Then I started shaping the neck flush with the fretboard.

🙂🙏🎶🎸

@russ 

I have to take my hat off to you Russ, you're doing some epic work there.

Posted by: @robin

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@russ 

I have to take my hat off to you Russ, you're doing some epic work there

Cheers @robin. It has been an epic journey. You never know..... maybe, one day, I'll bring it down to show you. 

🎸🎶🙏🙂 

@russ 

Cheers @robin. It has been an epic journey. You never know..... maybe, one day, I'll bring it down to show you. 

That would be good, remind me where you are.

I'm up in Strathearn @robin. I left Falkirk many moons ago and went to the Big Smoke. Came up here about 26 years ago. Still come down for the football and my oldest son has moved to live in Falkirk now. 

🙂🎸🎶🙏

@russ 

My home is in Polmont but I'm not really there much at this time of the year, I spend most of my time over in Argyll at my caravan, but I'm sure we could catch up sometime when we're both in the area.

@Russ Lovely work! You obviously take great care of your work, and it shows. Also in this very nice thread, a great  and extensive build report.

Thanks for that

Posted by: @robin

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My home is in Polmont but I'm not really there much at this time of the year, I spend most of my time over in Argyll at my caravan, but I'm sure we could catch up sometime when we're both in the area.

We've had many a holiday over on the West @robin......on the Kyle and Kintyre, Bute, Arran.....even the summer isle before it was all poshed up.......and around Ardnamurchin. 

🙂🙏🎶🎸

Posted by: @koendb

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@Russ Lovely work! You obviously take great care of your work, and it shows. Also in this very nice thread, a great  and extensive build report.

Thanks for that

Thanks @koendb. I think I could say the same about your approach to your builds. I think you're attention to detail is a bit more advanced than mine....... but hope to get there one day. 

🎸🎶🙏🙂

Next I went on to leveling the fretboard.

Just covered it in chalk and kept going with the sanding beam until I got there.

🙏🎶🙂🎸

Then I put a 16" radius on it. Same technique as the leveling beam but with a radius block.

🎸🙂🎶🙏

Next I checked the string action. I made two small guages to replicate the height that the strings will sit above the fretboard. One to sit at the nut position of 2mm thick and one to sit at the 12th fret of 3.5mm thick. Then I placed a straight edge on top of them both and measured the gap between the soundboard and the bottom of the straight edge. Looking for about 12-12.5mm. 

🙏🎶🙂🎸

Next I set the bridge location.

To do this you measure your scale length plus 2mm to the inside of the front edge of the saddle slot at the high E position and your scale length plus 5mm to the inside of the front edge of the saddle slot at the low E position.

🎸🙂🎶🙏

@russ This is all very impressive work, I’m so pleased to finally see your work. 👍

Actually, here are the pictures of the saddle that I made before I set up the location. 

First I squared up the bridge blank.

Then I put in the saddle slot.

Then I had to radius the back of it to fit the soundboard radius. To do this just stick some sandpaper to the soundboard and rub the bridge blank up and down over the area where it will sit.

🙏🎶🙂🎸

Then started to carve it in to shape.

🎸🙂🎶🙏

Posted by: @boo

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@russ This is all very impressive work, I’m so pleased to finally see your work. 👍

Cheers @boo. I did wonder whether I'd ever get there. Still haven't got round to my bandsman yet. This summer has been a bit full on with other stuff.

🙏🎶🙂🎸

Once the position of the bridge is marked out I drilled two 4mm holes through the soundboard where the holes for the E strings will go.

🎸🙂🎶🙏

Then glued it on. Use two 4mm drill bits to locate it in place then clamp it on using the three wee cauls on top  and the bridge plate caul inside.

🙏🎶🙂🎸

Forgot to say that I hammered in a few frets before I glued on the bridge. 

And beveled the edges.

🎸🙂🎶🙏