Nut and Saddle compensation

weslewis · Post by **weslewis** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 2:11 pm

Great books, I do this as a hobby and have been building for a couple of years with 6 completed and a couple in the finishing stages, these books have answered a lot of questions...not to mention dispelling a few myths!!!!!
I use two scales , which just happen to corespond to the LMI template I use to slot my fretboards, 25.4 [645] and 24.9 [632] , I noticed that the tables 4.7-3 and 21-2 show minor variances in compensations, being a little mathamaticly challenged I was wondering if the differences are enough between the two scales to make a difference if I used the tables for both scales, considering also the slight variances in cutting the saddle and nut.
Next project is falcate bracing, of which I have a new design already drawn on CAD... great fun!!!

Thanks again!!

Trevor Gore · Post by **Trevor Gore** » Wed Jan 04, 2012 8:28 pm

Hi Wes,

One of the problems in writing large books is that occasionally the continuity isn't perfect! Ideally, Tables 4.7-3 and 21-2 should have been the same. As it happens, the guitar set-ups for the two tables were slightly different, with the example in Table 4.7-3 having slightly more neck relief and a slightly higher action.

If I run the set-up for Table 21-2 for a 24.9" scale length I get (6th to 1st)

Nut Compensation 1.59, 0.99, 0.74, 0.66, 1.29, 0.73
Saddle Compensation 3.77, 2.22, 1.59, 1.31, 2.12, 0.87

Now the choice is yours!

weslewis · Post by **weslewis** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:44 am

Thanks!!!
By any chance have you done a 12 string using this method ???????

Trevor Gore · Post by **Trevor Gore** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:59 am

Yes. Works great!

http://www.goreguitars.com.au/main/page ... jects.html

(Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Kamusur · Post by **Kamusur** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:56 pm

Nice 12 string Trevor, is the shorter scale neck still designed to be played in concert pitch? I always dropped and capoed or transposed but was never game to tune to concert on the 12s I owned lol.

Steve

Trevor Gore · Post by **Trevor Gore** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:28 am

Yes. I set it up with 12s, which is big for a twelve string, and tuned it to concert. Huge!

You need a good set-up, though, to do that and most people would prefer lighter strings. The one on the website had a double truss rod arrangement, too.

Kamusur · Post by **Kamusur** » Fri Jan 06, 2012 1:05 pm

Thanks for the heads up re the twin rods also Trevor. I used to use some style of silver strings sure cant remember what brand or gauge but there is nothing like em available now. They really shimmered on 12s' and suited me better at the time than brass or p/bronze strings.

Steve

weslewis · Post by **weslewis** » Sat Jan 07, 2012 2:51 pm

I just strung this up tonight..I started this guitar a long time ago, its been sort of a test guitar. I used your numbers to compensate the nut and saddle...worked fantastic!!! the 3rd , 5th and 7th frets are almost dead on ...within a couple of cents, setup is close but not done, I am letting it set for a few days then do the final setup.....
Pictures aren't too great but using the end of the fretboard as the zero fret position , I added a shim to the front of the nut then carefully measured with calipers and filed it.. the saddle is 1/8 inch wide and using my stewmac bridge locater adjusted to the zero fret position I set the front of the saddle .036..to allow for slight compression , which left me room to compensate the saddle for all strings...