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I'm getting ready to make a Weissenborn type guitar and have a few questions for any Weissenborn OLF gurus(I'm sure there will be more).

What height are the strings set up typically at the nut (bottom of string to top of fretboard) and 12th fret? (bottom of string to top of fret).

Are these guitars largely played with bar-slide and open strings (i.e no notes fretted)? If so then the frets are there as markers and could be done as veneer inlays rather than raised metal?

Also related to this - what degree of saddle compensation is required compared to a steel string conventional guitar?

Thanks in advance.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Hi Dave, I have built 2 squareneck resos this year. The strings are set at approx. 7/16 in. above the fretboard at the nut.The bridge is set to keep the same height all along the fretboard. On my first one I inlaid mahogany frets and markers onto a walnut fretboard. It is really hard to see them in dim light. On my second one, I inlaid white ivoroid frets and markers. They are much easier to see.
There is no saddle compensation on a raised string guitar. It is designed to play with a steel bar, and one must have a good ear. The frets are for refrence only.
I am not fimillar with Weissenborn. Do they have a resonator cone? If so, do they ues a biscuit bridge, or a spider bridge? I used spider bridges and Quarterman cones on both of mine. They sound really good.

Jeff,

Thanks for this.

Weissenborns are the hollow neck guitars and have no cones like these Lazy River ones. If/when I get the hang of these I might venture into the world of "cone" technology.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I have more pics, but can't remember how to load them.

[QUOTE=hogan] [/QUOTE]

Jeff,

Lovely looking guitar

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Yes, really nice indeed!

Dave, have you looked at http://www.planetgaa.com/Weiss/index.html ? Some good information there and some good photos at http://bataillelutherie.free.fr/diaporama/weisen/index.htm

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Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com

[QUOTE=LouisianaGrey] Dave, have you looked at http://www.planetgaa.com/Weiss/index.html ? Some good information there and some good photos at http://bataillelutherie.free.fr/diaporama/weisen/index.htm[/QUOTE]

Peter,

Thanks - yes those are great sites and the build pictures of Christophe Grellier are very helpful. This is very much a "prototype" build for me and I am going to use some odds and sodds I have - English walnut for the back/sides and Cuban mahogany for the top.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Dave, typically Weiss' will have the strings about 3/8"
off the board, a bit lower than most squareneck
dobro-style guitars.
I use wood veneers for the fret lines on Weiss-style
guitars, the normal .022" pre-cut fretboards (or the
Stew-Mac fret saw makes the perfect sized slot. I like
the cheap birch veneer you can get at most wood
stores.