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fret scale measurement?

Hi ther

I'm just building my first cigar box guitar, I have used kwila/merbau for the neck...... laminated 3 pieces, if I'm doing 25" is that from the front of the nut to the front of the bridge or is that measurement taken from the middle?.

built my own box 300mm long x 250mm wide and 80mm thick, used 12mm MDF for the sides and good 4mm plywood for the top and bottom, going to stick a piezo under the lid.

had a bit of fun building it up, so I have another 2 on the go, I make my own boxes as cheap ones are hard to come by that are good size

Thanks Sid

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 14, 2019 at 9:59am

This might help?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7W4NdYCJCi4&list=PLQoYJG1ht92f3gc...

not sure if you have a Template?
https://cigarboxnation.com/group/lapsteelworld/forum/topics/nationa...

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Permalink Reply by sid on November 14, 2019 at 10:11am

Hi there

thanks for the reply, no I don't have a template, I'll just use one of the free online fret calculators, I'm am used to working in mm so I have convert it all from inches to metric.

thanks for the link, looks as though its from the front of the nut, so I take it must be to the front of the bridge as well then

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Permalink Reply by FoldedSoup on November 14, 2019 at 10:35am

Easiest way to figure it out (well, for me anyway) - it's exactly at the point where the strings make contact with the bridge or nut. Depending on how each is cut, that could slightly vary from the "front" or "back." Just remember that the scale length is the length of the strings where they can vibrate freely. If you hold a rubber band, pinched between two sets of fingers, the scale length is that distance.

Cheers! Hope this helps!

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Permalink Reply by sid on November 14, 2019 at 10:44am

thanks for the reply.

thats cool, when you look at like you said............... holding a rubber band, so yeh I'll make the nut and bridge and see where the strings fall on them, measure from there. Like you say they could vary a little.............................wont be much I suppose you just play with the bridge to make up for it.

good stuff

Sid

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 14, 2019 at 12:10pm

Yes, measure 25” from the middle of the nut where the strings touch to middle of the bridge? I like to center my nut & bridge at those measurements, works for me , no complaints.
If you scroll down on the link to the Scale Template, there’s measurements for 25” scale in metric? cheers :)

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Permalink Reply by sid on November 15, 2019 at 9:58am

hey thanks for that heads up on the metric measurements, I'll use that.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on November 15, 2019 at 2:32am

i find this online one the best.. http://www.ekips.org/tools/guitar/fretfind2d/

you can save a PDF of the scale and print it out.. only problem is you have to enable flash for this site as it needs it to show the save buttons..

you can specify number of strings ,number of frets, width at the nut as well as at the bridge and measurements to mm ..

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Permalink Reply by sid on November 15, 2019 at 10:03am

theres alot of stuff out there, that I haven't seen heheh, just noticed about having flash installed, I'll have a look at this, looks good.

thanks for the link

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 15, 2019 at 10:17am

You should be good if you’re not using an Apple/iOS format?

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Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on November 15, 2019 at 5:05am

I laid my frets out on aluminum yard/meter rulers with magic markers and scribed over the marker lines. Two scales per ruler.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 15, 2019 at 8:42am

A cheap econo/dollar store measuring tape is also good for making fret templates, they’re usually only about 6’ long, so you can plan out 2 full size necks on 1? Even the vinyl ones women use for sewing a great for templates, I’ve even seen Dar Stellabotta use one in her “How To” video?