I am unsure regarding the neck scale check. I am measuring as per the manual instructions (nut to 12th x 2) but do not seem to get the same scale length as noted with the kit.
Any help appreciated?
Last edited by jonnymeanderer; 07-06-2020 at 03:08 AM.
You measure from the zero fret by the 'high E' (thin) nut slot (or what would be the E string on a standard guitar but is variable on a baritone) to the 'high E' bridge saddle. The intonated length for that string will normally be around 1.5mm longer than the nominal scale length. The 'high E' saddle will always be the furthest saddle forwards, so always use that.
Looks like I have to move bridge back to get the scale correct. Otherwise the gap is too big and the pickguard will not cover it.. having trouble uploading pictures
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Difficult to understand exactly what's going on without pictures.
Also, is this a baritone kit, or a standard kit with an add-on baritone neck?
There are two types of baritone neck, 'standard', made to fit a specific baritone kit (which is what I suspect yours is) and 'conversion' baritone necks to fit on a standard body (standard and conversion are my terms).
A 'standard' baritone neck has the same number of frets as the body, but the body is made with the bridge and bridge pickup a bit further away from the neck to compensate.
A 'conversion' neck is longer and has extra frets to compensate for the extra length required when fitted to a standard body.
A 27" scale means that the scale length is 2.25" longer than the standard 24.75", or 9% longer. So its a bit like just making the guitar 9% longer overall. So if you keep the same 22 frets as the standard neck has (ignoring the zero fret), then the distance from the end of the 22 fret to the bridge also has to increase by 9%. Fine if it's fitted to a body designed for that neck where than distance is longer. But if you fit that neck to a standard body, then you haven't got that extra length built in, and you get to the situation you are in, with the bridge being too far forwards for the scale length.
A 'conversion' neck adds that extra 9% of required bridge distance from the neck, to the length of the neck instead, so that the overall scale length is correct when the neck is fitted to a standard body to make it a baritone. For a 27" neck, the extra length isn't huge, and rather than have a large expanse of blank fretboard at the end of the neck, an extra fret is normally added to make it appear as normal.
With that neck, you really have no option but to drill new post holes and fill in the originals. You may find that the stop tailpiece is a bit closer to the bridge than is ideal, so you could move that back as well, or else keep that where it is and string the strings backwards and run them over the top, to save having to have the tailpiece set really high in order for the strings not to foul the rear of the bridge.
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