A newbie with neck length & number of frets questions

I've tried to read every article on scale length and neck length but I still remain confused.

What confuses me?

1. Some picture show the fret board ending where the neck meets the cigar box, others show the fret board extending partially over over the box.

2. Some picture show CBG's with the same neck length but have different number of frets.

I understand that I have to follow the rules as to where the frets must be located. How many frets I actually choose to install is a matter of personal preference, is that correct? Do some people use less frets because they don't anticipate playing the upper end of the fret board?

What determines whether the fret board ends where the neck meets the cigar box or extends partially over over the box? Preference, box size, other?

Why is the scale length determined by the box size? Is it based on a proportional look or on some other factor that I'm not understanding?

These are probably dumb question but I want to do technically right.

Thanks!

Hi Tim.

No dumb questions. Just stuff you don't know yet.

So:

1. Fret board ending at start of box or over box? Your choice. Extending the fret board over the box allow you to add some more frets up high. Not that easy to get to with fingers or a slide, but some guys use them.

2. Scale length determined by box size? False. Scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge, so you could have a 20" scale on the same sized box as a 30" scale length. Just as long is the distance from the nut to the bridge is correct. In practical terms, you usually want to pick the spot for your bridge on the box that you have. Usually not on the very lower end of the box or all the way up to where the fret board meets the box. Pick a spot on the box where you give yourself some room to pick. Up to you, but 2~3" from the lower end of the box is a good starting point. Once you have the bridge location determined, measure out to whatever scale length you want and that would be your nut location. That determines the neck length. So, depending on box size and scale length you could end up with a very long neck or a short neck. It is just what it is.

Once you pick up a few basic rules, you can do just about anything you want.

As for the number of frets, you can do whatever you want. I tend to go for 24 frets so I have two complete octaves to play with. You can have more or less depending on how you tend to play.

As you build more guitars, you will likely try a lot of different combinations and that is part of the fun of this stuff.

Good Luck

Replies

Tim Rohr March 5, 2020 at 1:55pm
- Tom T > Tim Rohr March 5, 2020 at 4:45pm
  
  You have to copy your response after you type it, then if the display comes out blank (like yours), hit the Edit button on the posting and paste your original response into it. Hit Save and it will now show up. Hopefully the glitch is fixed soon, but this works in the meantime.
Tim Rohr March 5, 2020 at 1:54pm
Tom T March 5, 2020 at 11:44am

Hi Tim.

No dumb questions. Just stuff you don't know yet.

So:

1. Fret board ending at start of box or over box? Your choice. Extending the fret board over the box allow you to add some more frets up high. Not that easy to get to with fingers or a slide, but some guys use them.

2. Scale length determined by box size? False. Scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge, so you could have a 20" scale on the same sized box as a 30" scale length. Just as long is the distance from the nut to the bridge is correct. In practical terms, you usually want to pick the spot for your bridge on the box that you have. Usually not on the very lower end of the box or all the way up to where the fret board meets the box. Pick a spot on the box where you give yourself some room to pick. Up to you, but 2~3" from the lower end of the box is a good starting point. Once you have the bridge location determined, measure out to whatever scale length you want and that would be your nut location. That determines the neck length. So, depending on box size and scale length you could end up with a very long neck or a short neck. It is just what it is.

Once you pick up a few basic rules, you can do just about anything you want.

As for the number of frets, you can do whatever you want. I tend to go for 24 frets so I have two complete octaves to play with. You can have more or less depending on how you tend to play.

As you build more guitars, you will likely try a lot of different combinations and that is part of the fun of this stuff.

Good Luck

This reply was deleted.