Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on February 21, 2012 at 1:22pm

Six inches from the actual tail end of the instrument.

I'd recommend getting a pre-shaped factory fingerboard -- that is the hardest piece to get just right and makes a huge amount of difference.  13" scale (from bridge to nut), some neck angle and you are good to go!

Permalink Reply by Tristan Chambers on February 22, 2012 at 6:40am

For my fiddle I followed the dimensions of the neck from a plan in the plans section of this site. I think I used a piece of wood about 3/4 thick. I wouldn't worry too too much about the force of the strings here. It's really not that significant actually.

For the bridge I think the real rule of thumb should be to put it in the middle of the length of the box. This happens to be around 6 inches from the tail on a standard fiddle, but note how the body length is about equal to the scale length. If your box isn't 12 or 13 inches long, don't fret. your neck will just protrude from the body that much further. Whatever you do, don't put the bridge 6 inches up if your box is only 9 inches long! Just put it in the center, where it can have the best leverage on the top. The top is a diaphragm; The more it moves the better.