chemical_ali Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 hi. i'm scalloping my telecaster neck but need some help. i've basically been following the process outlined for frets 21-24 but as the frets get wider, i'm encountering more problems. i don't have the sanding machinery required for the full neck scallop tutorial so i have to make do... some pictues of my progress so far are available here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlexVDL Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 I'd like to quote: was this a new neck? what you're doing to it is horrible!! what were you thinking? YOU IDIOT!!! THAT WAS A BRAND NEW NECK!!!! ERRRRRRRGHHH!!!! i wish i had money like you... uhh i fail to see how chipping wood and paint off the body of the guitar would not affect the tone. there's more to a guitar than just the strings Well prepare yourself , your guitar will sound different now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlexVDL Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 Try a wider file or rasp.... I think it's impossible to scallop the wider areas between the frets with a small narrow file. It can be done, but it's a hell of a job, and you need much patience. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 i did my hole neck with 3 different sized half rounded files, you may way to pay more attention to the depth, try and keep it a bit more consistant, other then that you'll looking good so far Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 use multiple sized files. like 5 bucks a pop! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 8, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 I'd like to quote: was this a new neck? what you're doing to it is horrible!! what were you thinking? YOU IDIOT!!! THAT WAS A BRAND NEW NECK!!!! ERRRRRRRGHHH!!!! i wish i had money like you... uhh i fail to see how chipping wood and paint off the body of the guitar would not affect the tone. there's more to a guitar than just the strings Well prepare yourself , your guitar will sound different now hhahhahaahah! i remember those quotes . this wasn't a brand new neck. it was from my mexican telecaster. it's a year old and the frets are quite warn down. i have no doubt that scalloping will affect the tone. besides, i still have my custom carvin DC400C that's going nowhere! i think i'll try using a bigger rasp. the problem with the bigger radius rasp is that it is harder to get close to the fret without going really deep. so far i've been using that 1/4" round file and using sand paper to smooth things out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted December 8, 2003 Report Share Posted December 8, 2003 it's a year old and the frets are quite warn down. i have no doubt that scalloping will affect the tone. besides, i still have my custom carvin DC400C that's going nowhere! How well/easily do scalloped necks accept refrets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 i would think being maple would help a refret...it doesn't tear out very easy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 I've heard refrets on scalloped boards are tricky...and more expensive if you're not the one doing the work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chemical_ali Posted December 9, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 hopefully i can find a more consistent method for scalloping . if i find one and i actually like the scalloped feel, i'm considering doing it to a new stratocaster! brian, i need some tips! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 hopefully i can find a more consistent method for scalloping . I wonder if some sort of router (dremel or 1/4" trim router) with a specialized jig could be used for this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 well youcould start by drawing a straight line down the side of the neck so you know where to stop the scallop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Take your present file and wrap some 150 grit around it about 2-3 times, tape it off at both ends so it won't slip and start slow n easy finishing the job. If you need wider then add more wraps, thinner then fewer. Sweet simple and you can change the grit to smooth out any minor gouges you might incure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlexVDL Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Mr. B. knows it all!!! I'm not worthy!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Tube Doctor Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Refretting a scalloped neck, maple or any other wood, is seriously challenging. I refretted a Malmsteen Strat last year for one of my regulars. It took a long time to get right, as you don't have a bunch of level areas between the frets to use as a reference for relief. Also, when you go about levelling the fret slots after removing the old frets, you've got to be really cautious about NOT flattening the fret land too much. I think that something like the Erlewine neck jig would be highly useful on such a job. The relief could be gauged with the guitar strung, before the old frets are removed. That would at least provide a reference from which to work when installing and levelling the new frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saber Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 Refretting a scalloped neck, maple or any other wood, is seriously challenging. I refretted a Malmsteen Strat last year for one of my regulars. It took a long time to get right, as you don't have a bunch of level areas between the frets to use as a reference for relief. What if you had a small flat ledge near the frets, sort of like we see in this picture from Brian's scalloping tutorial? Do you think it would make refretting easier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultraman Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 i dont get this wont scalloping completely change what the fret sounds like? if the fretboard is lower down you have to push more down... doing that, the string stretches more so makes it higher... explanations requested... i know some effects that scalloping will give but can someone make it clear for me? what does it REALLY do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 i dont get this wont scalloping completely change what the fret sounds like? if the fretboard is lower down you have to push more down... doing that, the string stretches more so makes it higher... explanations requested... i know some effects that scalloping will give but can someone make it clear for me? what does it REALLY do? Hmm... if you're touching fretboard when playing, you're pressing too hard. It's not "proper" to press that hard, scalloped or not. Well anyway, scalloping forces you not to press too hard so in a way it "teaches" you to play with a light touch. I forgot to mention the benefits. For me, there is a lot less friction (with the fretboard.) I guess you have to try it to really understand the benefit. By trying it I mean for a good amount of time (weeks?,) not just trying a friend's for 10 minutes and saying "This is weird, I don't like it" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snork Posted December 9, 2003 Report Share Posted December 9, 2003 i scalloped my frets by wrapping sand paper around a pencil.... LOL what a lazaaaaaay bastard i am! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 The edge will help on a fresh set of frets and as far as another benifit of playing with a scalloped board just wait till you try vibrato's wOOt bend power Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saber Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 just wait till you try vibrato's wOOt bend power The vibrato is the biggest advantage that I've noticed. I can only imagine what it might be like with stainless steel frets! I've had the scalloped fretboard for about a month now. The first day, it felt kind of awkward. But I'm liking it more and more, and I don't think I'll be going back to a regular fretboard. Like nyjbkim wrote, it really does teach you not to squeeze the neck which is one of the causes of guitar-related hand injuries. You notice over-squeezing the most when you play open chords on a scalloped neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saber Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 i scalloped my frets by wrapping sand paper around a pencil.... LOL what a lazaaaaaay bastard i am! That's not lazy at all! That's the hard way compared to using power tools. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbkim Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 Yes! Scalloping = sweet frictionless phalangeally blissful vibrato ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted December 10, 2003 Report Share Posted December 10, 2003 i dont get this wont scalloping completely change what the fret sounds like? if the fretboard is lower down you have to push more down... doing that, the string stretches more so makes it higher... explanations requested... i know some effects that scalloping will give but can someone make it clear for me? what does it REALLY do? ya, like they said, easier bends, but you do have to have "the touch" so that half your notes don't sound a bit off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ultraman Posted December 11, 2003 Report Share Posted December 11, 2003 yeah my teacher always tells me not to push to hard on the string when im playing fast.gotta get in the habit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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