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I want to make a jig for this so I layed it out in Cad to try and see what's really happening.

I started with a 16" radius at the nut, and 20" radius at the 20th fret. The fretboard width has already been tapered. I'm keeping the fretboard center at .250" for the full length. When I lay in the radii at the nut and 20th fret, I found that the side of the fingerboard will be about .010" shorter at the 20th fret than it is at the nut. Is this what is to be expected?

If I change the nut radius so that the side of the fingerboard is constant for the full length, I end up with a nut radius of 11.6". Seems a little tight. Or, I can go the other way, keep the 16" at the nut and the 20th fret radius becomes 27.6". I'm probably over thinking this and making it more complicated than it is.

Should I just go with the 16" at the nut and 20" and don't worry about the slight taper of the side of the fingerboard.



(I just like this guy)

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Horton, MI

The only other way to avoid it is to taper the thickness at the center. I don't think it's enough to worry about though. It will look fine.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Actually, your calculations are correct. And to have the finest compound, both the center ad the edges will be even, so, if you have to go with 11.5" at the nut, so be it.

It all depends on the taper you use.

Mine starts out at 10" at the nut, BTW....

Ah, so maybe I'm not being too anal.



Yes it does. I'm 1 3/4 at the nut with a 2.15" saddle string spacing.

So, Grumpy I assume your 10" radius feels just fine Eh? What do you use for a radius at the other end?

Thanks

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Horton, MI

Yessir, nobody's complained yet about the 10" radius, but many have mentioned how sweet they play. <bg>

The other end is whatever it is. The machining actually makes it happen. Decide where you want to start, and let the taper and length dictate the rest.

Thanks Mario,

11" at the nut and 19" at the 20th fret works out for this width of fretboard. That will
make the side a constant width for the length of the board. Sound feasable?

So, if you change your saddle spacing from 2 1/8 to 2 3/8, and leave the nut alone,
do you use a different compound radius?

Looks like maybe 4-6 inches difference in radii depending on which string spacing you use.

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Horton, MI

I've found a happy medium with the tapers, and never change the compound anymore. We'd be talking very small amounts at that point, anyhow.

Got it!
Thanks.


Oh yeah...

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Horton, MI

I likes 10 at the nut. 10 good.

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger