Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
String Bridge height
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login | |
|
Steve Wright
Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK
|
RE: String Bridge height (in reply to Pawo)
|
|
|
You can do this yourself as long as you are not shy. The measurement at the bridge doesn't really mean anything. It's the 12th fret measurement that indicates how high your action is. action at the 12th fret should be around 2.5mm for flamenco. However, if there are any problem with the guitar, you might not be able to get it down this far. There are also intonation issues that you might want to consider or improve. Many retailers of guitars don't think intonation is a big issue, so this is up to you. The forum have discussed this issue so you may find other helpful advice or contrary to mine. http://www.foroflamenco.com/tm.asp?m=178943&appid=&p=&mpage=1&key=nuts&tmode=&smode=&s=#178943 My method: Measure the distance of string to fret-board at 12th fret. Do this on both sides and note it. Decide how much you want the action lowered and multiply this by 2 (that's the hard bit). [for every 1mm you want it lowered, you will need to take off 2mm off the saddle]. Take the saddle out and mark the saddle with the new measurements on both ends and note whether the saddle is curved. Draw a pencil line (curved or straight) across the saddle. Mark the saddle at the lower part so you know which way the saddle was facing. File the saddle down from the top. I don't like filing it from the bottom as you may not get it straight and I feel that affect the sound. Round off the edge of the saddle (remember intonation before this if you need to fix this). Use fine gauge steel wool or fine wet&dry paper to smooth the finish off and you should be ready to pop it back in, tune up and see how it plays. Measure it again and see if you want to alter it. If you have ugly buzzing, you've taken it too far and you simply need a new saddle. A guitar shop usually has a guitar tech who will do all this for you. One thing I would say is not to do this to a brand new guitar as it may start to settle and then you might have to do it all again, but then, saddles are not too expensive. Action also need sorted at the nut end. Here's the tool I use. I file each slot down with a set of files on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FILE-SET-12-ROUND-AND-1-FLAT-FILE-FREE-POSTAGE-/250709777933?pt=UK_Guitar_Accessories&hash=item3a5f779e0d#ht_5173wt_1127 so you can use the correct size for each slot. Hope this helps.
_____________________________
Rhythm, grace & passion. El ritmo, gracia & la pasión Be the change you want to see in this world - Gandhi http://www.youtube.com/user/FusionMusic1000
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Sep. 30 2011 22:00:34
|
|
Steve Wright
Posts: 120
Joined: May 11 2011
From: Scotland Fife UK
|
RE: String Bridge height (in reply to Anders Eliasson)
|
|
|
Anders, Skye and Sean, I bow to your superior wisdom. After all, you are the players and makers. I can only reference to what I play and my guitars. Perhaps you have identified a problem I have with electric guitars now. I started as an electric player, but since playing so much on a Nylon strung guitar (Martin Millennium classical design) I find it so much harder to get a comfortable feel with my picking hand (right). The Martin has a raised fretboard which I love. It allows neck taping to be done without any scratches onto the sound top. However, I have heard you speak of action over the sound-hole. Now I get it. I guess we all adapt to the machine we are using, but this knowledge tells me that I might find it hard to do what all you experts do (as my guitar ain't made for the job). I mean - don't get me wrong, I really really love this Martin guitar - fantastic sound and projection, but it is made as a classical. actually I think of it as a rather of classical because of it's sound. That was refreshing post by you three. so David, listen to the masters. This is too complicated a job for most people.
_____________________________
Rhythm, grace & passion. El ritmo, gracia & la pasión Be the change you want to see in this world - Gandhi http://www.youtube.com/user/FusionMusic1000
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Oct. 1 2011 15:21:38
|
|
New Messages |
No New Messages |
Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
Locked w/ New Messages |
Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.078125 secs.
|