Sorry about the shellac spot.. That stuff happens, and honestly, it kind of adds to the guitar’s charm in the long run.
For the neck, yep, once the fit feels solid, go ahead and glue the fretboard extension to the top. It helps everything work as one piece. And between the saddles, the compensated one’s usually the way to go. Better intonation across the strings, especially the B. Just place it so there's room to tweak if needed.
Sounds like you're doing great. Keep going, it’s all part of the fun.
New acoustic guitar build...questions/help please
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CherryLine
- Posts: 12
- Joined: Fri Jun 13, 2025 1:02 am
- Location: London
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MaineGeezer
- Posts: 1808
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm
Re: New acoustic guitar build...questions/help please
RE: your question about compensated saddles (where the string contact point is shifted forward or back on
the top of the saddle):
To start with basics, one wants a note fretted at at the 12th fret to be exactly one octave above the open string note, or the same pitch as the "chime" note at the 12th fret. If you didn't happen to locate the bridge (and therefore the saddle) in *exactly* the right place, you can adjust it (slightly) by moving the string contact point on the saddle. You can do the same thing with the nut, or try to.
For reasons I do not understand, the B string is singled out for special treatment. Perhaps somebody else can explain the rationale for that.
My ears aren't good enough to hear any difference in pitch from moving the contact point on the saddle, so I mostly don't worry about it.
the top of the saddle):
To start with basics, one wants a note fretted at at the 12th fret to be exactly one octave above the open string note, or the same pitch as the "chime" note at the 12th fret. If you didn't happen to locate the bridge (and therefore the saddle) in *exactly* the right place, you can adjust it (slightly) by moving the string contact point on the saddle. You can do the same thing with the nut, or try to.
For reasons I do not understand, the B string is singled out for special treatment. Perhaps somebody else can explain the rationale for that.
My ears aren't good enough to hear any difference in pitch from moving the contact point on the saddle, so I mostly don't worry about it.
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
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MaineGeezer
- Posts: 1808
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 12:14 pm
Re: New acoustic guitar build...questions/help please
Duplicate
Don't believe everything you know.
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
Anything is possible if you don't know what you are talking about.
When things are bad, try not to make them any worse, because it is quite likely they are bad enough already. - French Foreign Legion
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beginner
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Tue May 06, 2025 3:55 pm
Re: New acoustic guitar build...questions/help please
thank you.
i very much appreciate everyone's help.
i very much appreciate everyone's help.