Official Luthiers Forum!

Jeff, Waddy:

I think you have pinpointed the problem. So for my guitar in question, the clearance at the 5th fret with the a capo on the 1st fret and the string fretted at the 12th is about .005" on the first string and .007" on the 6th. Both less than yours Waddy (.2mm is about .009"). Is that the target on future guitars or a little more?

Who knows maybe sometime I will pull the frets on this guitar and add relief just for the practice.

_________________
GEO
perpetual beginner

whoa,
Don't pull those frets just yet, I dont have a feel for ideal numbers on a classical but I suspect this is fine.

I wouldn't change that. I think .007 is enough. I was eyeballing mine, sitting in the den looking at the light between the string and the fret. The point is you have some relief there. I'm wondering if the lack of taper in the board is the problem. Are you building flat, with a domed lower bout? How much dome? How high is the saddle, from the top? You said the forward neck angle was about 1.5 - 2 mm. That's not a lot, and it's even less with no taper. As I said, I'm at 2 - 2.5mm, but in addition I have a 3mm drop in the fingerboard on the bass side, and a 2 mm drop on the treble side, so that doubles the angle and the action at 12 without raising the saddle too high. Then I also have the sag in the board between 1 & 12. I have been unable to bring my action down much below 3mm/4mm treble/bass, without getting some buzz, but, I think that is because I have a slight up angle at the body. Tiny, but I believe it's there, as the only time I was getting any buzz was playing frets 12 - 17. It wasn't even buzz, the notes just wouldn't ring as long. When I lowered the frets, it went away. Now they ring like every other note. I do not, have any buzzing when tuned down to D, but I have not tried other tunings. I can barely play with normal tuning.

_________________
Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Waddy:

I have a 25' radius in the solera to about 1 1/2" from the edge of the top. The combined bridge and saddle height above the top is 12mm. This seems pretty standard. I have not had and buzzing on the upper frets on any of the guitars even with the low action and limited or no fretboard taper. I Next week, I hope to check with two local builders who can see the guitar and maybe they will have something to say.
Also, I have six guitars here I can compare with. Two are by others, two of mine with strings, and two more with strings in a couple of days. Maybe the comparison will shed some light.

_________________
GEO
perpetual beginner