saddle height/ neck angle

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JurgenV
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saddle height/ neck angle

Post by JurgenV » Tue Mar 25, 2025 6:52 pm

Looks like I still need more practice with classical guitar building. This is my third classical ... and every time I manage to make my life a bit more interesting. This time the neck angle is not correct. The resulting saddle height above the bridge is at the highest point almost 6mm. Action is a bit on the low side with a tad unter 3mm. No problem with playability at all. Sounds nice too but I´m worried about long time consequences of this very high saddle.
What are my options? Do I HAVE to chang the neck angle? That´s kind of major surgery for me. I never managed to to this without damage of the soundboard as the fretboard is glued to the top ...

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kiwigeo
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by kiwigeo » Tue Mar 25, 2025 7:54 pm

How have you built the guitar? Spanish method with a foot supported by the back or with a neck bolted to body?
Martin

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Mark McLean
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by Mark McLean » Tue Mar 25, 2025 10:01 pm

Have you only recently strung it up? If that is how it looks and measures up in the first few days I would wait and watch it for a little while. It will tend to migrate in the direction you want as the top pulls up a little and the neck tilts a bit forward. These changes are more marked in the early days of a steel-string, but you will see it in a classical as well. How is the neck relief, and does it have an adjustable truss rod?

JurgenV
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by JurgenV » Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:05 pm

@Martin:
Neck bolted to the body

@Mark
I just strung it up yesterday. The neck relief is around 0.1mm and yes it does have an adjustable trussrod

JurgenV
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by JurgenV » Tue Mar 25, 2025 11:16 pm

and perhaps in addition: it does have falcate bracing with fully compensated nut and saddle, bridge similar to the one in Trevors book

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Mark McLean
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by Mark McLean » Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:00 am

I usually find that after it has been strung up for a week the action will get higher, and I usually find myself sanding down the saddle at that stage. Your guitars might be different - but just watch for a little while.

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kiwigeo
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by kiwigeo » Wed Mar 26, 2025 9:20 am

I'm with Mark. Let the instrument settle down for a few weeks and then reassess.
Martin

JurgenV
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Re: saddle height/ neck angle

Post by JurgenV » Wed Mar 26, 2025 6:08 pm

actually I´m going to take your advice but did also change something (but reversible :) )

I put a veneer of 0.6mm under the heel which raised the action to about 4mm. With this I can reduce the saddle height to around 4.xmm if I go back to an action of 3mm. That makes me feel a bit more relaxed as I would accept the 4mm saddle height as long as I don´t have any buzzing with the 3mm action. And the action changes in the next few weeks I won´t complain. The guitar is a retirement present from a former customer to her father and just needs to be ready for October

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