacing is the same as your 12th fret measurment. So following Ken and Dave's advice, take your prefered nut spacing, 1 3/4" adding 3/8" equals 2 1/8" at your 12th fret. Order a bridge that has this pin hole spacing.
It would be good to make a new full scale drawing of these changes to see how it all works out. Once you take the time to put it down on paper the geometry will become clear and you will be able to order the correct parts the first time.

Steve

Thanks again guys, I wouldn't know what to do without the help!

Sorry I didn't get back to you, Peter. I'd say 2 1/8 if you mostly flat pick and 2 1/4 if you do more fingerstyle.

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com