Anyone ever replace a fretboard.

[jemuniverse777]

Ive been doin my own projects for about six months, mostly painting swirls, monkey grip,claw, that kinda crap. But Im thinkin about replacing my fretboard on a 570(aanj if that really matters) with cnc cut pyrimids. Anyone ever do there own fretboard replacement? The biggest concern I have, is matching the radius of the fretboard to what I currently have. I want to try and get away with using the same frets if possible. I know it sounds like a potential dissaster, but Im pretty good with the tools. I really do not want to do a fret job if possible, any suggestions?

[bammbamm]

Do you want to replace it or just inlay it?

[ryanb]

1) You don't need CNC to route for pyramids. That's serious overkill. Pyramids are easy enough to do by hand.
2) If you still feel it necessary to do it with CNC, leave the fretboard right where it is. Jig up the neck correctly and do the routing without removing the board.
3) In my opinion, there's no way you are going to do inlay work (at least not good inlay work) without removing the frets. The routing is the easy part there. You still have to level sand the inlays, which is practically impossible to do with the frets in place (and not screw up the fretboard radius). If you could do it, you'd probably scuff up the frets enough to need a level and polish anyway.
4) Yes, it IS possible to carefully remove and replace a fretboard if you really want to do it that way. You need heat and a lot of patience. The fret compression will probably turn the board into a pretzel once you remove it (so you may have to remove the frets anyway).

I'd say don't screw around with this. Pull the frets and do the inlay work right. Then, either learn to do the fret job yourself (it's not THAT difficult) or have the work done for you. It's a lot easier and faster, and will probably produce a much more pleasing result.

[ibanezcollector]

im guessing hes talking about the cnc route and precut pyramids and vines on evilbay with the optional cnc'd fretboard he sells as well

[jemuniverse777]

Thanks ryanb for the input. After reading your points, I think I will be best off just doing the routing myself on the original board and then do my first fret job. Ive been a bench jeweler for a couple years and probably really wont have that much difficulty doing the job. What was attractive about getting a precut board was the fact that it is precut precisely, an is ebony, which I really like vs rosewood. I have 2 other bodies still to do projects on, and maybe I'll just use those for experimenting.

[jemuniverse777]

Originally Posted by ibanezcollector

im guessing hes talking about the cnc route and precut pyramids and vines on evilbay with the optional cnc'd fretboard he sells as well

Yep, those be the ones. Any good do you Know?

[Ant1981]

Are you trying to make fakes? :P

[jemuniverse777]

Originally Posted by Ant1981

Are you trying to make fakes? :P

No, I just dont have thousands of dollars to buy the originals. Until I win the lottery or a rich uncle dies, ill be making my own.

[Eddy_mc]

Originally Posted by jemuniverse777

Ive been doin my own projects for about six months, mostly painting swirls, monkey grip,claw, that kinda crap. But Im thinkin about replacing my fretboard on a 570(aanj if that really matters) with cnc cut pyrimids. Anyone ever do there own fretboard replacement? The biggest concern I have, is matching the radius of the fretboard to what I currently have. I want to try and get away with using the same frets if possible. I know it sounds like a potential dissaster, but Im pretty good with the tools. I really do not want to do a fret job if possible, any suggestions?

Just one question if you are looking to replace the fretboard, how would you use the same frets?.

As for matching the Radius just use radius sanding blocks, make yourself a jig that allowes you to side the radius blocks in a stright line, with your new fingerboard in the center of the block, if you understand me, make sure you know where the celter of the fingerboard is, and the center of the radius block and match them up before you start sanding. I don't really think you should be worring about getting the radius on the fingerboard as much as getting your fret slots in the correct place.

Eddy