For all you Guitar builders out there!!

[dccomputersa]

I recently got an older model (1999) or so 7 string rg at a pawn shop here in town. I got a good price on it because the fingerboard has started to separate from the neck at the first fret. Now, I know this is a relatively easy fix for my luthier but I have plans for that paint on this guitar and was wondering if anyone here makes custom fingerboards to fit this neck? Standard 1999 Japanese Ibanez RG 7 string. I am not sure of the design I want yet, but I have my thinkin cap on. I know it will prolly NOT be the standard pyramids, or vine. Anyone?

[Dino]

Personally, I would either have the original fingerboard glued back down, or have an entire new custom neck made for the guitar.

[dccomputersa]

I have had several custom necks made for my guitars, and the experience is always disappointing. I get a promise for 6 weeks and it always takes more then 6 months. I have to hound the guy for an update, and of course its never his fault. Right now, I wanna try doing a fingerboard my self, that way I have only one person to blame for delays.

[Dino]

There is a guy on fleabay that sells radiused and slotted boards if you want to give it a hack. Remember though, it's not just the board, it has to fretted and leveled and all that BS. It can be done but it takes some specialized tools and stuff... Sure the board is already spitting off, but is it going to take big chunks of the neck off further down when you try to get it the rest of the way off? If the new fingerboard isn't the same thickness as the old one then you may have problems with nut height and string height, truss rod issues. It could be a fun project but think it through all the way before you start.

[dccomputersa]

All very good points Dino. It looks like a am going to get someone who knows what he is foing to do most or all of it.

[Themis]

Hi

You can do it by yourself, but as it has been mentionned, you'll need some tools, and a little bit of patience.

Look at my Js (I've built the neck and change everything on the guitar) :

http://www.jemsite.com/forums/f17/cu...ide-82969.html

[dccomputersa]

Nice job on that JS!!

[Devo]

Kevan did this before he left the forum 5 or so years ago... as farr as I remember he put some good tutorials on ProjectGuitar...

Looks like I remembered correctly

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/removal.htm

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/attach.htm

Steve

[Paul Secondino]

Originally Posted by dccomputersa

I recently got an older model (1999) or so 7 string rg at a pawn shop here in town. I got a good price on it because the fingerboard has started to separate from the neck at the first fret. Now, I know this is a relatively easy fix for my luthier but I have plans for that paint on this guitar and was wondering if anyone here makes custom fingerboards to fit this neck? Standard 1999 Japanese Ibanez RG 7 string. I am not sure of the design I want yet, but I have my thinkin cap on. I know it will prolly NOT be the standard pyramids, or vine. Anyone?

To do a new finger board is possible. But it is not an easy thing to do. I did it once and frankly, it was 3 days work. That's a lot of work for a $700.00 instrument. And you can't simply cut the fingerboard to size and glue it on. It needs to be a little over sized and then hand worked down to final size.

So what you are looking at is ordering a board from someone or buying a board off of **** and sending it out to someone who does inlay. Then you'll need to have your luthier put it on the guitar , fix it if it is done wrong and then work it until it fits perfectly and is leveled and fretted. Serious work really and will likely cost more than buying the guitar itself.

[bammbamm]

Originally Posted by Paul Secondino

To do a new finger board is possible. But it is not an easy thing to do. I did it once and frankly, it was 3 days work. That's a lot of work for a $700.00 instrument. And you can't simply cut the fingerboard to size and glue it on. It needs to be a little over sized and then hand worked down to final size.

So what you are looking at is ordering a board from someone or buying a board off of **** and sending it out to someone who does inlay. Then you'll need to have your luthier put it on the guitar , fix it if it is done wrong and then work it until it fits perfectly and is leveled and fretted. Serious work really and will likely cost more than buying the guitar itself.

Paul makes some good points, but on the other hand, if you learn to do it properly, if it's something you enjoy doing and do it well, you have a couple things going for you.
You made it, and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of that work for a long time.
I do want to build a guitar from scratch, but I lack the tools and time at this stage of the game. A new fretboard, I think, would be do-able.

[Dino]

Originally Posted by bammbamm

Paul makes some good points, but on the other hand, if you learn to do it properly, if it's something you enjoy doing and do it well, you have a couple things going for you.
You made it, and you will be able to enjoy the fruits of that work for a long time.
I do want to build a guitar from scratch, but I lack the tools and time at this stage of the game. A new fretboard, I think, would be do-able.

Most of the specialized tools you need are for the fretboard and frets....