Official Luthiers Forum!

Owned and operated by Lance Kragenbrink
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 9:37 am


All times are UTC - 5 hours





Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:31 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:14 pm
Posts: 9
Hello, my name is Roger and this is my first post...I just registered. So, hello to everyone.
My question is this: I have a mighty-mite neck for a stratocaster. It has maple fingerboard. The fret tangs are slightly
overhanging. It is very irritating. I could just sand them flush, but I would like to apply a binding instead. My question is will the tangs rout flush with the wood for the binding slot? Can I rout just below the actual frets and create a void to be filled with the binding? Or is this a "sorry too-late" situation? Any input will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Roger.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 10:59 pm 
Offline
Koa
Koa

Joined: Thu Jan 24, 2008 2:13 am
Posts: 902
Location: Caves Beach, Australia
Hi Roger and welcome.
Don't even consider adding binding, you will just ruin the neck
To bind a fingerboard you generally just cut it a little narrower than the neck width before installation.
You now have curved and tapered faces with frets on the front of the neck, nowhere to adequately register the router.
Anything is possible, but this would be very very difficult.
regards
Jeff


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:16 am 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:14 pm
Posts: 9
Thanks Jeff. That was what I kind of figured. I just wanted to improve it's appearance.
After viewing many of the other posts in this forum, I am thinking of trying my hand at making a neck from scratch.
I am a cabinet maker and have access to all the needed machinery at my job. Thanks again, Roger.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:22 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Mon Mar 26, 2007 6:42 am
Posts: 564
Location: United States
First name: Stephen
Last Name: Ziegenfuss
City: Jackson
State: MI
Zip/Postal Code: 49203
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
Roger,

What you might "consider" depending on how annoying those fret tangs are, is to put on a grinding disc on a dremel - and very precisely grind in the fret tangs into the fret slot 0.03" or so...then you could fill with a filler of your choice and not feel the fret tang anymore. This would result in "fill lines" as it will be nearly impossible to hide your work in maple...

Stephen

_________________
www.ziegenfussguitars.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 11:29 am 
Offline
Koa
Koa
User avatar

Joined: Tue Mar 14, 2006 4:08 pm
Posts: 1018
Location: Denver, Colorado
Roger, a couple times I have cut binding channels after the fingerboard was slotted and attached to the neck. I have never done it after the fingerboard was radiused though. You would have to pull all the frets, and figure out a way to keep the neck (or router) from rocking while you rout. It would be a whole lot easier on the router table, where you could just stick some shims onto the fingerboard and have it ride face down. Then of course you need to do a re-fret afterwards. Very doable, but a fair amount of work.

_________________
Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:50 pm 
Offline
Walnut
Walnut

Joined: Sun Nov 30, 2008 7:14 pm
Posts: 9
After considering all of your fantastic advice, I've elected to grind off the tangs and fill
the slots. Thanks to everyone for your great input! Roger.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group
phpBB customization services by 2by2host.com