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I'm fitting my neck and want to make sure that the straight edge height over the bridge is correct. The fingerboard is not glued yet. I have put all of the frets on except 2 where I can put registering pins in when I glue it. The height at the bridge, with no saddle, is currently about 2 mm. I'm thinking that purhaps it should be 3 or 4 mm... What height should I make it? Sorry the photo is fuzzy...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

It looks right as best I can tell from the photo. I shoot for 1/32 - 1/16". It is best to us a machinist's straight edge rather than a ruler for accuracy.

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John Ressler

See http://www.hamuniverse.com/antfrac.html for translation help

1/64 = 0.4 mm
1/32 = 0.8 mm
1/16 = 1.6 mm
etc

Cheers
John

I want to see at least 1/16 above the bridge with a fretted board. I will accept 1/8 but not more than that.

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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

Okay. I seem to be getting some different responses. Based on, 1/32 = 0.8 mm, 1/16 = 1.6 mm. It appears that some folks go for 1/32 and other are going beyond 1/16... and if I am at 2 mm, some would say I'm too high... ?

After the strings go on and are brought up to pitch will the neck pitch forward to some degree and result in a higher action? I know that I can correct that to some degree with the truss rod...

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Steve Sollod (pronounced sorta like "Solid")
www.swiftcreekguitars.com

I shoot for 3/32" (approx. 2.4mm or so) clearance there. With my bracing style, design, etc. my guitars will end up with saddles from 3/32" to maybe right around 5/32" tall (showing above bridge) after several months of "settling" in.

I do have one guitar, a prototype, with an almost 3/16" tall bridge which is definitely pushing the envelope but it's one of my best sounding guitars ever. The string height above the top just in front of the center of the bridge is 17/32" which I think is really high. I probably would not do that again on purpose.

I guess I could have just said it looks fine to me which it does. Just depends on your bracing as to how tall the saddle will end up but I would be happy with your tolerances there. Good luck and let us know how she turns out.

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"We might not be big but we sure are slow"

The perfect set up using a basic martin style bracing is 1/2 string height in front of the bridge. A 3/8 thick bridge with a 1/8 saddle will add up to the .500. A 1/32 is well within the speck. You want to try and keep the saddle under .185. When you crunch the numbers for the best resultant .500 is the sweet spot. My ears cannot hear too much detrimental within .050 of that height.
When I set up a new build I want 1/16 off the top of the highest point of the bridge from the straight line off a fretted board. This will , depending on the necks rigidity will put me on those numbers.

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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 shoot for 1/16" above my bridges which gives me some leaway when strung up and settled in.I too like 1/2" string height right in front of the bridge.

About 1/16" with a fretted board here as well. If in doubt, support the peghead and put 6 lbs of weight on each shoulder and see if the straight edge still clears the bridge. That does not mimic the top bulging but if it does not clear you know you need to tweak the neck set a little.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.