stupid question #193

[dragonworks]

can I take a tele neck with a rosewood or ebony fretboard, rip off the fretboard and replace it?

 

[Farview]

You would be better off just getting a new neck. It would be way less expensive. But, yes, it is possible for a professional to do this.

 

[dragonworks]

I cant get the neck I want, that is why I want to tear the fretboard off the tele neck.
I am a machinst, replacing it cant be that tough.

 

[Farview]

The trick would be getting the fretboard that you want. Necks are pretty tricky things that are put together with a certain amout of flex in mind. Not to mention the fact that if the fretboard is not positioned precisely, intonating the guitar will be impossible.

 

[dragonworks]

The trick would be getting the fretboard that you want. Necks are pretty tricky things that are put together with a certain amout of flex in mind. Not to mention the fact that if the fretboard is not positioned precisely, intonating the guitar will be impossible.

I allready have the fretboard, very nicely inlaid, but no frets. I can put it on the neck, throw the neck up on a cnc mill and cut the slots for the frets within .001" tolerance posistion one to the next, if I can get the specks. If not, I will
have to do some measuring and figure them from and existing tele neck.
I have the measurements for fret wire.
Definately a learning exp for me and maybe a costly string of mistakes, but what the hell, you only live once.
I have a custom tele body with no holes drilled, brazillian tiger wood 1/4 inch thick on mahogony, can put anykind of bridge etc.
Bought a gold bigsby whammy for it.
I am going to make custom engraved pickguard and backplate, etc.
The fretboard I bought has two fire breathing chinese dragons facing one another.
Since my last name is dragon i feel it is ok
I think I will engrave a dragon on brass for the pickguard. I allready have the material for that.

 

[dragonworks]

the reason this started is I cant find anyone to sell me a tele neck without a fretboard.
i didn't try the real expensive guys cause I know they will charge even more.
to get one with the inlay described above would probably cost me a grand.
The fretboard is hanmade, ebony, Tawainese, forty bucks.

 

[Hard2Hear]

DW- Ever think about just getting a neck blank and making one to your own design?
http://www.stewmac.com/cgi-bin/haze...200&s1=Free_info_sheets&item=freeinfo/fi.html


H2H

 

[Hard2Hear]

They also have neck blanks here:
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondproducthead.asp?CategoryName=Neck+Woods

H2H

 

[dragonworks]

I orderd Stewart McDonalds catalogue.
I gave that alot of thought but the time and work involved is quite a bit, that is down the line a bit. If I screw it up, and it only takes one false move, its all for naught.
If I can get this one done and under my belt by going this route, I will at least have faith in the basic neck construction.
I gotta find out how those guys do that inlay.
I am learning bit by bit, I gotta get out of this machinist trade, getting to old for it.
I have a great idea for a custom amp also.
I also have a friend who is the head luthier for spector bass, and a guitar luthier, if I really get into a jam.

 

[beezelbubba]

Could you repeat the other 192 questions?

 

[-=¤willhaven¤=-]

watch out for the truss rod. ive seen someone use some planing machines to remove a maple fretboard and they broke the bit on part of the truss rod. where the rod is anchored near the neck joint there was a cylindrical lump of steel.

when the neck was made, it was planed flat, bored out for the anchor, and channeled for the truss... he didnt know the anchor was that big and ended up having to pay for a new bit.