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Post subject: Changing Fretboard Radius
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:47 am
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Hello, I want to know if a fingerboard radius can be changed because I have a 7.25 radius fingerboard and would like a 12 radius.
If it can be changed, is it quite a risky job to do?

Thanks.


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Post subject: Re: Changing Fretboard Radius
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:55 am
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JimmyGuitarist wrote:
Hello, I want to know if a fingerboard radius can be changed because I have a 7.25 radius fingerboard and would like a 12 radius.
If it can be changed, is it quite a risky job to do?

Thanks.

You would need an experienced luthier I am sure. I am not a luthier but I would think that you would have to remove all the frets, modify the fretboard radius, refinish the fretboard (if needed), and refret the board. Also, from a cursory google search, I think such a drastic radius change may not be possible if it thins the fingerboard too much or if you have block inlays. I would be very surprised if simply buying a new neck wouldn't be the cheaper alternative.

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Post subject: Re: Changing Fretboard Radius
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 8:58 am
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riversitter wrote:
You would need an experienced luthier I am sure. I am not a luthier but I would think that you would have to remove all the frets, modify the fretboard radius, refinish the fretboard (if needed), and refret the board. Also, from a cursory google search, I think such a drastic radius change may not be possible if it thins the fingerboard too much or if you have block inlays. I would be very surprised if simply buying a new neck wouldn't be the cheaper alternative.


Agree with all that. 7.25 to 12 inches? It ain't going to happen.

Hey, Jimmy; I hope this isn't your new CS we're talking about?

:shock: - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:01 am
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I don't have a problem with the 7.25 radius. Just for string bending, its gonna' take some getting used to.


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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 9:28 am
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Why mess with all that. Just but a new neck with the radius you like. You can swap them out on occasion too.

I think you'd be much happier with a new neck made that way, than having a ton of work done to your current neck.


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Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 10:40 am
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It would be easier and cheaper to just buy another neck.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:02 pm
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CAFeathers wrote:
It would be easier and cheaper to just buy another neck.


If it is his new CS it might be cheaper to just buy another guitar!! :lol:

- C


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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:37 pm
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Ceri wrote:
CAFeathers wrote:
It would be easier and cheaper to just buy another neck.


If it is his new CS it might be cheaper to just buy another guitar!! :lol:

- C


That is true too.

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 4:55 pm
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In the early eighties, I had the fretboard of a Strat's neck modified at the same time it was being refretted. The luthier made it into what's known today as a compound radius. I don't know what it was called back then.

I suppose I should try to measure what the radii are, I never did. It was a very successful operation, however. The guitar plays great and became one of may major go-to guitars over the last decade or so.

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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2008 6:41 am
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To continue taking this seriously for a moment, a quick calculation shows that sanding a 7 1/4 inch 'board down to 12 inches would involve removing a bare minimum of 1.3 mm/0.050 thou' of an inch from the highest point of the fingerboard. On a typical Fender neck with a thickness of around 0.860 thou' at the first fret that would result in a major thinning and change the feel of that neck massively.

Not to mention all the effort and expense of removing the frets, reshaping the fingerboard, replacing the dot markers, refretting, crowning and dressing and refinishing. It is a non-starter. And if this is indeed a Custom Shop neck then a crying shame to do it to a fine piece of craftsmanship.

Jimmy, if you are really serious about this then just remove that neck and sell it on Ebay. Let me know: I for one will bid on it. Then for considerably less money than the sale ought to net you, go to these people and order a neck to the precise specification of your heart's desire. Howzat?

http://www.kavanaghcustoms.co.uk/

Cheers - C


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 11:39 am
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Thanks for the replies, but i found the answer to it... High Action!


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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:15 pm
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orvilleowner wrote:
In the early eighties, I had the fretboard of a Strat's neck modified at the same time it was being refretted. The luthier made it into what's known today as a compound radius. I don't know what it was called back then.

I suppose I should try to measure what the radii are, I never did. It was a very successful operation, however. The guitar plays great and became one of may major go-to guitars over the last decade or so.


Here is a description of the compound radius. I like it a lot.

Compound radius playing surface

Over twenty years ago Warmoth pioneered the concept of a conical playing surface. The idea was to keep the lower registers of the fingerboard with a rounder feel, more comfortable for chording and rhythm playing but at the same time to flatten the high registers for easier string bending. The compound radius accomplishes this with a continuously flattening radius beginning with a 10 inch radius at the string nut to a 16 inch radius at the 22nd fret. This compound radius isn't something that feels readily apparent to the playing hand in any noticeable way other than the fact that it is very comfortable to play on. With a professional set-up, these necks play exceptionally well.


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:56 pm
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I wouldnt go this way Id just buy another guitar or neck instead :P


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 2:16 pm
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Just buy this.


http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/necks/nec ... warmothpro

End of story.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:12 pm
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JimmiGuitarist:
On a typical neck with say a 1.66" dimension at the nut and a 2.20" at the last fret, you would have to remove at the center of the fretboard .019" at the nut end and .033" at the last fret. This is about the thickness of 5 and 8 sheets of paper respectively. I doubt that many players would even notice the difference and it can be done. The nut will also have to be modified and all the frets replaced. I personally would not do all this work for less that $450.00. So the bottom line is, buy a new neck (assuming your guitar has a bolt-on neck) for $200-250 and avoid yourself the hassle. Good luck!


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