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| Neck Angle - Final Check http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=30278 |
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| Author: | George L [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Neck Angle - Final Check |
I'm about ready to start finishing the L-00 style model that I've been working on, but would like to check my neck angle measurements with the group here before doing so. Here's the story... My fretboard has a maximum thickness of 9/32". With the neck bolted in position and a straightedge running down the center of the fretboard the point where the fretboard will intersect the front of the bridge is 11/32" above the soundboard. My bridge is 23/64" tall, so that puts my straightedge 1/64" below the height of my bridge. Once I put my frets in I'm thinking this will be just about perfect. Am I thinking correctly? Or should I finesse the neck angle so that my straightedge is just a touch higher? One other element to the fit that I would like advice on is the fretboard extension. As it sits in the measurements above, there is a 1/64" gap between the fretboard extension and the soundboard. This closes readily with the slightest pressure and I can't see any hump when I do so. Again, my thinking is that this is okay and may actually help maintain a little fall away over the frets in that area. What's the consensus? Am I kooky? Or good to go? Thanks, |
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| Author: | meddlingfool [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
Sounds about right to me. But why not leave your tongue unglued til you string it up? Then you can make any adjustment before committing... Ah the beauty of a bolt on! |
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| Author: | Terence Kennedy [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 7:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
A lot depends on how much the guitar moves when strung up. I usually like to have the straight edge clear the bridge between 1/32 and 1/16 before fretting on mine. I've found that when you glue the fretboard extension to the top it stabilizes the neck movement a little so it may not be exactly as it was strung up with the extension unglued. There's probably a case to be made for setting the neck with a surrogate bridge but not making the real one until the finish is on and the neck attached. You can support the headstock and add 5 or 6 lbs to each shoulder and get an idea how much movement you are really going to get I've been using a bolted fretboard extension for several years and that pretty much solves the problem as you can adjust at any time. |
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| Author: | woody b [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 8:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
The top will rise some under string tension, especially if it's a lightly built responsive top. I set my unfretted FB plane .050" above the bridge. |
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| Author: | George L [ Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:51 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
Thanks for the responses. Good to know! I was never sure about measuring with frets in place or without. Now I know and will do a little finessing tomorrow before moving into the finishing phase. I don't plan to glue the extension until later, but I like to have everything as close as possible before then. I find that the less I have to do after finishing the greater my chances of not scratching, dinging, gouging, scraping or generally messing things up. |
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| Author: | bluescreek [ Sat Dec 11, 2010 6:40 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
I like to do 2 things when setting necks on a new guitar. First , with the fretboard off I like to see about 1/16 to 1/8 inch off the top at the saddle position . With the fretboard I want my straight edge to just clear the bridge. With the frets on I do want to see a 1/16 to 3/32 off the thickest part of the bridge. In the end I want 1/2 inch string height in front of the bridge. I like about .150 saddle exposed so a .350 bridge and .150 saddle is .500 that is my target . Get it close and you will be fine. I don't like to be more than .180 on saddle height. I will work with a .410 thick bridge to start and once the neck is on the guitar I can do some final tweaking . Here is a link to the tweaking process. http://theunofficialmartinguitarforum.y ... pic/111531 |
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| Author: | TonyKarol [ Sat Dec 11, 2010 10:33 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Angle - Final Check |
To replicate the fret hieght, use a couple of veneer shims to approx 40 thou .. this gives you a better idea where things lie. Fretted, I too like to see about 50-60 thou of gap to the bridge top |
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