Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi, guys
Is this possible? I dry fitted my bolt on neck to my box today to check alignment and neck angle. Alignment appears to be right on. With the unfretted fingerboard lying (not glued yet) on top of the neck I used a straight edge to check height at saddle location. It measures about 1/16 above my 3/8" bridge height. The heel fits nicely to the box. I figure after the neck is attached and fingerboard glued down, that sanding the fingerboard will drop the straight edge down to where it should be. Does this sound right? I guess what I'm asking is are these measurements good enough that I can go ahead and attach the neck/fingerboard permanently and be able to fine tune everything afterwards?

Thanks,
Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

I like to have the straight edge just barely touching the top of the bridge
or a hair ( like .020) above the bridge. With the frets in .060 or so above
the bridge is right on.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

If you have not sanded the fingerboard yet you should be about right. You'll want to level the fingerboard after the neck has been bolted/glued on and that should put you about right. Like John, I like the straight edge to be just above the bridge with no frets. That will usually give you an eighth inch or a little better of saddle which will allow your grandkids some action adjustment in the next 20-30 years or so.John How38666.8276967593

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Thanks, Johns
I thought I was about there, what baffled me is I haven't done any shaving of the heel, nothing!, and it seems just right. I guess it's the result of the 28' radius on the top. Just wanted to get feedback as it's my first. This is really an exciting stage in the process; it looks like a guitar. The only thing I haven't been able to overcome is some green staining from the bending process, which, I think, I now know how to prevent in the future. I've sanded as far as I dare and got about 80% of it out. But if my first looks like a guitar and sounds like a guitar I'll be happy. I didn't know an old man could learn so much new stuff.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

[QUOTE=old man] The only thing I haven't been able to overcome is
some green staining from the bending process, Ron [/QUOTE]

You making a Koa guitar? Koa is pretty notorious for the green staining...

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

No, I didn't have the nerve to start with koa. It's black cherry. I didn't use distilled water. Next time I will, and I'll wrap the sides in kraft paper. My next two will be cherry also.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Ron, have you started the finishing yet? I bet with a little work that greenish tint will be nearly invisible.

At least I'm hoping that for you!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

HI Ron

It is probably the arch on the top that is giving you the correct lie, I recently switched to a 28' radius.

I find for me it gives just the right angle, although I'm suprised if your heel is still square it fits all round, maybe your neck block is sitting forward a little bit at the top ?

If you've got a tight joint and the right amount of set thats cool.

Ron, I'd be interested in hearing and seing your guitar when completed. I'm
thinking of trying to use local woods (from western Maine) to build my next
guitar. Cherry is on top of the list, it's pretty abundant here. What did you
use for the top and neck?

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Thanks, guys

Steve, I have it about 90% sanded, no finish yet. Maybe it will even out with the finish.

Hi, Russell, I think it's square as I assembled it in the mold. Anyway, I'll mess with it this afternoon and double check everything.

Laurent, sitka for the top and mahogany neck. Ebony bindings, bridge, and headplate.

Ron old man38667.3602314815

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

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

Hi Ron

To my mind the only problems I can see with building in a slight flare are:

1. It might be visually a bit strange looking.

2. Routing the binding channel could be a problem as you would be refrencing of a side surface that is not square, but maybe this would be so small it wouldn't matter.

My brains not functioning too well today, so maybe others can think of different drawbacks.

Russ