Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by robert jones on August 24, 2014 at 10:53pm

A hot knife is usually the best way to get off fretboards with the least damage.

If it was me though I would just leave off three strings and call it a day. :-)

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on August 24, 2014 at 11:24pm

Plus if you reused the fretboard as a 3/4 scale, wouldn't all the frets be wrong?

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Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on August 24, 2014 at 11:44pm

it would be difficult to use after cutting, John, fretboards have to be perfectly straight and yes, the question of string scale will need addressing - maybe just string it as a 3 or 4 stringer and have fun with it  :-)

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on August 24, 2014 at 11:50pm

Drop 3 strings is far easier than butchering it to grab a fretboard tha torches you into a particular scale. Add a piezo rod bridge / saddle and a jack, and yer good to go.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on August 25, 2014 at 1:38am

Taking off a fretboard is a royal pain, and on a cheapie like this it will probably only be stained poplar or something like that and will likely as not warp and possibly split as it comes off. I've removed fretboards in the past (hot knife, moisture and brute force) because they were past repair, and even with a decent fretboard material they end up knackered due to the removal process. Also trimming an already fretted 'board to width will be a pain unless you have a decent bench belt sander. You could make half a dozen fretboards in the time it will take to remove and fettle it...then you'll also have a guitar that is completely fecked..  Recycle/revamp the guitar as a whole instead and get creative with it.

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on August 25, 2014 at 8:38am

OK,thanks. I'll leave it on but will trim to size and also cut the excess off on the guitar body too.

its something that I've been wanting to do and if I don't try it will niggle me, so I've got to give it ago..

if it doesn't work out so what who cares

if it does then good, I wouldn't mind doing it in sun burst etc.

I intend to refurbish the body so it will look newish.

is there any varnish or lacquer you can use to a good affect to get sunburst finish with buying the whole ca-poodle.not to fuss in getting a perfect finish.

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on September 13, 2014 at 7:38am

manage to make a start on it today and quite pleased with the results so far.

I've narrowed the neck,OK some of you would have left it as is but I had to do to satisfied my curiosity.

still more work need doing ,like plugging some of those holes up.

now I'm not sure what colour to paint it.

thought black might be nice with a pearl white scratch plate with a nice ring transfer around the hole.

also that is my new cbg making bench not that I intend to make and sell.

just need a hobby during my retirement in a couple of years time ,so I've plenty of time to practice.

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on September 13, 2014 at 7:43am

another picture of that guiatr.

there was no  fretboard ,it is one piece so chick/john was right.

I removed all the brass frets ,not sure if I will re-install them.

might put silver colour frets wire instead if I go all black.

would have liked sun burst but it might be a bit to costly.

anyway its not perfect but I'm hsappy with it. john

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