Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on November 23, 2016 at 6:40pm

No problem being that high, better than being too low, but i'd prefer a thinner fretboard myself so it's only a 1/4" above the box, for your bridge, just add a nut each end of the threaded rod, that will lift it 1/8th, aim to have your nut level with, or just above the frets, and the bridge just high enough for the strings to be about 1/8" above the strings at the 12th fret, as you get used to it, you can lower the bridge more to help with intonation. The piezo disc doesn't "read" the strings like a mag pick up, but picks up the vibrations from the wood top [and every thing else], so distance from the strings isn't an issue, i prefer a gap between the box top and the through neck, but lot's of guys swear it doesn't matter, and some say they sound better touching, so it's your choice there, good luck!

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Permalink Reply by Darren on November 24, 2016 at 1:37pm

Thanks for the reply and advice!  I'll raise the bridge up as you suggest, and I need to lower the nut too so the strings are closer to the fretboard.  I think I'll go with removing some wood form the neck under the lid and see how it sounds...I can always do it different next time!

And just thought I'd check...you're no relation to Lee Kernaghan (Aussie musician) are you?

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on November 24, 2016 at 1:52pm

His dad was my fathers cousin, I've never met him, but met his dad as a young kid.

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Permalink Reply by Darren on November 24, 2016 at 5:26pm

Cool!  I don't know him personally at all, but believe his dad was pretty talented too.  Looks like music is in the Kernaghan genes :-)  Thanks again for the advice.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on November 25, 2016 at 2:33am

small world Darryl... i met Lee and his brother way back in the early 2000's. I worked for Compaq on the Gold coast and their server broke down. half way back to brisbane and i had to race back to change the motherboard in this server. It was their stage lighting control as well as a few other things... nice guys. i got a free CD and DVD ... 

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on November 25, 2016 at 2:53am

that's cool Timothy, but i would be less than honest if i claimed any relationship of import, bar the fact that Lee is uncannily similar in appearance to my deceased next older brother

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on November 24, 2016 at 9:58am

Having the fret board 1/4 inch above the top of the box is just right, leave it as it is,. At the nut, the strings only need to be a fraction of an inch above the fingerboard..and I mean a very small fraction...1mm max, or a 20th of an inch. If your neck is straight and the neck is set parallel to the top of the box, you should  have between 1/2 -3/4 inch height at the bridge which  is just dandy. Here's my tutorial on setting the action at the nut the nut ....

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Permalink Reply by Darren on November 24, 2016 at 1:40pm

Thanks John - looks like I mainly need to lower the nut to get the strings closer to the fretboard and I should be right to go.  Appreciate the great video too!  Very informative...will be checking out your other videos too.

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Permalink Reply by JL on December 2, 2016 at 2:45am

From the pictures it looks like its about 1/4 to 3/16 proud of the box which is perfect.  You will cut the slots in the nut so the strings are only about 0.025" above the first fret and adjust the height of the saddle/bridge so the strings are about 0.100" above the 12th fret.

And you WANT something to keep your brass threaded rod from rolling when you tighten the strings or else your intonation will go wonky every time you try to tune (seen dozens with this problem).  A wooden foot with a groove as a bridge to hold your threaded-rod saddle works great.

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