Well, downforce hasn't been a problem with the first three builds, so I am not too worried about this one. It seems to do ok. Maybe on the next one I will try recessing the plate a little to improve the clearance at the higher frets, then I can really drop the string height. Or else I can start building the neck up with a fretboard and then the clearance won't be an issue at all. I just started a Uke build that will have a 3-piece oak-poplar-oak neck with a laminated fretboard on it, if that works out then I will probably do a guitar with a fretboard as well. Mostly I like the simplicity of the 1x2 fretted neck, and I built a miter box specifically for fretting 1x2's with a 25" scale, so they aren't hard to do.
I see now that the action is quite low. Yes, a shim might do or make a wood saddle. Not a lot of angle from the tail piece to the saddle. If there is not enough down pressure from string to saddle, you can lower that whole hinge tailpiece so the string holes are just barely clearing the license plate. Good wishes.
So far it plays pretty well, though it isn't quite finished as I still have to install the stainless steel bowl and piezo pickup behind the bridge and then glue the mahogany plywood back in place. The strings hit the license plate from anything above the 9th fret, I might try shimming the bridge up slightly to resolve that.
The plate came from the customer who commissioned the guitar, it was found in the barn on the family farm down east. So it does have some special meaning to him, yes.
Comments
Well, downforce hasn't been a problem with the first three builds, so I am not too worried about this one. It seems to do ok. Maybe on the next one I will try recessing the plate a little to improve the clearance at the higher frets, then I can really drop the string height. Or else I can start building the neck up with a fretboard and then the clearance won't be an issue at all. I just started a Uke build that will have a 3-piece oak-poplar-oak neck with a laminated fretboard on it, if that works out then I will probably do a guitar with a fretboard as well. Mostly I like the simplicity of the 1x2 fretted neck, and I built a miter box specifically for fretting 1x2's with a 25" scale, so they aren't hard to do.
I see now that the action is quite low. Yes, a shim might do or make a wood saddle. Not a lot of angle from the tail piece to the saddle. If there is not enough down pressure from string to saddle, you can lower that whole hinge tailpiece so the string holes are just barely clearing the license plate. Good wishes.
So far it plays pretty well, though it isn't quite finished as I still have to install the stainless steel bowl and piezo pickup behind the bridge and then glue the mahogany plywood back in place. The strings hit the license plate from anything above the 9th fret, I might try shimming the bridge up slightly to resolve that.
The plate came from the customer who commissioned the guitar, it was found in the barn on the family farm down east. So it does have some special meaning to him, yes.
Super. How's it play play and does the plate have any special meaning to you?