curtfrcan Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Hey i'm new to this game it's my first post and i'm five days away from starting my very first build... i've been reading about everything and the only part of building that i'm still uncertain about is angling the neck.. i have all the wood but haven't got a bridge yet! not really sure what to go with if someone could suggest something simple( no trem) my main question is is it possible or viable to angle the back of the fretboard instead of angling the neck... what i mean by angleing the back of the fretboard is making the actual fretboard thicker at the bridge side than by the nut... would this be a good way of doing it or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 Decide on your bridge and then ask again. Most TOM (tune-o-matic) Gibson style bridges require a neck angle (3 - 5 deg.) because they are much higher than conventional Fender bridges (no neck angle). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crxeffect Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 easiest way i know, get the bridge you are going to use for sure 1st. then you can measure the height. draw a full scale diagram from the side with your bridge height and if the strings are to close to the frets you will be able to see before you start cutting anything. I think there is a better explanation if you search around here sumwhere Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Metalhead28 Posted March 12, 2009 Report Share Posted March 12, 2009 If you use something like a Hipshot Hardtail, you can get by with no neck angle at all, provided the face of your fretboard is around 1/4" above the body. But don't ever think about starting a project without selecting the bridge first. And I don't think varying the fretboard's thickness would even be feasible with anything but a very, very slight angle, and I still wouldn't do it because it would just look strange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtfrcan Posted March 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 If you use something like a Hipshot Hardtail, you can get by with no neck angle at all, provided the face of your fretboard is around 1/4" above the body. But don't ever think about starting a project without selecting the bridge first. And I don't think varying the fretboard's thickness would even be feasible with anything but a very, very slight angle, and I still wouldn't do it because it would just look strange. I never thought of the asthetic aspect of it... don't really care how the first one looks as long as it sounds good.. yeah i was thinking about a gotoh fender style to keep it as simple as possible... i like the look of the hipshot bridges better but i have to buy more tools still and want to spend as little as possible while still having quality parts... I already have the wood (alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard) i'm assuming it's a good idea to have everything in front of me before i start but i have to buy tools along with pickups, wiring, nut, and tuning pegs (already have the trussrod) what am i missing?? i feel like its something important Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAI6 Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Well, if you're going "Fender style", then you don't really need an angle. All you need to do, is make the neck pocket the appropriate depth, and that's how you control the bridge/neck interaction. Check out a Strat when you have a chance... But ultimately, no cuts or major decisions should be made without having the parts on-hand. So, so important! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadovfor Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 +1 on getting all your parts and planning things precisely. You may not need to angle your neck if you're building along Fender lines or recessing a TOM ... but if you do need to angle, this diagram by Perry Ormsby pretty much says it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenspoke Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Decide on your bridge and then ask again. Most TOM (tune-o-matic) Gibson style bridges require a neck angle (3 - 5 deg.) because they are much higher than conventional Fender bridges (no neck angle). Huh I was under the impression the string height off the fingerboard on all guitars is pretty much the same, at least on the ones I build. You seem to have neck angle confused with string break angle off the nut. Thats why god created string retainers or was it Leo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted March 14, 2009 Report Share Posted March 14, 2009 Decide on your bridge and then ask again. Most TOM (tune-o-matic) Gibson style bridges require a neck angle (3 - 5 deg.) because they are much higher than conventional Fender bridges (no neck angle). Huh I was under the impression the string height off the fingerboard on all guitars is pretty much the same, at least on the ones I build. You seem to have neck angle confused with string break angle off the nut. Thats why god created string retainers or was it Leo. That is right wooden, but in order to get that string height the neck has to have no angle as in a strat or tele for example because of the height of the bridge saddles being about 10mm. If a TOM was used on a strat the strings at frets from 14 for example would be so high it would be unplayable due to the height of the bridge . I think what is getting mixed up here is the "headstock angle " and the "neck angle" I believe Curtfrcan is talking about the neck angle. If he were to tell us the style of guitar he is planning that may make things easier, or as Southpar mentioned what type of bridge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtfrcan Posted March 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 Decide on your bridge and then ask again. Most TOM (tune-o-matic) Gibson style bridges require a neck angle (3 - 5 deg.) because they are much higher than conventional Fender bridges (no neck angle). Huh I was under the impression the string height off the fingerboard on all guitars is pretty much the same, at least on the ones I build. You seem to have neck angle confused with string break angle off the nut. Thats why god created string retainers or was it Leo. That is right wooden, but in order to get that string height the neck has to have no angle as in a strat or tele for example because of the height of the bridge saddles being about 10mm. If a TOM was used on a strat the strings at frets from 14 for example would be so high it would be unplayable due to the height of the bridge . I think what is getting mixed up here is the "headstock angle " and the "neck angle" I believe Curtfrcan is talking about the neck angle. If he were to tell us the style of guitar he is planning that may make things easier, or as Southpar mentioned what type of bridge. Hey yeah i was just asking a hypothetical question at first but i know what the headstock angle is i'm talking about the angle of the neck compared to the flat surface of the body to compensate for the bridge hight but i decided to go with a gotoh hardtail bridge but with a bolt on neck and the thickness of the fretboard i shouldn't have to angle the neck anyway... and i'm not sure what style of guitar i think i'm going to trace a friend of mine's godin lgx or something like that except i'm gonna make it a double cutaway... Another thing that is driving me crazy with this whole endeavour there's no definitive way to do something like if for instance i decide to use a TOM bridge what do i angle the neck pocket or the neck itself or does it even matter??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodenspoke Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 My bad. I for some reason read into Southpa's post headstock angle rather than neck angle. Getting my vision checked and I'm quitting all the drugs I have been taking. LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaycee Posted March 15, 2009 Report Share Posted March 15, 2009 My bad. I for some reason read into Southpa's post headstock angle rather than neck angle. Getting my vision checked and I'm quitting all the drugs I have been taking. LOL Done that and I dare say I will do it again. I suppose the answer to what should be angled the pocket or the neck is a matter of choice, and what tools you have available to you. I think most of the builders on here with mainly hand tools would angle the neck pocket, (as I will do on my next build) but i'm sure Perry (ormsby guitars) angles his necks on a bench planer/jointer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtfrcan Posted March 21, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 My bad. I for some reason read into Southpa's post headstock angle rather than neck angle. Getting my vision checked and I'm quitting all the drugs I have been taking. LOL Done that and I dare say I will do it again. I suppose the answer to what should be angled the pocket or the neck is a matter of choice, and what tools you have available to you. I think most of the builders on here with mainly hand tools would angle the neck pocket, (as I will do on my next build) but i'm sure Perry (ormsby guitars) angles his necks on a bench planer/jointer Right on man!! good to know... now i just have to read up on the wiring part and i'll be all set. thanks for the info Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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