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Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:04 pm
by Dave Bagwill
Any good math guys out there?

I have the following specs:

1. string spacing at nut: 1.5" (1 3/4" nut minus 1/8" each side from nut end to string slot)

2. string spacing at saddle: 2 3/8"

3. Scale length : 25.4"

How can I calculate fretboard width at the 12th fret?

This is pathetic. I used to do this stuff in my sleep. :-)

Thanks

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:33 pm
by Bob Matthews
I always use the width of the strings at the saddle to determine the fourteenth fret width, but a lot of makers will use this width at the twelfth.

Bob

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 1:47 pm
by Eric_K
deadedith wrote:Any good math guys out there?

I have the following specs:

1. string spacing at nut: 1.5" (1 3/4" nut minus 1/8" each side from nut end to string slot)

2. string spacing at saddle: 2 3/8"

3. Scale length : 25.4"

How can I calculate fretboard width at the 12th fret?

This is pathetic. I used to do this stuff in my sleep. :-)

Thanks
I started working on a similar problem this weekend. I'm NOT SURE of my answer yet. I'm going to draw it out and measure unless
Ken comes back with a known good formula.


Adding 1/8" to each side of the saddle if you want close to 1/8" from the string to the edge of the fretboard at the 12th fret

1 6/8" + (2 5/8 " - 1 6/8")/2

1 6/8" + (21/8" - 14/8")/2

1 6/8" + (7/8")/2

1 12/16" + 7/16"

1 19/16" or 2 3/16"



You have to make up one half of the distance in width in one half of the scale length.

I'm sure that Ken will be here in a minute to give you the CORRECT answer.

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:42 pm
by TonyinNYC
Here is the formula I use.

(((String spacing at saddle)-0)/1)*1= fretboard width at 12th fret.

To save you all from the math, the formula works out to:

String spacing at saddle= fretboard width at 12th fret.

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 2:49 pm
by Dave Bagwill
I just measured a couple of guitars I own, and that does seem to check out.
Thanks guys.

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:03 pm
by TonyinNYC
deadedith wrote:I just measured a couple of guitars I own, and that does seem to check out.
Thanks guys.

So my formula worked then? GREAT!!!!!

Re: Calculate fretboard width

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 3:20 pm
by Dave Bagwill
It was a most excellent guess, dude :-)