Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 16, 2010 at 7:03am

I think its up to you. Looks pretty and more professional.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by MikeBoy on April 16, 2010 at 9:20am

Thanks Wes. I did not want to invest in a a tool that provides little benefit or is wrong for the job. The sanding blocks range from 7 to 20 inches, just wondering if a particular radius size is better suited for this size neck before I spent 20 bucks.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 16, 2010 at 10:19am

You could probably make something that would be in the 20" radius. I am contemplating that but it would need to be flat lengthwise. I wonder if you can take a flat piece of 2x4 and create a 20" interior radius on that then use that to sand surface for the fretboard down.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Alan Roberts on April 16, 2010 at 5:41pm

What radius should you use? Well, what radius are you USED to? If you have a guitar (or whoever your intended owner has one) use that radius.

If you want to drive yourself nuts, try a compound radius....

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Permalink Reply by Ben on April 17, 2010 at 1:15am

I think its great that you want to challenge yourself. I'm just kind of wondering why it is you want to do it. Usually, the radius is used to make it easier to finger across a bunch of strings (like 6). Other 4-stringers don't really have much of a radius (banjo, tenor guitar). If its just for looks, go for it. Let us know if it plays better too.

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Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on April 17, 2010 at 2:27am

Make a sanding block with the radius you want. Draw with some pencil on the neck in the middle and out to the edges sand down the sides with the curved block. Whenthe pencil marks are coming off close to the center switch to finer grits until the pencil is just removed in the center and you are done like dinner.
I do not know how the pros do it but that is what I would do. Next you would have to curve the nut.
Cheers Ron.

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Permalink Reply by Wade on April 17, 2010 at 5:38am

I like to really break the edge of the fingerboard with sandpaper. This gives you the illusion of a radius and a more comfortable feel on my builds.


Wade

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Permalink Reply by MikeBoy on April 17, 2010 at 5:55am

Thanks for the comments! I may attempt to make a sanding block. If it doesn't work or makes little difference in (or makes worse) the playability then at least I'm only out the effort. I'm cheap, that's why CBG are so appealing to me... I only have made them for myself (and son) and I only have hand tools so that is my hesitation for buying professional tools that may only get used once.

Thanks again All. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Mike

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Permalink Reply by MikeBoy on April 18, 2010 at 9:56am

OK, so here's what I did... 1 2x4x8 sanding block, 2 bamboo skewers and some sort of dense cardboard packing material. Not sure what the actual radius is but I'd guess 15-18 inches.

Works great! Thanks Again.

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Permalink Reply by Duke T. on April 18, 2010 at 10:06am

Now that's usin' yer melon. Nice job on the tool, no matter if it works out or not (radius wise, that is).

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Permalink Reply by Alan Roberts on April 18, 2010 at 12:46pm

MikeBoy said:

OK, so here's what I did... 1 2x4x8 sanding block, 2 bamboo skewers and some sort of dense cardboard packing material.

Not sure what the actual radius is but I'd guess 15-18 inches.
Works great!

Thanks Again.

Oh MAN, that fanny-kicks any ideas I had for solving that problem on my "4 Guitars of the Apocalypse." Do'h! With a bit of math, I could figure out how to build some with exactly 12, 14 and 16" radii for almost NOTHING. Those things go for $16 a whack at Stew Mac!

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Permalink Reply by Tracy Kennedy on April 19, 2010 at 4:56pm

I stumbled apon this and remembered this thread...hope it helps
http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/radius.htm

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