Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on June 23, 2019 at 6:48pm

Hi will, I think you may find it easier to mark out your fingerboard as if you were using a proper nut with a flat  front face. Then I would cut the fingerboard shorter [ between the first fret and nut position] the desired amount as you described.

The scale length would be the free length of the string, from contact point top contact point plus compensation of the bridge if fingering frets.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 23, 2019 at 6:53pm

Thanks Taff. That was my plan, but I just wanted to double check what I thought was right.

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Permalink Reply by JL on June 27, 2019 at 3:31am

Hope this helps...

fret measurements are from the point of 'last contact', for a bolt it's farter back than a nut.

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Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 27, 2019 at 10:55pm

What I'm not seeing with this example(which I'm sure about) they don't show the #1 fret spacing shifting to compensate. If the measurement from the nut is 1.141mm( c to contact point) to the #1fret. Isn't that a constant? What are they compensating for? Tone? Scale length? Not starting an argument, just trying to understand and maybe help another newbie. Thanks

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on June 28, 2019 at 2:42am

if you are using a bolt then the first picture is what is important. the distance to the first fret is from the middle of the bolt to the first fret. so if you have already cut the frets in the fingerboard then you need to allow for the distance of half the bolt. 

the second picture is for a std guitar using a nut where the front of the nut is where the distance to the first fret is measured. 

the last two pictures are examples of how to fix it if you measured wrong or cut wrong and the distance to the first fret is out. or if you change from a bolt to a nut..

so for your original question yes you have to allow for 1/2 of the diameter of the bolt when marking the first fret position..  

on a side note always measure each fret from the nut. if you try to measure each fret from the previous fret then accumulated error will make the scale way out by the 20th fret.( or even less)

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Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 28, 2019 at 4:58am

Thanks for the clarification. I  never was good at interpreting picture puzzles.LOL

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Permalink Reply by JL on July 1, 2019 at 12:51am

well compensating for my limited ability to draw using windows paint - ok I updated it how's this....

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Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on July 1, 2019 at 1:02am

Well it's about time! LOL Got it, thanks for your efforts. You are proof someone can teach this ole dog new tricks.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 1, 2019 at 11:28am

Hi JL, with respect, your drawing confused me a bit, even though I understand the scale length issue.

I would have thought that it might give a better interpretation if the yellow ball had the reference line going through its centre. Which is like my explanation, it puts the rod further forward, and the distance from the first fret to the end of the fingerboard shorter.

i have installed those compensated nuts over the years. 

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 1, 2019 at 3:26pm

.......what I meant was, the line on the front of the nut - 2nd one down - should it not go through the middle of the  bolt [yellow ball] showing that the distance from the first fret to the take off point of either nut is the same distance.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on July 2, 2019 at 2:21am

in the second drawing he has moved the frets down the neck a bit so the distance from the middle of the bolt to the first fret is the same as the nut to the first fret .

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