silvermind Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Hi, This summer I plan to scallop my fretboard. I have a Stratocaster Hwy.1 maple neck. I have never done any guitar mods before, but I played on someone elses scalloped guitar(ibanez) and liked it alot. I read the tutorial and I have a few questions. 1. Does a maple neck make a difference because, unlike rosewood, it is finished? 2. Is there a good chance I will butcher the neck and have to buy a new one, or scalloping easy? 3. I have side markers on my guitar. Will this be a problem? 4. How much shold I scallop. Is it better to scallop only, say, 13th fret and up(22 on mine), because the spaces get wider and wider going down? Or going down, you only scallop half of the space between frets because it gets very wide? 5. Will this affect the tone quality negatively because the neck is modified? 6. Finally, anyone who has done this, do you regret it? Or is it great? I really don't want to do this and then regret it later. Id like to hear a debate on scalloped necks and if they are worthwhile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 I don't know if this is the tutorial that you read. It explains all the questions that you asked. But I just did my neck and here there are some anwers that I can give you. 1. It makes a difference, you just have to paint the fret board or the whole neck once you are done. 2. If you takeie easy you won't. 3. Scallop between the side markers and your fret board, you have a Fender who has tall frets, you don't need to go lower than 3/32". 4. Is up to your taste and type of playing. I did from 12 up, but as soon as I get a dremel contour sander will finish the whole neck. 5. No, as long as you don't press the hell out of the strings. 6. I will say from what I have read that a great percentage of the guys here havo done it. I don't regret it. One note, go easy on the inlays, Brian pointed out the there is a great chance of going thru them on Maple necks. I guess that's because of the material on them. Go easy, check your work every minute and becarefull with the frets. Enjoy your neck once done. Here is a shot of my neck, which is my first one to be done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Sorry for the size, I tried resizing and it made it too small. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silvermind Posted May 25, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 Thanks How far did you scallop yours? Can I remove the side position markers because they are close and dont look ugly because saclloping 3/32" would go right up above the markes? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarMaestro Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 6. Finally, anyone who has done this, do you regret it? Or is it great? I really don't want to do this and then regret it later. Id like to hear a debate on scalloped necks and if they are worthwhile Nobody can answer that one for you. There are many people that don't like scalloped necks at all. I was always toying with the idea of scalloping my Strat. I am VERY happy that I went into a store and played a scalloped guitar for some hours, as I did NOT like it at all. I strongly recommend playing a scalloped guitar before doing the work and then realizing that you don't like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 I scalloped my strat 12 and up. I'm still getting used to it. Just feels weird. I went too deep on mine, and it doesn't look so hot, but you have to start somewhere. That was my first major mod. The transition from scalloped to normal fb feels a little weird too. I'd say if you liked the feel of scallops, then go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Bell Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 6. Finally, anyone who has done this, do you regret it? Or is it great? I scalloped one of my guitars and liked it but I wouldn't do it if you only have one guitar. It feels good for some stuff and not so good for other stuff so I think it would be useful to have the option to switch between scalloped and regular guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 Hi silvermind and welcome to the forum The side dot markers might be deeper in length then you think, some are past 1/4" long so be prepaired to go the distance if your planing on scalloping through them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maiden69 Posted May 26, 2004 Report Share Posted May 26, 2004 Make sure that you are measuring right. My scallop don't go lower than 3/32", and Iwill say that with the low frets that I have is more than enough. On your it will be more than enough. Even 1/16 should be good. If you plan on going below the side markers, be ready for a lot of work. you will most probably be replacing the fret dots too. On the frets that have dot markers try to go down on them with a file. I notice that it doesn't build up a lot of heat and doesn't damage the inlays, as you can se mine is a LP with trapezoid and the did just fine. on the other just have fun with the dremel contour sander (if you have one!) need more info let us know. I can't enphacize this better, listen to what everybody says, especialy Brian, he help me with my first scallop, he have some nice pictures and the experience that I don't have. do a lot of research Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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