Joe Kuter - Posted - 09/03/2009:  08:50:45

This is my first attempt at constructing a Spider Resonator. My design goal was to build an instrument with a look and feel that is as close as possible to a solid body electric. The first picture shows a comparison with a Les Paul. It is about 7/8 inch thicker than the LP and weighs about 1 pound more.

It sounds great - sound is thick and meaty with a slight metallic edge. The volume is balanced across all 6 strings. Has about 4 times the volume level of a ES355 and about 2/3 the level of a RC-51.

The problem is that it is difficult to play fingerstyle due to the string height at the high part of the neck. I trimmed the bridge to a point where it is as low as possible without danger of the strings hitting the coverplate. The strings are still about 3/8 inch above the 22nd fret. (see the second photo) I examined a RC-51 and it's string height is close to mine, rising at the high part of the neck.

Would like to achieve a setup where the string height is consistent across the whole neck. The only solution I can see is to start over and build the neck pocket higher with the bottom of the fretboard standing about 3/8 inch above the top of the guitar.

Does anyone have a different solution?
Thanks

flickr.com/photos/11132086@N02/3883770409
flickr.com/photos/11132086@N02/3884563344
flickr.com/photos/11132086@N02/3884564286

phil dean - Posted - 09/03/2009:  09:14:48

Try using a router and lower the ledge that the cone and spider rest on, maybe???????

masteresoguitars.com

Edited by - phil dean on 09/03/2009 09:15:21

alaya - Posted - 09/03/2009:  09:32:13

Kind of a drag, but I'd suggest that a neck reset is in order. Those strings are way up there. If it was mine, I'd set the neck angle so I could get the bridge height back too. Nice looking guitar, by the way.

Edited by - alaya on 09/03/2009 09:33:13

atracksler - Posted - 09/03/2009:  09:54:29

is that a bolt on neck? if so, you could shim the back side, like a fender guitar and change the angle of the neck.

jaykellogg - Posted - 09/03/2009:  10:27:33

If you wanted to play with a steel I would suggest you use a higher nut. Since you want to play fingerstyle, I would think about removing the fretboard and making another tapered fretboard.

W. Jay Kellogg

Joe Kuter - Posted - 09/03/2009:  11:05:30

PROBLEM SOLVED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, you guys are great! Thanks for all the thoughtful responses.

I modeled the neck/bridge geometry in my CAD software and was surprised to discover the neck needed to move just a little over 1 degree to obtain the alignment I was looking for.

Required a shim of .05 inches. Bolted the neck back on and the tilt isn't noticeable. Played a few minutes of "Stairway to Heaven" - it sounds great.

davidmaulik - Posted - 09/03/2009:  15:23:11

What is the body made of?

Joe Kuter - Posted - 09/03/2009:  16:21:47

The top and bottom are made from Padauk

The center is a sandwich of birch ply that varies in thickness between 3/8 and 3/4 inch between the outside and inside.