MIMF

Used the straight edge from the fret board to the bridge and it meets about halfway up the bridge (around 5/16"). That seems satisfactory for now. Tomorrow I will carve the radius meeting the current, uncut top of the bridge at the midpoint between the D and G strings (i.e. do the least amount of cutting possible) and see how it goes from there. Will get the strings on, let it settle, and see how she sits.

Got the tail piece yesterday afternoon but was too busy to do anything. Today I put the tailpiece on and started to work on the bridge. I shaved about 1/8" off with an exacto knife, sanded it down to about 3/32 above the radius template outline, and strung it so I could mark the string spacing and have a look at the action as it is. It occurred to me that I might rather let a professional set the intonation, bridge angle, etc. I can never seem to get it good enough and I don't want to mess up the bridge. However, I couldn't help trying to play it like it was, with no string slots in the bridge, etc. Recorded a short video of it's first sounds beside's tuning. I didn't tune it standard; I simply set the tension to "tight enough" but still very loose (want to let the cone settle in a bit) and tuned using the fretboard.

Tomorrow I'll take it to a shop and have them finish the bridge, setup, etc. Next step is trying to find a suitable cover and deciding what electronics I want and how to do it.

Link to video (crappy vid and audio using my cellphone):

http://youtu.be/giiEF3yG8Qc

Justin, you might want to consider getting all of your other routing (pickups, electronic cavity) done before you spend money having it setup - you'll just take it back apart anyway. As long as you think the neck angle is OK and everything is in the correct location. Also, as I mentioned before, the neck angle is really what sets your action height - you can change it slightly with the saddle slots but not much.

Good luck, carry on, post more pictures

That's true and I hadn't thought of that. I've been playing it acoustically the past couple of days. It plays and sounds great but the intonation and action on the 6th string bug me. Getting a resonator sound with the playability of an electric guitar is still blowing my mind.

The electronics continue to confound me (admittedly haven't been researching much in the past few days; too busy playing). Too many options. I can find acoustic microphones but they have no preamp; online, I've read that a piezo (which is all those small mics are) requires a preamp to be worth a darn, especially when used with a regular pickup. I can find piezo bridge pickups with preamps but I'd rather have a microphone.

I was thinking I could buy the regular bridge piezo system and a "guitar/violin" mic, snip the wires to the piezo and mic, and switch them. Then the mic will plug directly into the preamp. For positioning, I was thinking under the cone in the center. Undecided whether I would mount the mic directly to the body or insulate it with a piece of foam. Not sure which would sound better but I don't want it picking up the sound of the guitar body rubbing against mine.

Once I get the acoustic thing worked out, I have to match it with the P90. I was thinking I could cut the jack plug off the acoustic preamp and hook it up to a 3 way switch with the P90 system (1 tone, 1 volume). I could later route the 3 way switch through a master volume pot. That seems the simplest thing to do.

Tragedy! My electronics arrived Saturday but was too busy to get to them. I've been in Huntsville the past 3 days looking for a job and took the guitar with me. It just sounded so great acoustic and I was glad to take it; I played it a lot! However, something must have happened during the ride home. I had the case on it's side and I don't know if it bounced around in the case or what but I guess the bridge hit the case (even though it was padded) and bent my cone. %*@#! I used the bridge to roll it back into shape but I distinctly remember that trick where you can stand on a coke can until you tap it on the side and you can't do it when there is even the smallest dent. I'm thinking if I string this baby up again (even though it was in equilibrium before I removed the strings) it will just sink again. The string of expletives I want to emit right now is endless. $100 lesson learned: don't case it or move it unless it has a cone cover!! I was so looking forward to hearing it through the new acoustic electronics.

Ouch....
Sorry to hear about the accident...

Good luck with installing the electronics (and hopefully the dent will not return).

Hans