O.K. I'm Confused-Help!!

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Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

O.K. I'm Confused-Help!!

Re. Old Negra Project.

I need some help figuring out what is going on. I have essentially done a neck re-set using a Fingerboard Wedge and it worked out well, or so I initially thought. I can now get the action set to around 3mm at the 12th, or even lower, I have the right string height at the nut, etc, etc, the neck is very straight and I made a temporary saddle out of stiff cardboard cut to about 2mm above the bridge slot so it could be lowered a little if desired. However, the string spacing between the soundboard and the strings at the bridge is still about 11mm.

What do I have to do to get the get the string height at the bridge down to the 7-9mm range while maintaining a 3mm action at the 12th? The old bridge on the guitar is 9.5-10mm high at the saddle slot (even after an earlier shaving), and again I have 2mm of saddle above the bridge. If I go to a new 7mm bridge that would obviously lower the string height at the bridge, but it would also have an effect on the action at the 12th. Have I screwed up the neck angle?

Help!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 13 2006 11:45:08

Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)

I have a friend who shaved off wood from both the bridge AND the ebony board in order to bring the strings closer to the top, but keep the action you want. Makes it more "flamenco" sounding. Shaving the ebony board is a tough job though. Also you have to make sure you have enough ebony to work with.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 13 2006 15:21:38

Guest

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)

Gecko.

Is that fingerboard wedge thick at the soundhole and 0mm at the nut?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2006 7:09:04

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)

I also tought about to let it be done with one of my guitars. Finally I sold it.

Anders, would you tell me how much it would cost to shave the ebony board a bit down to get the strings lower without more snaring sounds? I still have a blanca which has perfect hight for my playing feeling. But it snares a bit to much. Im thinking about if its usefull or not to make the ebony board a bit lower. I want to get away the snareing but the hight of the strings have to stay the same. Damn my english.. :./

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2006 9:20:35

Guest

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)

Well it depends on who´s doing it.

It´s called a refret with a fingerboard planing and most charge around 100 euros.

When you say the height of the strings, do you mean the height above the soundboard or the height of the action?

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2006 15:01:13

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)

100Euros sounds ok for me. Thats not too expensive.

I meant the height above the soundboard have to stay the same. But the distance between the strings and the fretboart should be a bit bigger, that it stpos snareing so much.
I could do it make it higher with a larger bone on the right side, but the actual heigt is perfect for my thumb.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 16 2006 21:51:14

Gecko

Posts: 218
Joined: Jan. 2 2006
From: New Mexico

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Guest)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Anders

Gecko.

Is that fingerboard wedge thick at the soundhole and 0mm at the nut?

Anders:

It is 0 at the nut and slighly less than 3mm at the sound hole and very level in both dimensions. I can't figure out what is going on! I did the wedge thing to get the action to around 3mm, but the string height above the soundboard at the bridge is still to high, around 11mm or so. Its beginning to look like the basic problem was not the neck angle but the bridge height, but I just don't know at this point. If the wedge has to be taken off and a new bridge installed instead, then that's probably no big deal, but I don't want to sacrifice a whole lot of work not knowing what to do for sure.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date May 17 2006 11:30:14

Guest

RE: O.K. I'm Confused-Help!! (in reply to Gecko)