Typical! i thought i was almost there, then i go to adjust the bridge and realise that i've cocked up the action in an almighty fashion. you can't really see it, its very hard to get a good photo of the problem, but the angle of the neck means that the action is right for the first 3-4 frets, then get steadily more ridiculous until its over 11mm at the 12th fret. DAMN IT!! something drastic is going to have to happen, but i can't decide what....
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this did actually cross my mind at one point last night. might not work though. lol
the bridge is based on a regular ukulele bridge, with little holes drilled on the back to seat the knots of the strings. because of the curvature of the top, the holes are at their lowest possible position, and in order to break the strings at the correct angle, the bridge has to be at a certain height. its already at that point, so there isn't a lot i can do. i thought about drilling though and giving it a tied bridge like on a spanish guitar, but that would still require a break angle with the strings that would raise the action too high again.
I can get it into the workshop tomorrow and take a heat gun to the epoxy which should allow me to correct the angle pretty quickly. and i will make sure to stick it in with wood glue instead this time.
now THAT is an interesting idea!! i hadn't thought of planing down the body. it could just work. i would need to take quite a bit off though. but it shouldn't be a problem as the main issue is the strut. the ribs of the violin a thin as anything, so will sand down very quickly with just coarse paper.
i tried getting the epoxy out with a soldering iron and hair dryer, but i managed to blow up the hair dryer. oops XD
i think i will try a steam iron next. by combining all these ideas i should be able to make enough small changes that it gives the right neck angle but doesn't change any one element TOO much.
SO..... iron off strut, sand down neck end and shim the tail end.
attack the bridge until it is a low as i can possibly get it. (its already almost there, so i don't think this will help much.
sand down tail end of body SLIGHTLY so that the top fits on at a different angle.
that should do it. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.
Comments
Pleased you got your fiddle sorted.
You've confirmed my thoughts about those f-holes they are too bright
I FIXED IT!! I managed to use a heat gun from the workshop and popped off the neck, then sanded it down and now the angle should be fine.
Thanks so much for all your advice, I couldn't have managed it without you :D
and james, the old hag looks and sounds great.
I'm wanting this one to play like a real uke, so i won't be able use a slide on it. i've my cigar box lap steel for that :D
"
psssst ... invert the top.
;-) "
hahaha. brilliant!!
this did actually cross my mind at one point last night. might not work though. lol
the bridge is based on a regular ukulele bridge, with little holes drilled on the back to seat the knots of the strings. because of the curvature of the top, the holes are at their lowest possible position, and in order to break the strings at the correct angle, the bridge has to be at a certain height. its already at that point, so there isn't a lot i can do. i thought about drilling though and giving it a tied bridge like on a spanish guitar, but that would still require a break angle with the strings that would raise the action too high again.
I can get it into the workshop tomorrow and take a heat gun to the epoxy which should allow me to correct the angle pretty quickly. and i will make sure to stick it in with wood glue instead this time.
heres Mr pick's build in action, as a slide guitar
;-)
Hahahahahahaha!
Pick, that's "in the box" thinking!
psssst ... invert the top.
;-)
now THAT is an interesting idea!! i hadn't thought of planing down the body. it could just work. i would need to take quite a bit off though. but it shouldn't be a problem as the main issue is the strut. the ribs of the violin a thin as anything, so will sand down very quickly with just coarse paper.
i tried getting the epoxy out with a soldering iron and hair dryer, but i managed to blow up the hair dryer. oops XD
i think i will try a steam iron next. by combining all these ideas i should be able to make enough small changes that it gives the right neck angle but doesn't change any one element TOO much.
SO..... iron off strut, sand down neck end and shim the tail end.
attack the bridge until it is a low as i can possibly get it. (its already almost there, so i don't think this will help much.
sand down tail end of body SLIGHTLY so that the top fits on at a different angle.
that should do it. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes.
thanks for all your help
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