tennbidder - Posted - 11/19/2009:  19:54:39

Here is a question that I'm sure has been discussed before but it is one that I will pose to you builders out there.

I am having a neck made for a Whyte Laydie style pot (to replace a "replacement" neck). I am considering shortening the neck (as opposed to the original WL neck) by about 1/2 inch in order to make it just a tad easier to play when standing up (long reach for the old left arm!). I want to keep the original scale (26 3/16") which would move the bridge 1/2 inch closer to the rim.

I imagine this may affect the WL tone somewhat, but what can I expect from a 1/2 inch move?

Where does one see "decreasing returns" as the bridge is moved closer to the edge? Has anyone found an "optimal" distance?

My style is old-time clawhammer and I like the WL tone. I moved the bridge 1/2 inch closer to the edge on my current setup and really could not tell much difference(of course the scale was then "off" but I wanted to get an idea of the tone differential)

Any ideas?

rudy - Posted - 11/19/2009:  20:08:29

Most open back players today seem to want a little more bottom and less edge to their sound. (Most refer to this as "more plunky", whatever that is...)
A lot of builders are working with a distance of somewhere between 35 and 45% of head diameter from edge of the head (under tailpiece) to the bridge center.

Bill Rogers - Posted - 11/19/2009:  20:12:31

What tailpiece do you have? What's the head diameter? Does the banjo have a bracket band? How far from the bridge do you usually play? I think all those affect tone more than a half-inch bridge move. Ditto the bridge you use. In other words, no big worry.

blindjesse - Posted - 11/19/2009:  22:13:41

I think you answered your own question