#1
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Fretboard replacement question
Hi, I recently removed my fretboard from the neck of my acoustic guitar and am about to replace it with a new fretboard. My new fretboard doesn’t have a radius or frets installed (it does have fret slots). My question is this: Should I first radius the fretboard and install the frets (plus level and crown them) .. should I do all that before attaching (gluing) it to the neck or should I first glue the fretboard to the neck before I do all that?
Thanks in advance for any advice. |
#2
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My process
- shape the radius of the board - cut the fret slots - drill the fret marker locations on top - shape the board to same neck shape - drill side fret markers - fit the fretboard - fit the fret markers - level and reshape the board again - fit frets - level frets - recrown frets - fit strings and test play Steve
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Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#3
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Hi Steve, many thanks for sharing your process, this is great information for a beginner like myself. Do you see anything wrong with installing the frets on the board before gluing it to the neck? I think I can understand that leveling and crowning the frets should only be done after attaching it to the neck.
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#4
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Yep, dont, you end up with a less than the best end result, this comes from the fact you are not levelling the end product, you are levelling and finishing a part that will change its shape and geometry when fitted to the final product
Steve
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#5
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Quote:
Quote:
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#6
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Yes, the replacement is the same scale length.
I, too, thought that a better leveling result might be reached after gluing the fretboard to the guitar, I just wasn’t sure why Thanks for confirming this. Last edited by Jad20540; 05-01-2019 at 08:17 AM. |
#7
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I am thinking of radiusing, as well as installing the new frets, before gluing the fretboard to the guitar (I think it would make the job easier) and then do the levelling and crowning after the fretboard is glued to the guitar.
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#8
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You do not need to justify which method you use, take all the knowledge givin and then do what you feel comfortable with. Steve
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady Gretsch Electromatic Martin CEO7 Maton Messiah Taylor 814CE |
#9
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It's fine to install the frets before gluing the fingerboard to the next. Just don't level them until afterwards.
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#10
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Thanks very much for all the replies, very much appreciated
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#11
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If you start with a glued fingerboard then make it dead-level - no dips, no hollows, no bumps - as long as the frets are fully seated, their tops are level and require little or no levelling after installation. Some amount of irregularity in the surface of the fingerboard can be corrected by levelling the tops of the frets, but only so much. If you fret first, you are forcing yourself to have to rely on fret levelling to take-up any irregularities in the fingerboard that are introduced by clamping and gluing the fingerboard. Both methods can - and do - work, but it is helpful to be aware of the implications of each. As Steve points out, it isn't uncommon to find factory-made guitars that have had the fingerboards fretted prior to gluing the fingerboard that have humps in the fingerboard at the neck/body juncture. |
#12
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Thank you guys, I've only just joined the forum and already have learned so much |
#13
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Very modest tools, when properly prepared and used, are all that are necessary to do good work. It's nice to have high-end tools, but most aren't really necessary, contrary to what sellers of tools might like you to believe. Part of the learning process is determining what tools you actually need versus those that people want to sell you.
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