hendrix2430 Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 (edited) Hi, I made a mistake today with my neck. I was sanding down the neck heel a bit and took a break. Then while I was sanding it some more, I realized I was sanding the wrong side of the heel! In other words, I was sanding the spot where the last few frets on the fretboard will be! After some extensive examination with a level file, I found out that the end of the neck was around 1/100" lower than the rest of the neck top. Ugh! I admit a few (...many) cusswords slipped out. And for good reason. What a stupid mistake. Plus, I had managed to get the neck heel fit nicely in the neck pocket, and had managed to align everything perfectly. What should I do? Should I sand the rest of the top to made it 100% flush, risking more mistakes as far as lateral AND vertical leveling or should I leave it this way? It's not much at all, but it's really bugging me. Will the fretboard, once it's one there really exhibit this slight leveling flaw? Thanks for the help! Edited March 18, 2005 by hendrix2430 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 A few things you could do to get it almost back on track. It depends on which direction you were sanding and how far up the neck that new taper runs. Correct with a long rigid block where the angle changes but don't go anywhere near the end. Check w/ a straightedge and test fit your fretboard. Look for gaps and unnatural curvature. If you manage to fit the board w/out seeing any gaps but a slight curve exists (detectable with a straight edge) then go ahead and glue/clamp the fretboard and then correct the hump with a radiused sanding block. You might notice a very slight curve at your fretboard/neck joint but at least the surface will be flat. Thats about how I would do it. hey! If you stray you pay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Actually, before I starting using a neck jig, it was common place to sand the fretboard at the upper region (18-22) with a gradual fall away. It gives you better action without buzzing in the higher frets. But then again, you did this to the neck wood before the fretboard was glued on, which I always try to get perfectly as flat as possible. Even though this is the case, when you glue up the fingerboard with the slight fall off where you sanded too much, it might just leave you with a fretboard that won't need fall away sanded off. .. That being said though, I don't think I'd want to take that chance, it's way better to get the neck straight as possible before gluing on the fretboard. That should have been done with jointer or planer before anything was glued though. If it was me, I'd just go back to sanding again.. I know you probably didn't want to hear that, but just being honest.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrix2430 Posted March 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Hello, thanks guys I appreciate the help. Yes, I will try and get this thing straight. It's really very minor. I wish I had a pic to show. I use a straightedge and saw a very think gap where frets 18-22 will be. If I were to leave it like that, would the board's sticking to the neck suffer from it? I actually though about the action benefit. But basically right now, I worry about whether or not the fingerboard will stick to the falloff (although very minor). This is maybe paranoia on my part, but that's how I feel. If the board has a minor curve but sticks "straight" tào the neck, then I'm ok with that. It will not have tonal compromises. Anyway, I sanded straight, so the falloff is straight and everything's on the same plane, no issues regarding that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted March 18, 2005 Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 That would be my concern also, you never can tell how the fretboard will pull or how it will lay upon the neck wood, so I'd be scared to leave a dip in that area also. Just get it really level and add the fall away when you level the fingerboard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hendrix2430 Posted March 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2005 Thanks Guitarfrenzy, I sanded the neck slightly and it should be ok. Using with straight metal ruler, there is still a tiny bit of fall off but I really doubt that's gonna make a difference. It's very small. If there's indeed a problem when I try the fretboard on it, I'll just sand it again, but in all honestly, I doubt it would make a difference. It's definitely less than the fall off on the pic you posted. Although it's hard to tell, mine looks about half that, if not a bit less even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.