Malmsteefy Your Fingerboard

Speedabob · #1 03-18-2010, 07:08 PM

Right, I'm not sure where I should post this up, but having recently finished my stratocaster and getting it examined by some guitars with reviews such as "Who did this? This is outstanding work for just using a file !" and all the such...

I figured why don't I scallop other peoples guitar necks rather than have them shell out over £1000 for a Malmsteen Strat.

I am very confident in scalloping and I do take my time to reach the standard that I (and the owner of the fingerboard) am/are happy with

Now, I'm not going to charge silly triple figures like luthiers do, but I do want it to be worth my time, I can do half scallops (obviously will be cheaper) and full scallop

If you want pics of my fretboard then feel free to email me

just needs to be steel wooled and another coat and we're done ^_^ feels amazing!

Contact me for price?

PICS :
http://img705.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=img1020h.jpg

skins345669 · #2 03-18-2010, 07:23 PM

If this is standing to become a long term thing, I will definitely be getting involved in the future. I have a few other projects on the go at the moment though and cash flow isn't great.

Speedabob · #3 03-18-2010, 07:41 PM

It definatly will be

I'm just gathering strat copies to do em on so i can see what its like to work with different fingerboards/radius's/scale length/wood

I've only done a Maple board at the moment and apparently its the harder out of the two >.<

You do any guitar repairs/mods?

rglover · #4 03-18-2010, 09:35 PM

I like Malmsteen's playing as much as the next guy but i would never do this to any of my guitars

Speedabob · #5 03-18-2010, 10:23 PM

Have you tried a scalloped board?

I mean I did it to my Strat copy rather than my ibanez's just to try it

and its great in a different way >_<

Ibateur · #6 03-19-2010, 04:14 AM

I think the proper word is "Malmsteenize". Would be nice to see a pic when you're done with it.

andrewsfury · #7 03-19-2010, 09:28 AM

scalloped is for shreding only , if you like chords stay away from it .

Speedabob · #8 03-19-2010, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ibateur

I think the proper word is "Malmsteenize". Would be nice to see a pic when you're done with it.

"Malmsteenize" doesn't sound too good in my opinion :P

And its true about the Chords, it is slightly weird play them on a scalloped board >.<

But if anyone wanted to know how something, for example a sweep feels like on a scalloped then i'd of course let them know

I would even make a video for customers!

I'll have a pic up soon, the guitar is in my brothers bedroom and he's locked it -.-

exutus · #9 03-19-2010, 12:40 PM

I've scalloped many of my guitars so far, been playing scallop for 7-8 years.

I don't think it's bad when playing chords...
It's great. Doesn't sound as full as a whole fingerboard, but that's normal, wood is missing. But plays chords great.

Rings better, plays better. You get more accurate too.

To the noobs too afraid of doing it, you make me laugh.
Jump in the water, stop being stuck up and try new things.

Speedabob · #10 03-19-2010, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by exutus

I've scalloped many of my guitars so far, been playing scallop for 7-8 years.

I don't think it's bad when playing chords...
It's great. Doesn't sound as full as a whole fingerboard, but that's normal, wood is missing. But plays chords great.

Rings better, plays better. You get more accurate too.

To the noobs too afraid of doing it, you make me laugh.
Jump in the water, stop being stuck up and try new things.

I Strongly agree

It rings better but it lacks the tone due to missing wood

I've met people that took risks and ruined 2 Fender MIJ fretboards, so....do it on a copy first if your going to try it

pics in 10 mins

GuitarBizarre · #11 03-19-2010, 04:37 PM

Sorry, but I'm not impressed with the work here. I've seen plenty of amateur scalloping jobs and the inlays never fell out on those. You relly don't need to go that deep into the wood to get the scalloped feel, even on smaller frets. Not to mention on maple, you need to finish the wood again to prevent it getting damaged over time. Theres a reason maple boards are always clearcoated.

I'd suggest you look into refining your technique and learning how to refinish the board. Nobody wants a board to come back from scalloping with big holes in it and no finish, no matter how clean the rest of the work is, at least, I wouldn't, even were I interested in scalloping.

Speedabob · #12 03-19-2010, 05:00 PM

Sorry, forgot to say.

My idea was no dots except the last fret, guitar is going to have a custom decal saying "The Dot" on the headstock.
That was my idea for this guitar...

and I WANTED it deep for my own personal use.....

I can do normal scallops, If you need proof then when i have money i'll buy another neck and scallop that normally...

Those holes are probably gonna get filled sometime when i have time for it

It has Tru Oil finish on it, its the second coat so thats why it isnt silky smooth, once i get round to finishing it completely then it will all be good

Oh by the way, the inlays weren't very think, they were 1mm i thick, not normal ?

GuitarBizarre · #13 03-19-2010, 05:20 PM

The dot inlays stewmac sells are 1.27mm thick (0.05 inches), I think thats a good indication its a standard size.

These aren't much thicker, at .068

http://www.guitarpartsusa.com/item--...alone--PROD353

also - 'sometime when i have time for it' - not very professional, if you're promoting your work here. Not to mention, if the holes are gonne be filled, with what, and how? Surely the tung oiling should have waited until after that, since now you're going to have to strip finish with sandpaper or files to get the filling level?

Not trying to be a total downer here, but unfortunately, with plenty of custom builders and techs available not just on jemsite but in most peoples local areas, I'm just not seeing anything here that makes me want to take a chance on you rather than them. Your work itself seems to be a ways off, your enthusiasm isn't coming off as profesionalism, and you haven't even told us how you're planning to charge for this.

Edit: Also, I think you've underestimated how far down you've filed. I've just checked 2 guitars, admittedly not strats, to see how far from the surface the side position markers are. The center of the side dot on an RG550EX and on my Breedlove Passport acoustic, is about 2mm from the surface of the fretboard, if not slightly more. On the 17th fret of that guitar, you've gone at least that far down. On the ones above it you've managed at least 1.6mm I'd say.

Algiman · #14 03-19-2010, 05:28 PM

In fairness, that isn't bad for a first attempt, but it is far from pro work. Some pointers:
Scallops are uneven, eg not all the same profile
Depth is over the top (preference, I know)
Wood is poorly finished - even in the photos you can see tool marks
I suggest you work on following the radius of the fret board too.

Speedabob · #15 03-19-2010, 05:43 PM

Alright lets get this thread closed.

I'm not going to explain myself anymore - no point.

The guitar is still a W.I.P but I won't go into it..

Thanks for the replies!