theodoropoulos Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Today i glued the fretboard to my neck.By measuring the straightness of the fretboard i see a small up-bow in the middle.First thought was to straigten by sanding locally there...But i wondered if it is better to keep this curve.After loading the strings the tension will "dissapear" this small curve,and ...I have never tried such thing before..All my previous fretborads were 100% flat to accept the frets... What do you guys think about this ??What would you do in my place??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Sand it flat. You'll never be able to level your frets with that in it and you can't level them while it is strung up. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 Thank you Scott!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted July 3, 2013 Report Share Posted July 3, 2013 You want it flat. When I'm doing these surfaces, the face of the neck will be flat, prepared by jointer. The fingerboard will be flat, prepared by drum sander. I pre slot the board with deeper slots than I need, but I don't radius it until after the board is glued to the neck as the radius stage allows me to make sure that the area is still flat after the two flat surfaces are joined. The hard part is clamping the neck in a manner that it is straight for you to radius. I really need to pull my finger out and build a jig as I end out spending a couple minutes messing around with a straight edge. Sometimes you might even use the truss rod at this point. I think what you're seeing is just the neck pulling back on itself which you'll be able to fix with the truss rod etc, but you want to be careful, as you don't want to just go levelling the board if you haven't clamped up the neck straight or you'll actually level it into a wave shape when tension is on it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 So you think at this point ,i could probably adjust the truss rod (without any strings of course,to simulate the tension) to straighten the fretboard and level it??? i like this idea ,i had in mind it for long ago.... or go safe traditional safe way????no truss rod adjustment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 I cannot give a definite yes/no answer as I'm not holding the item, but putting some pressure on the truss rod to see if it'll fix your problem is free, reversable, only takes a few seconds and will not damage your neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 you are absolutely right!!! thank you!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 no truss rod adjustment other than to kiss it tight. Meaning the instant it feels tight and it might move the neck stop.Flatten the fretboard so no daylight comes under your straight edgeFollow the path of the strings when you check for flatness.Sand the board until it shines it will save you headache later.Check it several times before you fret it.Fretting it with modern fretwire will cause a slight backbow. Don't worry about it too much. String it up and leave it over night at pitch. That helps seat the fret tangs. IT should be very close to dead straight the next day.Tape off the fretboard and level, crown and polish your frets.Cheers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guitar2005 Posted July 4, 2013 Report Share Posted July 4, 2013 That's pretty much what I do as well. You want it flat. I pre slot the board with deeper slots than I need, but I don't radius it until after the board is glued to the neck as the radius stage allows me to make sure that the area is still flat after the two flat surfaces are joined. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 That is what i usually do..!thanks!!!!!! but my idea was to simulate the strings tension with the small use of the truss rod... anyway i will go safe and follow the way you describe!!!! i think i will use the fret barber to eliminate the back bow from fret tangs!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RestorationAD Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 That is what i usually do..!thanks!!!!!!but my idea was to simulate the strings tension with the small use of the truss rod...anyway i will go safe and follow the way you describe!!!!i think i will use the fret barber to eliminate the back bow from fret tangs!!!I am not a fan of filing the fret barbs to reduce back bow. Maybe on a super hard synthetic board. But in my experience the barbs are what hold the fret in and the backbow caused by fretting is usually completely gone after a few days at pitch. The strings will pull the neck forward effectively driving the barbs into the side of the slots.The only time I have used a fret barb file is when I was refretting a super hard ebony board on a vintage gibson acoustic. And I am not sure it made much of a difference in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 Μy fretboard is a mix of cocobolo and padauk....I think cocobolo is stronger than ebony...ok padauk is not...in the past i had this back bow experience...Besides i glue with super glue the frets .... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
demonx Posted July 5, 2013 Report Share Posted July 5, 2013 I agree with Rad, I would not file the fret barb, its just asking for trouble. Even with glued frets. The super glue is there to assist the barbs not to replace them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theodoropoulos Posted July 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2013 Οk guys!!!!! thank you for your support!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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