Where/how to Adjust/Measure the Bridge Radius

R

RWilke

Active member
Joined
Aug 22, 2024
Messages
80
Reaction score
122
I remember that I have read some comprehensive discussions on this in other forums, probably MLP, but I don't seem to remember the overall consensus about it, if there was any, so I am starting here again.

Should the bridge radius be the same as the fretboard radius of the first fret, or the 22nd fret rather?
 
If a fretboard has a different radius from one end to the other, then I guess the bridge needs to be of the average radius measurement. If that's how it works, then it looks like as long as you're in the ballpark, it'll do.
 
Is the guitar in question one with a compound radius? Is it a Gibson style guitar?
 
I’m wondering why you are concerned with the radius. The radius on that guitar is a straight 12 inch radius from one end of the fretboard to the other. Are you planning on replacing the bridge? If so, you will want to stay with a 12 inch radius.
 
3bolt79 said:
I’m wondering why you are concerned with the radius. The radius on that guitar is a straight 12 inch radius from one end of the fretboard to the other. Are you planning on replacing the bridge? If so, you will want to stay with a 12 inch radius.
Click to expand...

Thank you so much once more. Please excuse my ignorance, but not so long ago, I didn't even know how to spell "fretboard radius", not mentioning being unfamiliar with the role it plays. I have probably been misguided by our I have mis-read an awful lot of information I found about this on the Internet.

I had been under the impression, or at least I wasn't really sure about whether this is true or not, that the fretboard is always conical and therefore should flatten the further you go up fret by default. But if you tell me that this is not true for a Les Paul style fretboard, I'll be happy to accept it as a fact and write it down.

Of course, planning on replacing the bridge is also on my radar, and that's why I came up with it.
 
RWilke said:
Thank you so much once more. Please excuse my ignorance, but not so long ago, I didn't even know how to spell "fretboard radius", not mentioning being unfamiliar with the role it plays. I have probably been misguided by our I have mis-read an awful lot of information I found about this on the Internet.

I had been under the impression, or at least I wasn't really sure about whether this is true or not, that the fretboard is always conical and therefore should flatten the further you go up fret by default. But if you tell me that this is not true for a Les Paul style fretboard, I'll be happy to accept it as a fact and write it down.

Of course, planning on replacing the bridge is also on my radar, and that's why I came up with it.
Click to expand...

The "I read it on the internet so it must be true" is more alive and well more than ever.

Here and on our sister forum EpiphoneTalk we have many very experienced members who will always do our best to provide you with the best and most accurate technical information we can. Our personal opinions of things may vary but as far as specs go they are what they are and rarely if ever subject to opinion since they can be measured and confirmed.

Glad you were able to get your question answered.
 
Back
Top