Ting Ho Dung Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 What is the best way to roll the fretboard edges? Guitar is built and finished. What tools are used? How do you get that nice rolled edge feel?
Toadroller Posted January 25, 2014 Posted January 25, 2014 This is part 15 in a long and detail series. Very enjoyable.
atquinn Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 I don't believe I've ever played a guitar with rolled edges since I don't believe Hamer or Suhr do it (although I know Suhr does it on request). Never something I've missed or thought I needed.-Austin
carfish7 Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Maybe on a new build or after a fretboard planing, but I agree with Austin.
Steve Haynie Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Someone at the Ernie Ball/Music Man factory had the job of rounding fretboard edges. I think it was done with a sanding block.
Bobby Marshall Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 James Tyler does this with his guitars. Never held or played one myself but the rolled edges mimic what would happen naturally if a guitar was played very regularly over a long period of time, or so I surmise.
BadgerDave Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 On a guitar that already has finished fret ends, the process of rolling the fingerboard is much easier. I use drywall sandpaper, running it all along the edge of the board and rounding the fret edges at the same time. Of course, I finish with higher grit papers to give it a smooth feel.Aggressive is good in this case. Nothing makes a guitar feel as comfortable as rolling the fretboard edges, IMO.
G Man Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 I've used the shaft of a screw driver and ran it back and forth along the edge, between the frets while applying medium pressure. It compresses the wood and works well. Go slow and check your work as you go.
Ting Ho Dung Posted January 26, 2014 Author Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks for the info. That's kind of what I thought I'd try. Though G Man has a unique perspective. I may give that a try first. It's an ebony board though so may be too hard for it.
Hbom Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 /\ /\ /\ /\ What Gman said except I use a piece of 3/16 polished brass rod. Thorn it will work fine on Ebony. just go slow.
Andrew Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 I think Hamer did often sand the fingerboard edge to make it feel played in - I have a Daytona where it is visible. Although I can't say when the practice started or that every Hamer received the treatment.
hamerhead Posted January 26, 2014 Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks for the info. That's kind of what I thought I'd try. Though G Man has a unique perspective. I may give that a try first. It's an ebony board though so may be too hard for it.You may want to practice on something other than a real nice guitar first. Just sayin'.
sixesandsevens Posted January 27, 2014 Posted January 27, 2014 I've used the shaft of a screw driver and ran it back and forth along the edge, between the frets while applying medium pressure. It compresses the wood and works well. Go slow and check your work as you go.I've done it with the shaft of a screwdriver. It did struggle to get into the corners right at the frets, but it's not noticeable when playing. Something to remember to do if/when there's a refret down the road and before the new frets go on.
FrankieIII Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 Aggressive is good in this case. Nothing makes a guitar feel as comfortable as rolling the fretboard edges, IMO. Amen, brotha!!!
ZR Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 I've done the big screwdriver roll. I think it's better than aggressive sanding, IMHO. Rolling leaves you with more of a natural feel...like a piece of raw wood railing at an amusement park that's been finely honed by years of smoothing action.
dragan Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 does this effect string spacing if done before a refret ? or does it make "falling" off the fretboard more of a problem by narrowing the playing surface ? and do I remember Dean guitars having a rolled or sloped inward board edge that was bound ? just curious
Steve Haynie Posted January 29, 2014 Posted January 29, 2014 String spacing and pulling strings over the edge is not a problem. Dean rounded their binding back in the original run. They felt good, too.
hamerhead Posted January 30, 2014 Posted January 30, 2014 Dave - the size of your sack knows no bounds.
Ting Ho Dung Posted January 31, 2014 Author Posted January 31, 2014 Thanks for the photos, Dave. The video is helpful too. Not sure if I'll take a carpet knife to the guitar though.
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Ting Ho Dung
What is the best way to roll the fretboard edges? Guitar is built and finished. What tools are used? How do you get that nice rolled edge feel?
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