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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 4:11 am 
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Cocobolo
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Hey,

My first body is bound (sounds a bit weird :? ) and I am a litte confused about how to proceed with the Watkin's neck, fretboard and the big press that will be used.
I know the question has been asked and discussed before: Should you fret with the board on or off the neck?

I understand that fretting on or off the neck has specific advantages and disadvantages. What do you think of combining the benefits of both methods by pressing frets 14-21 off the neck (perhaps with the fretboard taped to a flat surface) and 1-13 on the neck? idunno


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 6:11 am 
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Koa
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With a little creativity you can press all of the frets while the board is on the neck, at least it is possible if you have the clearance on your press.

Cheers,

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 7:36 am 
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Koa
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I prefer fretting after the neck is installed. I level the fingerboard after it's on the neck, and the neck in on the guitar. Some people have ways of keeping everything perfectly level when installing the fingerboard, and neck, but for me some leveling is necessary. It makes leveling the fret alot easier. I usually hammer frets instead of pressing. I see nothing wrong with pressing them, it's just not how I do it.

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:10 am 
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Cocobolo
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Location: Ireland
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hi you proberly wont want to go the route im goin for fretting an entire neck attached
im goin cutting the bottom (foot)of a 1/2 ton arbor press and welding
box metal on each side of the main middle ( T spine) if you can understand
my bad explaining -> T <-

box metal with a wooden block inserts and
holes drilled through wood and T so that 2 rails goes through the inside
of the box metal and through the front of the press
(the front of the press will be aiming twords the soundhole )
thats part 1

the round bar about 20mm thick one end will be welded to angle iron
that will be over the body of the guitar( in between the soundhole and the bridge )
with adjustable angle iron legs
im gonna make another detachable end on the other side

then im gonna make a under fretboard adjustable support with swichable caul
theres too much to mention ill just send pics of progress when i get the parts welded
i really should learn to weld well anyway i think itill be about a month before i do that
very busy in the garden with new shed comin
happy christmas
tomas


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 11:40 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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I prefer to fret the board before I put it on the neck. If you are using a 1 wat adjustable truss rod you need to be careful that you don't over compression fret the neck. This can cause too much back bow and make the guitar unplayable.
If 2 way truss rods you may be able to get relief adjusted but if too much compression is involved you can cause a warpage in the neck. With that being said you have to be sure to match the proper fret tang to the slot.
My procedure is the same as CF Martin , I use a mixture of water and tite bond to lubricate the slot and will use a .0205 tang on a .022 slot. This will not over compress the board. Then I will glue it on the neck. I just did a you tube video on fretting that will show how I fret the board.
A future You tube will show how I glue the board on the neck. It is important to have the neck and board glues as flat and true as possible. This doesn't me that this is the only way to fret a neck but this is the way the works best for my technique. One big advantage is that I am not hammer fretting on the guitar and if I do have an issue with the board I won't have to do a repair I can replace is need be,

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 12:25 pm 
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Cocobolo
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I've always been jumpy about fretting after gluing to the neck, just because I am still nervous about making a big mistake and having to 'un-glue' the board. laughing6-hehe


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 1:17 pm 
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Koa
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Christoph wrote:
Hey,


I know the question has been asked and discussed before: Should you fret with the board on or off the neck?

idunno





Christoph,

since you know the question has been discussed before, and you have already know the answers and finally since its your ax and you the one thats gotta pound in them frets...then may I most humbly suggest you Just DO It! Cuz man untill you do do it, it ain't gonna get done...no mater which way you do it. Now if you can't make up your mind, which way to do it, then flip a coin. The good thing is, you will hear the answer in your head while the coin is still in the air. Now to take this even further, I'll bet you heard your answer the second you read the words ...flip a coin.

Is got something to to with our minds ego not willing to leave things to chance and so at that last split second ... our heart makes its choice. Now the real trick to all of this is...

learning to listen to that still gentle voice from the heart.

blessings
the
Padma

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 4:29 pm 
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Cocobolo
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Location: Germany
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Thank you all for the helpful replies.

My only concern about pressing the frets prior to gluing the board to the neck is a rather silly one: How to I apply the needed pressure on the fretboard when gluing? I am afraid to damage the frets when using something like a wood block... gaah


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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 4:39 pm 
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Koa
Koa

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Location: United States
Quote:
My only concern about pressing the frets prior to gluing the board to the neck is a rather silly one: How to I apply the needed pressure on the fretboard when gluing? I am afraid to damage the frets when using something like a wood block
...

When I've done it like that I took two 2x4's glued together(making an approx 3 1/2"x 3 1/2" chunk.....very stiff for glueing) I cut appropriately spaced slots on one edge with table saw(to go over frets) then shaped that slotted edge to conform to the fretboard(as well as tapered it to approximate the lines of the fretboard.....and there you have it, worked for me.

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 5:01 pm 
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Koa
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Actually closer to 3"x 3 1/2" block......sleepy math today.

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PostPosted: Fri Dec 25, 2009 10:29 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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the Padma wrote:
Christoph,

since you know the question has been discussed before, and you have already know the answers and finally since its your ax and you the one thats gotta pound in them frets...then may I most humbly suggest you Just DO It! Cuz man untill you do do it, it ain't gonna get done...no mater which way you do it. Now if you can't make up your mind, which way to do it, then flip a coin. The good thing is, you will hear the answer in your head while the coin is still in the air. Now to take this even further, I'll bet you heard your answer the second you read the words ...flip a coin.

Is got something to to with our minds ego not willing to leave things to chance and so at that last split second ... our heart makes its choice. Now the real trick to all of this is...

learning to listen to that still gentle voice from the heart.

blessings
the
Padma


Lots 'o wisdom here. Funny, I have done it both ways. I think I prefer doing it off the neck (before gluing). BUT! It appears to me to be better, finish wise, to do it after it is glued up! Whaa! But like the Padma says, you already know the answer.

Mike


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:54 am 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

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Location: Germany
State: Hessen
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Thanks again for all the helpful advice. I will just do it... [:Y:]


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:09 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Thats a good aproach. What is you avatar a picture of?

Mike


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 5:14 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

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Location: Germany
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Mike O'Melia wrote:
Thats a good aproach. What is you avatar a picture of?

Mike


Hey Mike,

That is a "She Guevara". My favorite singer/songwriter of all times - Heather Nova - had a sticker with this face on her guitar for many years. I simply extracted this from a photo of the guitar I took.


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PostPosted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 9:00 pm 
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Koa
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woody b wrote:
I prefer fretting after the neck is installed. I level the fingerboard after it's on the neck, and the neck in on the guitar. Some people have ways of keeping everything perfectly level when installing the fingerboard, and neck, but for me some leveling is necessary. It makes leveling the fret alot easier. I usually hammer frets instead of pressing. I see nothing wrong with pressing them, it's just not how I do it.

I'm glad to see someone else still hammers them in. I just find it a lot simpler pleasing to do it this way. i get to whack something :) . I had a press and a stew mac jaws hand press and sold them. Didn't like the method....Mike


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