Extra-long 22-fret Neck?

[Dugz Ink]

I've been asking questions, and felt I was ready to map out where the pickups and hardtail will mount on the body... and I'm using the measuremants from my LP Jr as a guide.

I pulled out the Fender-style neck that I bought on eBay, and I measured 24¾" from the bottom of the nut, and marked where the hardtail should go on the body... which left me less than 6" to mount the pickups. I re-measured the LP jr, which has 6½" between the fretboard and the bridge. So I measure both guitar necks.

The new neck has the same number of frets as the neck on the LP Jr, but the LP neck has an 18" fretboard, and this new one is about ¾" longer. What the _____? Over.

A rough estimate (using length/distance ratios from the LP Jr) says that I would put the bridge around 25 13/16" from the bottom of the nut that is on this new neck... but I can't find any info to verify this calculation.

Is this right? Or have I lost what's left of my mind? Is it time to take up the tuba?

D~s

[SawDust_Junkie]

It sounds to me like the problem is scale length. If the neck you bought off of Ebay is truly a "Fender style" neck, it is probably built on a 25 1/2" scale. The LP Jr. is probably a standard Gibson 24 3/4" scale.

This would mean that a Fender neck would be longer even with the same amount of frets, because there is more space between each fret. You stated:

The new neck has the same number of frets as the neck on the LP Jr, but the LP neck has an 18" fretboard, and this new one is about ¾" longer.

That is exactly 3/4" difference between a 24 3/4" scale and 25 1/2" scale.

[Dugz Ink]

I didn't realize that there was a length difference. Now I undertand!

So I set the bridge 25½" from the bottom of the nut on this neck.

Thank you!

D~s

[SawDust_Junkie]

That what it sounds like to me Dugz. I have read that the high E string is the one that is closest to the exact scale length at proper intonation.

The book I bought and am using on my project recommends setting the saddle for the high E string at about 3/4 of the way in its travel towards the front of the bridge, and then setting the bridge at the 25 1/2" distance from the nut to that hig E string saddle position.

The rest of the strings (according to Tom Hirst, the author of the book) are usually a little longer in length than the actual scale length to get the proper intonation.

[Dugz Ink]

That's very helpful. Thanks, again.