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Help with Fingerboard Unbinding From Neck
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Author:  jwscheda [ Fri Apr 01, 2011 8:33 am ]
Post subject:  Help with Fingerboard Unbinding From Neck
Hey all!

Sorry for any newb-ness, this being my first post. I have this guitar that I built with my dad when I was a kid, and it has a lot of sentimental value. It was built from a kit, which may be some of the problem, but the real problem is that fingerboard is coming unbound from the neck. I think it may be humidity related, and the wood expanded, but I can't be sure. At any rate, there is a small crack in the neck that I fear my propagate more if this issue isn't addressed soon.

What is the best way to go about fixing this? Does the whole fingerboard need to be removed, and then reseated? If a new fingerboard is in order (on the off chance) I'd like to do some inlay, but I've never done it before.

Most importantly, the cracks. Sorry about the not-so-great image quality, had to take these with my phone. Any help would be very much appreciated, thanks!

John

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Author:  Mike Baker [ Sat Apr 02, 2011 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help with Fingerboard Unbinding From Neck
If I were doing that, I'd remove the fretboard and either replace with new, or, if it's possible, re-glue the existing one. You'll probably have to redo the binding as well. I'd make certain the back of the board and the surface of the neck it will be glued to is smoothly sanded and free of old glue, other wise, you'll be right back where you are now, or worse.
You could try to take a spatula or some other flat tool and slip glue in the cracks, then clamp down and hope for the best, but IMHO if you don't get the old glue out(unless it was hide glue, and not yellow or white wood glue) you won't get a good bond and the repair is likely to fail. IMHO, it's better to remove and replace.
Author:  JBreault [ Sat Apr 02, 2011 7:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help with Fingerboard Unbinding From Neck
Is it really the fretboard lifting or is the binding coming off? You should be able to separate the fretboard with some heat and a palate knife...depending of course on the type of glue you originally used. If you get it off cleanly, there is no reason why you shouldn't be able to clean up the mating surfaces and re-glue it back on.
Author:  jwscheda [ Sat Apr 02, 2011 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help with Fingerboard Unbinding From Neck
Thanks for the the thoughts everyone. I found someone locally who's going to take a look at it and fix it.

I was thinking recently that I'd like to build another with a same body style, but do some more intricate inlay. I've got an album release coming up in the somewhat near future, and I'd love for the instrument to reflect the themes in the album. I wouldn't want to build the full body, but I would like to do some custom inlay. Would it be easier to build a brand new neck from scratch, or to tear apart one of the ones in a kit like that? Thanks!

John
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