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Before I continue with guitar number 5 I have a MAJOR concern. What do y'all think the MINUMUM neck depth at nut (just the mahogany, not the nut itself) could be. This guitar will be 24.9" scale with 12 gauge strings. Right now the depth is .555" and I'm concerned there's a teeny tiny chance it'll snap when put under tension. I'v built a similar guitar whose neck depth is .655" and everything's fine, but this one looks a little thin to my eye. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

KCP

I don't have a clue, Kevin, but welcome to the forum.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Welcome to the forum
That seems pretty thin I make mine 21mm at the nut which is 0.82
If you like the feel of that small of a neck, you might consider using carbon
fiber rods. Many of us use them to stiffen the neck and thy are commonly
extended into the headstock and then mitered at the 15 degree headstock
angle

Andy

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

With a 1/4 inch fretboard that gives a neck of .805 - I have built two for a client with .810 and .800 depths. It wont be an issue. Some Les Pauls have necks under .800, and I have seen necks as thin as .700

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

if you have concerns about the strength, and wood does of course vary, you may wish to use cf reinforcing bars through both the neck and the headstock.

Don't mind me, I'm just here to bug you about making your topic subject headings more specific, like "neck too thin at nut?" Otherwise, your posts will not get read by many people who don't have the time to open every thread just to see what it's about.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Welcome to the forum

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Say what you do, Do what you say.

Welcome to OLF!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Just be careful routing out the truss rod channel... And welcome to the OLF!

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

Kevin,
   Welcome to the forum. I'm sure you're going to love being here.

   I would recommend that you base the decision on final neck depth on
the actual depth of your truss rod slot.

   Whatever the depth of the slot is, I'd recommend at least .100" of neck
material be left behind it for strength.

   My rods need a slot that is .437" deep so my minimum depth on a neck
at the nut will be about .500". I use a .312" (5/16") fingerboard so the
final depth of the assembled neck ends up at just over .800"

    With a lminated neck, I feel confident going .032" lower without
compromising the integrity of the final neck.

    One final suggestion would be that you can consider a volute at the
point where the headstock and neck barrel make their transition into one
another. This gives a great deal more strength and a very nice aesthetic
feature as well as the comfort of a volute that many players have come to
appreciate.

Regards and welcome again,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

Kevin,

    I my previous post I accidently contradicted myself when I suggested
leaving at least .100" of neck material behind a truss rod slot and then
said that my minimum depth would be .500".

    WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS THAT MY MINIMUM DEPTH WOULD BE
ABOUT .537" OR .100" DEEPER THAN MY SLOT. THIS IS ON A SOLID ONE
PIECE MAHOGANY NECK.

    ON A LAMINATED NECK, I MAY END UP AT ABOUT .500" ON THE NECK
DEPTH WITH THE ADDITIONAL RIGIDITY AND BREAK RESISTENCE THAT IS
PRESENT.

   Sorry for the mistake and the edit post being necessary.

Thanks and regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars

[QUOTE=Kevin Gallagher] Kevin,

    I my previous post I accidently contradicted myself when I suggested
leaving at least .100" of neck material behind a truss rod slot and then
said that my minimum depth would be .500".

    WHAT I MEANT TO SAY WAS THAT MY MINIMUM DEPTH WOULD BE
ABOUT .537" OR .100" DEEPER THAN MY SLOT. THIS IS ON A SOLID ONE
PIECE MAHOGANY NECK.

    ON A LAMINATED NECK, I MAY END UP AT ABOUT .500" ON THE NECK
DEPTH WITH THE ADDITIONAL RIGIDITY AND BREAK RESISTENCE THAT IS
PRESENT.

   Sorry for the mistake and the edit post being necessary.

Thanks and regards,
Kevin Gallagher/Omega Guitars[/QUOTE]


Thanks alot. This gives me confidence. My truss rods are .437" as well. Here are a couple pics if anyone thinks it might help them advise me. The neck is attached and the truss rod already installed, so the Carbon Fiber thing may only help in the future

Hi Kevin,

Looking at the photo youve got about the same thickness at the nut as I have on my steel strings...possibly a bit more. Looks ok IMO.

Cheers Martin

PS welcome to the forum!