1905 Gibson A4

[mandomanmike]

Does anyone know where I can find the scale length/fret spacing for a 1905 Gibson A4? It's got the shorter, narrower neck as you know.

Mike

[Bill Snyder]

Measure from the nut to the 12th fret and double it. That will get you real close to the scale length.
I don't know about 1905, but most Gibsons are about 13 7/8" (I believe Robger Siminoff has written that they are 13 15/16"). Shorter or longer necks can have the same scale length. The bridge on the shorter necks is moved further down the body of the instrument.
Aren't the necks shorter and thicker?

[mandomanmike]

thanks Bill, now I'm sure there's a formula for calculating the fret spaciing; I will search on frets.com and may invest in a good mandolin repair manual

open to suggestions, thanks!

it's a pretty narrow neck, much narrower than my 1917 A-1

Mike

[Bill Snyder]

Ok. I wasn't thinking in terms of width and I should have. I was thinking about how "beefy" the neck is. The misunderstanding was on my end. :)