Official Luthiers Forum!

I apologize in advance for asking this [i]right[i] after a post on 13-fret guitars, but I can't find that post anywhere (was it in another thread?):

So, I'm about to sketch out the bracing for the top of a 13-fret-to-body guitar. My sense is that if you bump the bridge plate and bracing pattern back the equivalent of the distance between the 13th and 14th fret (on whatever scale length you're using), then you're good to go (b/c that's how far you're shifting the neck assembly back). Is this correct?

And I suppose that the soundhole would have to go back the same distance as well, if you want to keep the same number of total frets?

In the hope that others may benefit as well from any info shared... Thanx!

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC

Hey Ken I'm doing a 13-fret as well. Here is the link to the discussion you were referring to: http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=25935&hilit=13+fret

Just be aware that I am changing scales and shortening the neck.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

To (help) keep me from making mistakes measuring I make my fingerboard first. I'll use the actual fingerboard to locate the soundhole, bridge, and the bracing. This is a 12 fret 24.625 scale, but my process is the same for any scale, or fret/body join.

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

the answer is YES.... if you simply slip everything back (including the ammount for the saddle comp and bridge placemetn) by the 13/14 fret distance, its all good - been doing that for years ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Thanks, guys!

Ive thought through this and measured it all out several different ways in the meantime, and came up with the same answer each time, so I was feeling pretty sure about it. I found another post which mentioned subtracting the distance from nut to 13th fret from the total scale length (including compensation). It's all making sense.

Woody, I don't have the fretboard for this actual guitar made yet, but I have the Stew-Mac template, and I have another 25.4 fretboard sitting around, both of which I can use for placing the soundhole, as you mentioned.

I love trying new stuff!

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Ken Mitchell
Durham, NC