F-5 scroll

**Les Corley** · Jan-07-2010, 6:05pm

When carving the scroll does it stay the full height of 5/8 or should it be thinner?

**M. Montgomery** · Jan-07-2010, 6:24pm

14/32 more or less

**bennyb** · Jan-07-2010, 6:24pm

Howdy Les,
Wander over here(looks like you're pretty close) to A.Mowry's download page and get the pdf for his look at it.

HTH, benny

**barry k** · Jan-07-2010, 6:31pm

I dont like the big lumpy scrolls personnally, so I carve my to about a 1/2", maybe 9/16 sometimes. Lower then 1/2 I think that you dont get a good transition down to the main body.

**Les Corley** · Jan-07-2010, 6:37pm

Thanks thats what I needed to know

**sunburst** · Jan-07-2010, 6:39pm

I like them on the low side (about 3/8" from rim to button), some like them higher. You have to carve a few and see what you like. If left a full 9/16" I think it looks exaggerated, like a caricature of a scroll.

**carleshicks** · Jan-08-2010, 7:48pm

The original F-5's Where about .400" at the Scroll Button.

**Michael Lewis** · Jan-09-2010, 1:53am

A couple things about scrolls: the drawings by Adrian (Hogo) Minarovic and Don MacRostie show the true elegance of the scroll when studied from various angles. The actual carving or shaping requires a steady hand and eye to maintain the gradual sweep of the crest and also maintain the secondary sweeps to the bindings. The difference between a so so execution and a "right on" one can be subtle from a physical sense, but your eye will tell you for sure, once you have got the idea of the shapes in your mind. Second, a high scroll gets in the way for doing any fret work, and it can be darned inconvenient to avoid making any marks on it. More inconvenient if you do.

**buckhorn** · Jan-09-2010, 10:23am

my first few had a high and proud scroll hight ...i really liked it....but in the hands of a very agressive player and a few months time , deep scratches appeared accross the tail of the scroll....now i carve lower and the outcome seams better for all...so, the first thoughts with the proud have been rethought...we must adjust......keith

**Lefty Luthier** · Jan-09-2010, 10:40am

I generally adjust the soundboard scroll button just below the level of the fretboard binding to make it easier to replace a fret but leave the backboard button full height with an even descent to rim level for no reason other than I like it that way.