Official Luthiers Forum!

Ok....with all of the recent posts on fretting I have another question. How many fret the board before they attach it the guitar? I understand the benefit of fretting after the board is attached in that you can level it one last time, but can't you do it using double backed tape or rubber cement also? The tension put on the fret board by installing the frets happens whether the board is on the neck on the bench so it should be adjusted for in any event anyway....right? I ask because with an arbor press to install frets it is way easier to set up and press the frets into the board before it is installed, so I am wondering if this still a sumwhat commom practice. Also, any advice from those that work this way would be most welcolme.

TIA

Shane

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Canada

Hi Shane

I have been using a bolt on fingerboard extension, so I install the neck, level it, then take it back off and fret it.

Russell, thanks, you just gave me another reason to try the neck block extension under the FB and to use Andy's brilliant idea BTSW!

About the same as Russell. Attach the neck, level it, take it off. Glue on fretboard, reattach neck, level fretboard, take it off again and press all my frets using Cumpiano's caul beneath the extension, reattach neck, level frets (if needed) (didn't need it on my first guitar).

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Thanks for the feedback. Hesh I think I will try that!

Thanks again

Shane

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Canada

I level fret Board, Install frets, and then attach to the neck, Do the final shaping of the Neck and fret ends, then attach to the guitar. Tried it the other way once, not again.

Thanks Richard, I think this is the way I will try it also. Do you also level the fret board with the neck attached to the guitar then remove the fretboard to fret it?

Thanks

Shane

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Canada

I actually Level the Fret Board on my work Bench, I have a spot that is perfectly level and is a 4"x4" so good and solid. That's just how I have been doing it But using 2 sided tape to attach it to the Neck first would do the same thing.