"Fretboard Overhang" and String Spacing at the Nut

lushfreak · #1 10-26-2011, 06:34 PM

So I'm going to try and sketch/model a Warmoth build. (See this thread for a bit more context. Thanks again, Beej!)

I think the one piece of data I'm missing to move on and explore my original concern -- string and pickup alignment -- is string spacing at the nut. Warmoth doesn't provide that data for their preslotted Gecko 5 Medium necks and, regardless, I'd have to slot my own nut if I decide to pursue an EADGC 5-string.

The ekips.org FretFind 2D tool was referenced in another thread and could help with this issue, but it requires a value for "fretboard overhang" in inches or mm. (Fretboard overhang is defined by FretFind as "the distance from the center of outer strings to edge of nut or bridge.")

Are there any guidelines or rules of thumb for "fretboard overhang"? Default for the FretFind tool is 0.09375 inches, but for all I know that's only appropriate for guitar. Another twist: FretFind 2D also allows you to set different overhang values for the "first" and "last" string and/or the nut and bridge.

At this point, I'm just looking for some suggestions for general guidelines and measurements to work with. Would also be curious to know if I should use different overhang numbers for the lowest and highest strings and if the numbers should be different for, say, a low B versus an E or a high C versus a G.

Hope that all makes sense. Thanks in advance!

Thumpin_P · #2 10-26-2011, 10:17 PM

Brad, the only advice that I can give is what is being taught at Roberto-Venn. We are told, when laying out our nut, to leave 1/8" on either side of the marking for our outer strings. and 1/8" =.125. I am not sure if that would be the center of the string, but, I am assuming so, because that is where our slot is being marked and cut. Others may chime in, who have much more experience than me, but, I just thought this might help. Oh, the 1/8" applies to both the bass and the acoustic that I am building. Hope this helps, and good luck!

Thumpin_P

roberthabraken · #3 10-27-2011, 05:26 AM

Yeah, that's what I do too, 1/8" on both sides of the outer string centers. I use a bit more in the higher fret range, so if you bend the string over there, it doesn't slip of. But just a mm or a half extra.

lushfreak · #4 10-27-2011, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thumpin_P

Brad, the only advice that I can give is what is being taught at Roberto-Venn.
Thumpin_P

Cool, a school of luthiery in Phoenix! I'm becoming more and more interested in recording/production and instrument construction the further away I get from playing in bands and such. I can just imagine the look on my wife's face when I tell her I've been thinking about REALLY learning to build guitars and...

lushfreak · #5 10-27-2011, 08:20 AM

Thanks, Rob and Thumpin_P. Unless anyone else chimes in with a different number, it sounds like I'd be safe using 1/8" as a starting point. Cheers!

wyliee · #6 10-27-2011, 10:32 AM

1/8" is a good rule of thumb.

When slotting a nut, the actual width of the neck at the nut slot is measured. Each neck can/will be slightly different, so actual spacing will vary slightly. As such, there is no hard and fast number to provide.

Subtract 1/4" (1/8" from each side) and one half of the diameter of the two outside strings to get the center to center string spacing.

lushfreak · #7 10-27-2011, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wyliee

1/8" is a good rule of thumb.

When slotting a nut, the actual width of the neck at the nut slot is measured. Each neck can/will be slightly different, so actual spacing will vary slightly. As such, there is no hard and fast number to provide.

Subtract 1/4" (1/8" from each side) and one half of the diameter of the two outside strings to get the center to center string spacing.

Thanks, Wyliee. Now that I've got a few more elements laid out, subtracting a little extra for half the diameter of those outside strings makes a lot of sense.

So to finish my sketch/model, I think I just need to figure out

where Warmoth drills EMG40 routs on a Gecko 5 Wide in relation to the nut, and
where a 35" scale lands on a Hipshot A bridge with .750 string spacing.

I imagine I'll do a little research on my own and have to post again for those things, but any additional insights would be much appreciated. I'm probably over-thinking all of this, but I'm really enjoying learning more about how instruments are put together.

Thanks again!