Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi: As a new member and also just a beginner, I have a question. I purchased an inlaid fretboard online with a 25.5 in. string length. The plans I'm using are for the Stew-Mac dreadnaught.Am I O.K.? Do I just move the bridge plate? Help..... T.I.A.   Mike

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

Draw it out, and see where the bridge will lie.

Mike,
What scale length do the plans call for?

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

In General what you want to do...

Lay the new finger board on the plans. center it and make sure the 14th fret lines up with the edge of the body. This is approximatley how it will fit together. Now measure from the edge of the nut (zero fret position) 25.5 inches down the center line. make a mark. now make another mark .15" from that mark farther away from the nut. This mark is the center of the saddle. Set your bridge accordingly so the saddle slot lines up with the center of this mark.

You will want to do the whole thing again on the real guitar after the neck is set (hopefuly square down the center line). The bridge front edge needs to be square with the center line also and midway between the 3rd and 4th peg holes centered with the center line of the top. This will give you a good start on intonnation

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Joe Beaver
Maker of Sawdust

Gentlemen: The quick and thoughtful response from (4 and counting) of you is sincerly appreciated. A resource like this makes it so much easier for a beginner to get it right. Thank all of you......   M. Hammond

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