Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 3, 2009 at 8:03am

opinions are like noses, but....

I'm now shaping, staining and installing the neck... then
cutting, fretting, finishing and installing the fretboard as the last major operation...

Then it's cut the nut/bridge and install the electrionics (if any)

I find fretting an already installed fretboard is awkward.

BTW, when you are gluing up the fretboard, I like a board over the top of the fretboard to spread out the pressure of the clamps evenly (yes, use a lot of them). This keeps a clamp from "dimpling" a fret which has happened before I started doing this, but hasn't happend since.

the best,

Wichta Sam

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mitchell on December 3, 2009 at 10:37am

Hey Wes I actually use a tool that is made by the Fret Guru (SP ) you can find it on Ebay stew-mac sells something similar.... Or you can just take a 2'level and flatten it using the old sandpaper on the table saw trick... The nice thing about sand paper is the process is very controllable....

Wes Yates said:

Damn, not a bad idea! almost like a long plane of sorts. This way, you are getting all the highs/lows off at once. Also +5 on the idea of making marks to determine any sway/rock/tilt/level.

-WY

Jim Mitchell said:

I am in the slot the over sized fingerboard camp then glue...once I have it glued in place and trimmed to fit I draw lines at an angle, the entire length of the fingerboard, next I take what is a leveling bar ( something like a 2' level that you have taken the time to flatten would work) with sand paper attached and level the fingerboard so that it is dead flat (when the lines are gone you have a pretty good indication you are where you want to be)... Next I install the frets... I find this method saves me a ton of time leveling the frets and cuts down on string buzz... Hope it helps - Jim

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on December 3, 2009 at 2:09pm

Gotcha Jim. Found him on ebay. Not bad.

Now I'm going to have to make a neck rest so's I don't mark up or ding up the neck when I put the frets in.

Jim Mitchell said:

Hey Wes I actually use a tool that is made by the Fret Guru (SP ) you can find it on Ebay stew-mac sells something similar.... Or you can just take a 2'level and flatten it using the old sandpaper on the table saw trick... The nice thing about sand paper is the process is very controllable....

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Permalink Reply by Andy Estabrooks on December 3, 2009 at 3:36pm

One more tip on fretboards. I drive a couple of tiny nails into the neck an snip the heads off leaving a bit projecting. When I glue and clamp the board to the neck, the nails bite into the board and keep it from slipping. Like the rest of the gang, I precut the frets and use a length of wood on top to get uniform clamping.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 3, 2009 at 4:37pm

Andy,

thanks for the tip... I'll try it on the next build...

the best,

wichita Sam

Andy Estabrooks said:

One more tip on fretboards. I drive a couple of tiny nails into the neck an snip the heads off leaving a bit projecting. When I glue and clamp the board to the neck, the nails bite into the board and keep it from slipping. Like the rest of the gang, I precut the frets and use a length of wood on top to get uniform clamping.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on December 3, 2009 at 7:14pm

By the way, when you are glueing the fretboard on, drive in a veneer pin at both ends of the neck, clip then off to a point sticking up a couple of mms before you offer-up the fretboard and clamp, that'll give just enough 'bite' to stop the two parts from squirming about while being glued, and will keep them properly aligned.

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Permalink Reply by Julian Perry on December 3, 2009 at 9:41pm

Just brilliant! I knew I could rely on 'the Nation' ! I slotted my fretboard and glued it on last night. I now see what you mean when you say 'it squirms around on the glue'! Will definitely be using the pin trick next time. I don't have enough clamps really, so I put the neck between the two halves of my Black 'n' Decker workmate and tightened it up as evenly as possible. Apart from glue squirting out on the floor, this seems to have worked quite well. Fingers crossed and I'll keep you posted. Thanks again to everyone for sharing your experience and skills.

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