Where should the hole go? Standard to Resonator guitar

[pete1951]

I have just sold a cover plate and other bits and pieces to a forum member for the construction of a Reso-Tele. Here is (I hope)some helpful advice on the positioning of the well. Unlike many I rarely use a ruler to mark out the well position, but rather string the guitar (before any drill/routing) with 1st and 6th strings of the gauge I will put on the finished guitar. I then place a temporary bridge (usually a thin brass round bar) and adjust the action and intonation to where I want it. The centre point on the bridge will give me the centre of the well on a roundneck guitar, giving the best compromise when using a straight bridge.( OK, sometimes I will use a wider than standard saddle and compensate for a plain G.


As you can see from my rough sketch, the actual place for the centre is a few millimetres lower than theoretical one. I will often make the well a few mm oversize to allow a little ‘wriggle room’
Pete

[bramley]

Totally agree . I "temp" string every guitar I but together using what ever is in the parts box for a bridge and a trick I came up with as a temp tailpiece, a common garden variety cabinet hinge with extra holes drilled._It's the best way to get intonation right IMO.

[pete1951]

The humble hinge is something I often use as well



Pete