Official Luthiers Forum!

What is your preferred one on an acoustic?

So far 16" although I would like to do a compound radius sometime.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I like 12" best. No problem with 14" or 16" but it seems a bit easier for my fat fingers to cover the board on a barre chord with 12".

Tim

I like 12. I did a 12 to 20 compound radius on my last one. I don't think you really "feel" the difference, but I've been able to set the action lower on it than any other guitar I've built, too low probably. Something like 070 on the bass and 045 on the treble. I'm wondering if that is due to the compound radius.

Bob

I use a compound 12" to 16" unless the client wants something different. In my mind a compound radius could allow for lower action. The string spacing spreads as you go up the neck, so the radius should spread also. Again, that's the way it works in my mind. As always, in real life YMMV.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

How do you guys go about doing your compound? Just transition with the blocks?

I did mine on my DIY CNC machine, also did a sanding caul. Never tried doing one by hand, but I would imagine that 2 or 3 different radius sanding blocks could get you there.

If you're going DIY on it then there are some neat jigs that'll do a compound radius. Mario used to use one, as well as some others, which had two pivots. I think I saw a commercial jig that got fed through a sander or somesuch.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

Here's a picture of my (really simple) jig.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Woody that is very cool. I take it the inner piece has graduated slots as well?

I think luthiers cool tools has a plan for one that can do compound radiuses.

I level the fretboard with a .75" sanding block, working from the outside to the center, following the angle of the edge of the fretboard, coming straight in the center and angling back out to the far side. This gives a compound radius, the longer you go, the bigger the difference between the two ends....

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

Does nobody use a Plane ! (or is that far too simple and easy)
p.s. I don't use much pearl

I done my first 10 or so with a plane. I had inlays but didn't do them until it was radiused.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I use a plane. It allows me to quickly get very close to the desired result. Follow up with a couple of swipes with a block to assure everything is true.

Dots are added after radiusing and I use a block to sand them flush.

-jd

Every time I try a plane it ends up tearing out chunks at one end or the other. What am I doin wrong?

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

You're taking too big a cut and/or your plane isn't sharp enough.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

tear out should not be a problem with a well set up plane.

I do radius before I trim to length, so even if I did get tearout at the ends it would be trimmed away

-jd