slash// Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 Does it matter how far the distance is from the bottom bridge to the nut/bridge by the headstock? My friend and I are building a guitar and we don't know if there's a certain measurement for that. I hope someone can help me with this. Reply if you know please. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP63 Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 The quickest measurement is to double the distance from the headstock nut (that's the inner edge the faces towards the fingerboard), to the saddles on the body bridge. (the tips where the strings make contact on) THEN add about 1/4" for string compensation. That means move the bridge back about another 1/4" Quick and easy. Anybody want a try for an easier way? Hope it helps, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 The quickest measurement is to double the distance from the headstock nut (that's the inner edge the faces towards the fingerboard), to the saddles on the body bridge. (the tips where the strings make contact on) THEN add about 1/4" for string compensation. That means move the bridge back about another 1/4" Quick and easy. Anybody want a try for an easier way? Hope it helps, Mike I think he meant to say.. measure the distance from the fretboard side of the string nut at the headstock to the 12th. fret. Then Double that distance would be your scale length. As far as the bridge placement, depending on the style of bridge you are using you may need to adjust the placement(move it a little farther away from the string nut than your to actual scale length to allow for adequit intonation adjustment). What type of bridge are you using? Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MP63 Posted April 19, 2007 Report Share Posted April 19, 2007 (edited) Yup, that's what I meant. Holy smokes, that would be like a 50" scale! Damn, I need more sleep.... Edited April 19, 2007 by MP63 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted April 20, 2007 Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Yup, that's what I meant. Holy smokes, that would be like a 50" scale! Damn, I need more sleep.... You build em big dude! (it was just a typo, I understood what you were describing) Now if we can figure out what bridge Slash// is using we can nail down that bridge placement. Actually now that I think about it. Stewart Macdonalds on line fret placement calculator gives you compensation for many commonly used bridges. That would be a good source(plus SM has a wealth of other handy info for free ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biliousfrog Posted April 20, 2007 Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Intonation adjustments usually dictate that the string length is increased from the scale length ie. the saddles are moved backwards. On a strat style bridge I'd move the saddles almost fully forwards & use them to measure from to give correct bridge placement. When they are intonated they will only need backwards adjustment so you will have plenty of travel left for them. For TOM bridges I just use the StewMac calculator as it allows for bridge compensation as well as saddle compensation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slash// Posted April 20, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Now if we can figure out what bridge Slash// is using we can nail down that bridge placement. Actually now that I think about it. Stewart Macdonalds on line fret placement calculator gives you compensation for many commonly used bridges. That would be a good source(plus SM has a wealth of other handy info for free ). Well we're going to buy a Gibson neck instead of making our own. Now I actually don't know a whole lot about the parts and everything, that's basically what my friend who's helping me with it is doing. But he wants to use a Floyd Rose Tremolo System. I don't know if that helps you help me or not, if you know what I mean. When I'm talkin' to him next I'll let you know what we're using for a bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted April 20, 2007 Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Buy Melvin Hiscoks book on how to build an electric guitar. It will answer all of your questions. It is basically the bible on this site. Almost any question you will have in answered in there. There are guys on there 10th build that still refer to it for information. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted April 20, 2007 Report Share Posted April 20, 2007 Be sure you look at neck angle and your bridge that you choose. Some bridges such as a TOM require a bit of neck angle to accomodate the bridges height. Some bridges require no angle at all. Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slash// Posted April 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Yeah we're just using a Floyd Tremolo System so if we left the whole body and then once we get the section on the body for the neck to attach, would you need any angle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikbojerik Posted April 21, 2007 Report Share Posted April 21, 2007 Dude, the next dollar you spend should be on the Melvyn Hiscock book. Otherwise, you run a serious risk of wasting a whole bunch more dollars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slash// Posted April 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Does anybody know if I would need neck angle with a Floyd rose Tremolo System????? The guy I'm building this with doesn't think we will, but we're still not sure. I think I'm going to buy that Melvyn Hiscock book you guys are recommending. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo Posted April 22, 2007 Report Share Posted April 22, 2007 Does anybody know if I would need neck angle with a Floyd rose Tremolo System????? The guy I'm building this with doesn't think we will, but we're still not sure. I think I'm going to buy that Melvyn Hiscock book you guys are recommending. No one can answer that for you. It depends on the height of the fingerboard above the surface of the body. You need to know the maximum and minimum height of the saddles on the bridge you want to use. You would use this figure in the full-sized, edge-on drawing which I'm sure you've made. If you haven't made that drawing yet, don't start working on the guitar, you will waste all the materials! If you raise the neck higher relative to the plane of the body, you may not need a neck angle. I believe (could be wrong) that some SG's were made with "raised" necks and no neck angle, using tuneomatic bridges. So it all depends on the adjustability range of your saddles and how you place the neck relative to the body. The Hiscock book will help you immensely. I'm very new to this too, so corrections may be needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badsnap Posted April 23, 2007 Report Share Posted April 23, 2007 I have been doing mods, repairs, and setups for years on many guitars but I still have not moved to a complete build. I am reading Melvyn's book for the forth time right now and combined with that info and lurking and talking on this site, I am just now confident enough to start putting my plans into action. Plus, my first build is designed as a bit unique but very simple in it's basic construction i.e. single PU, fixed bridge, raised fingerboard (no neck angle)...etc. So, my point is buy the book and read it several times. You will then have the information to ask the correct questions (if you even need to at all). Peace...Rog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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