Australian/New Zealand Luthiers Forum

Hi,

The 12-string intonation post by Wes Lewis (here: viewtopic.php?f=33&t=6050#p72270) prompted me to post some pics of a jig I have made. Not very fancy, and I haven't even used it "in anger" yet, but I made up this rig to follow-up this intriquing subject. (In the pics, I have frets set at 1st, 2nd and 12th fret positions).

How does your rig compare Wes?
Thanks GregL.

Greg, I am intrigued, what is the purpose behind the rig

Hi Steve,

I made the rig to try out really fine tuning of intonation. I've read over the years (eg Stephen Delft, Trevor Gore) about intonating the nut so that a guitar would play in tune "better" over a larger part of the fretboard. I've always wrestled with guitars (mostly an old Gibson 12-string that I have) that are intonated just fine when playing in one key, but then not quite when playing in a different key. My rig (I hope) will let me intonate the nut end and the bridge end and see if I can get the strings in a "sweeter" intonation. The rig allows adjustment of the nut end, as well as the bridge end, and the frets are moveable to allow investigation of intonation of any scale length from uke to full-scale bass guitar.
I probably haven't explained it all that well. Maybe do a 'net search on "intonation" or "compensated nut"?

(By the way, have you made any Les Paul templates for sale yet?)

Thanks,
GregL.

Ahh now I get it.

I make compensated nuts, but it did not click to me that is what you were doing.

So correct me if I am wrong, you are setting up a scale length jig, and using a bridge instead of a nut to tweak fine tune an exact position for a string thickness at a specific tuning, example E at the nut end, then visually matching this when cutting a nut or are you using it for better understanding and explaining of compensating a nut and advantages gained from doing so

What do you need as far as a les paul template set

Hi Steve,

I'm sort of doing both (I think) - using an adjustable bridge at the nut end to work out nut compensation so that a stringed instrument plays in tune (or, more precisely, *better* in tune) over the entire length of the fretboard, in any key. Once the intonation is worked out using the adjustable bridge/nut, I would cut a real nut to the same shape. (Note: I haven't got that far yet!)

As far as a Les Paul template set, I hope to try making a Les Paul-type electric guitar (one day) - not *necessarily* exactly Les Paul shape - but generally similar (eg carved top, 2 humbucker, set neck, etc), and I'd like to have templates for neck pocket shape, pickup routes, wiring channel routes, control routes, etc.

Thanks,
GregL.

Easy stuff, will see what I can draw up