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I'm going through the drudgery of setting the neck angle to the body and wanted to get a few tips from you guys who do this more than once every 2 years.

The guitar is a 000-12 fret with 25.4" scale. I'm assuming that 1/64" to 1/16" over the bridge is the target for vertical measurement beneath a strait-edge with a fretted FB (per C&N). Is this what most are shooting for? Are there any different considerations for a 12 fret since the bridge position is farther south of the soundhole than a 14 fret?

Right now, I'm about .050" below the bridge and still tweaking the heel area...any tweaking advice would be appreciated. TIA

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Hi JJ
I set the neck angle before fretting since I fret after everything is together so I try to get my straight edge to just clear the bridge. It kind of depends on the height of your bridge though. A more important (for tone at least) dimension is the height of the strings above the sound board. I shoot for about 1/2" in the center. This dimension will assure sufficient torque is applied to the top when you are up to tension. With that in mind I want an exposed saddle height of maybe just over 1/8" to give me some adjustment space should the top hump (which is a good thing in moderation) a little. With the no fret straight edge sitting just above the bridge I get just about 1/8" for the saddle.

I don't think the 12 fret fingerboard makes any difference here other than maybe sinking the bridge a little more into the horizon (looking down the fingerboard) and making you work a little longer to get the neck angle where you want it. Your just worried about the strings relationship to the fingerboard and as I said the top so the critical measurement is the strings height above the top and the height of the bridge to give you the proper exposed saddle.John How38467.7382638889

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I shoot for 1/16 over bridge height and set my permissable range at 3/64 to 5/64 over bridge ht.MichaelP38467.7287384259

JJ, did you get these necks set yet?

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

John...I got the 000-12 Fret (#2)neck set and the tongue glued down. The space above the bridge was slightly over 1/16". Thanks for the help.

I'm in Chicago at a convention now and hope to glue on the bridge, then finalize fret levelling and final setup on Saturday when I return to IN. If all goes well, I'll fly back to CA on Monday with a somewhat completed guitar to show you.

#3 and #4 (Parlor Twins) have completed bodies but the necks have barely been started. Having just reviewed John Mayes' DVD gave me lots of new ideas and I'm looking forward to starting that effort in a few weeks. Progress is painfully slow in light of the day-job requirements!

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Wish I had one that near completion.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.