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 Post subject: Scalelength question
PostPosted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 11:16 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:12 pm
Posts: 6994
First name: Mike
Last Name: O'Melia
City: Huntsville
State: Alabama
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
The harp guitar I build has a 25.5 scale length. 12 fret. I want a 14 fret. I realize I will have to stretch the harp neck to keep things on proportion, maybe an inch? But I do not want to move sound hole or bridge placement. At most, I have about 3.75" from 14th fret to soundhole. I would like at least 18-20 frets. Is this possible?


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 Post subject: Re: Scalelength question
PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 4:22 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 10:53 pm
Posts: 2198
Location: Hughenden Valley, England
Mike,

The easiest thing to do is just change the body shape in the upper bout area through to the treble side of the hollow arm bringing the join down by two frets - you might have to alter the upper bought bracing a little but not much. Everything else stays the same. You loose a little body volume but no more than you would if you used a cutaway.

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 Post subject: Re: Scalelength question
PostPosted: Mon Mar 22, 2010 6:25 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Location: Central PA
First name: john
Last Name: hall
City: Hegins
State: pa
Zip/Postal Code: 17938
Country: usa
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As was stated on the previous post you have 2 choices , change the body or move the bracing. You braces are scale length oriented so you have to adjust for that. To use a 12 fret body and make it a 14 fret the soundhole will have to move and braces .

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