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Cut away problem

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darrenking
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Having made the fretboards I have discovered problem with the cut away on the tropical olive guitar in that it doesn't properly follow the line of the fingerboard. Basically the cut away angles into the body rather than slightly the other way around so the fingerboard currently overhangs the cut away section of the body at this point which will look (and feel) terrible. The trouble is that trimming the fretboard to match the cut away will look even worse. Mmmmmm...... I'm going to have to come up with a plan....

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syntholabo
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That's a funny one! How did that get past the design stage?

Cutaway fingerboard... a world first!


   
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darrenking
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All right, all right!! Don't all laugh out loud at once!!! It WON'T happen again, I promise!


   
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mark bailey
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I think you have two options:

  • Narrow fretboard - 'so the fretboard is a bit narrower on this one...I did it on purpose...honest...'
  • Move Centreline - glue the fretboard on wonky (level with the edge) - the bridge will not be centred on the body but nobody's perfect...you could also adjust the dovetail to move the centre up a little.

Usually in these situations you'll end up doing a bit of both until you are happy enough...put it down to experience... and don't do it again!

Any other suggestions folks?

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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darrenking
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Thanks for the suggestions Mark and option A has now been adopted. It only took a little under 1mm off the width at the 12th fret but I will remake the bridge to compensate for the narrower string spacing as I want the keep the top E centred on the fret board extension. Luckily the fretboard is pretty wide on this model anyway so I don't think it will have any noticeable effect in the end.

On a different topic, with the neck being glued on, would you still lacquer the body and neck separately or glue the neck on prior to lacquering?


   
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mark bailey
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Posted by: @darrenking

would you still lacquer the body and neck separately or glue the neck on prior to lacquering?

Yes - it is the only way to avoid lacquer 'pooling' in the corners where the neck and fretboard touch the body...not only does this look bad but it also makes it hard to neatly remove the neck in future.

I know it seems crazy and it is the last thing you want to do at this stage but trust me - the results are so much better - it is worth it.

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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