page 24
When you reach the final string height, before removing the
strings to continue, drill the 5/64" mounting screw holes into
the top behind frets 15 and 19. Drill on center down through
the dot inlay holes. By drilling with the neck at tension, you
will get the tightest fit of the fingerboard extension over the
top.
Install the screws to cut their threads into the top while the
fingerboard is under tension, and then remove the screws
until final assembly.
Install the fingerboard mounting screws
Here’s a nice saddle-shaping tip from world-famous res-
onator builder Tim Scheerhorn: Remove the strings and
burnish each slot with a guitar string of the same gauge that
you intend to use, working the string back and forth through
the slot
(51)
. For the two unwound treble string slots, use a
.020" unwound string for both string slots. This will create the
diameter of each string in the saddle, harden the contact
area, create good back-angle for the string to rise up to the
saddle, and guarantees an accurate contact point at approx-
imately the center of the saddle. Remove all the excess top
material from the saddle, and trim the ends at a taper to get
rid of the blocky overhang
(52)
.
Burnish the saddle slots
51.
Burnish the saddle slots by working the strings back and forth
through the slots.
52.
Remove all the excess top material from the saddle, and trim
the ends at a taper to get rid of the blocky overhang.
