end of fingerboard width

[Greg Martin]

My 25" scale fingerboard ends up 1-3/4" at nut ok, but at the end of the 21 fret fb it came out 2-1/8"--is that ok ?? Im thinking thats shy? what is the optimum width there?

[Michael Lewis]

That depends on your string spacing at the bridge. The strings need to stay over the frets all the way up the fingerboard.

What does your plan show for fingerboard width at that point?

[Matt Cushman]

A width of 2 3/8" at the 21st fret and 2 1/8" at the 12th fret is what Benedetto calls for with a 1 3/4" nut. So your taper is less than the Benedetto. If you go to a 1 11/16 nut your taper will be a little closer to his. I think 1 3/4 nut to be a bit wide for most players. For me I like a 1 5/8" nut. Even with a 1 5/8" nut your taper will yield a slightly different string spacing from what is found on most guitars. Is there binding on the fingerboard yet? If not you might be able to add some width with a wider binding.

[Greg Martin]

Michael the B plan shows 2-1/4" at the end of the board. I am shy of that. I'm also shy of 1-3/4" at the nut. After measuring more exactly, I think Ill be able to add another .020 black binding to the existing bindings to get 1-3/4" at the nut and 2-3/16" at the end of the board, this wouldn't get 2-1/8" at the 12th either, but more like 2-3/32 . Ill have to layout and see what my string spacing will be , Im thinking it will be 2-1/16" ish, Ill see soon enough. Ah best laid plans of mice and men !!

[Michael Lewis]

It will work. There are no laws or rules as to what you have to do as long as you can play it when you are done. I have seen some very narrow necks that some folks seem to like a lot and make great music with.

[Chris Richards]

If it's a cutaway model you may have problems with the edge of the neck lining up with the edge of the body (in the cut away), if it's a fraction then you'll probably get away with sanding the side of the body a bit but this may taper the binding thickness on the body, no problem on the top but you'll notice it on the back (if it's a lot).. I think your plan of adding binding to the neck is a good idea, the width at the 14th fret where it joins the body is the more critical point. Pivoting the straight lines that form the fretboard edge around this point will give you options on nut and end of fretboard width.

I made a simple thin fretboard template and checked the width/fit with it then reduced the width dimensions to incorporate binding. The Benedetto book is great but I think does lack a bit of explanation to clarify things in places.

[Matt Cushman]

If you add a strip of binding made from ebony or rosewood to the edge of your board to match the fingerboard, it should blend right in after you change the taper and add the B/W/ binding.