|
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | What can be done with pitted fretborads????
Do they have to be totally replaced?
Can they be filled in somehow?
TIA
Bradley |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Are you talking about areas worn down from playing? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Yep |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | If it's not too severe & the fingerboard is thick enough you can de-fret the guitar, plane-down the entire board, taking out the worn areas & then re-fret. This particular job takes a lot of skill, especially on cambered 'boards, and isn't cheap. Other option is to replace just the areas which are worn if they're around a couple of frets only, rather than the entire board. Both definately not DIY jobs |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Bradley
If the guitar is working OK, don't worry about it. Look at Willy Nelson's guitar and some other stars instruments. They probably have worn the fretboard almost to the neck, the problem that you need to worry about is fret wear, and that can be fixed easily by a GOOD guitar shop.
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | Another alternative is to have the neck scalloped. In case your unfamiliar with scalloping, it consists of having the fingerboard between frets cut down so that the fret are up on lands of wood. It's kinda like having super tall frets. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | scalloping is probably a little extreme, as it changes the feel dramatically & requires a rethink of your left-hand technique. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Yes, and the increased depth of the fret board will cause intonation problems as the strings are stretched as you play, a fret dressing won't usually cause this problem.
If your flush with money, a new fretboard can be installed, again only by a GOOD repair shop, maybe the factory.
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Isn't there a way to just fill it in? I'm talking about one grove just behind the third fret on the B string.
bradley |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Bradley
If it isn't a collectors instrument, I'll suggest you experiment with wood putty that comes in many colors and sets up to where it can be sanded like wood. Try it on some wood and see how it works and after you have mastered it, carefully apply a minimal amount to fill the worn spot.Clean the worn area thoroughly so it will adhere to the fret board, this is a non reversible type repair that is a last resort for the adventurous guitarist.
Bailey |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3666
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Or some two-part epoxy that is self-leveling. Clean the area well with lacquer thinner or acetone, carefully, so as to not dull the finish anywhere else. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 147
| Frets.com is a good place to check for this kind of stuff.
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Frets/FBoardDivot/fboardivot.html
mike |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Thanks for the many suggestions, esp. the frets.com. Nice link. I think I'll use option 1 on this link: it doesn't need to be repaired.
Bradley |
|
| |
General Repair Question
