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Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
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Author:  Dave Fifield [ Fri Aug 07, 2009 1:12 am ]
Post subject:  Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Lance et al,

I'm using my super-duper enhanced fretboard template jig thingy for the first time this evening. I've watched the video on Lance's YouTube page a number of times now, and I've followed it without any problems up to the point where I have my fret slots all cut nicely and I've marked the leading edge of the nut slot carefully on the template with a sharp knife. Next, according to the video, I'm supposed to mark the centerline on my fretboard using the centerline marked on the template, however there's no centerline marked on the template. I suppose I could mark one myself by eyeballing the centers of the 1/4" dowel holes, but actually, I don't think I need to....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think I need to mark the centerline on the fretboard at all. The reason, I believe, is that once I've separated the template and the fretboard, then set the template on the neck centerline using the 1/4" dowels in the truss rod slot and aligned the nut slot line with the position of the nut, and drilled the dowel holes in the neck, I'll have the neck and fretboard perfectly aligned without having to refer to any drawn centerline on the fretboard. I can then mark the portion of the fretboard that needs to be cut away to match the neck width on the underside of the fretboard, and safely remove it using a bandsaw or similar.

I don't see any issues with this, but it's late, and I'm a bit tired, so I thought I'd check to make sure I wasn't missing anything here. I believe that you deliberately didn't mark the centerline on the template, because you also realized (after the video was made) that it's not a neccessary step. Right? If so, maybe you should edit that bit out of the video?

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Fri Aug 07, 2009 4:07 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Another observation and request. This template seems like it works fine for electric necks and, luckily, my new "bolt-in" (no external heel) acoustic guitar neck where the neck material extends the whole way down the fretboard, right inside the guitar, because the two sets of drill guides are placed between the 3rd/4th frets and the 18th/19th frets, providing very good registration of the fretboard onto the neck. However, it would appear that to allow it work okay for bolt-on acoustic guitar necks (using M/T or DT joints with an external heel), another pair of drill guides needs to be added between the 13th and 14th frets (or even the 11th/12th for short neck jobbys) since there's no neck material up around the 18th/19th fret on such necks. Is this a design oversight, or am I misunderstanding something? The video shows the system being used on what looks like an electric guitar neck.

Is there any chance I could get hold of a slack handful (say 8) of the little drill guides so that I can modify my template to do this? I don't mind paying for them, of course.

Cheers,
Dave F.
Author:  Ziegenfuss [ Fri Aug 07, 2009 12:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Dave,

Thanks for the questions. I will answer them as best I can:

1. You do not really need a centerline on the template. If the registration pins are drilled correctly in the FB and the neck, you will always get consistent results with the frets being perpendicular to the long axis of the neck. The centerline helps with visualizing the fretboard and positioning the jig onto a blank when you first start. In fact, it may be a good idea to even draw the rough outline of your standard fretboard on the jig to help visualize what it is if you are using a small or irregularly sized piece.

2. We incorporated a lot of flexibility into the template. All you need are two registration pin holes to locate a FB. They can be the two right next to each other, or caddy corner (if they fit). To be very honest, I made the solid models thinking of a longer electric guitar or bass neck (I use the template after the fact to drill these alignment pins), and you are absolutely correct in that these jigs could be better if there was another 2 drill bushings incorporated to split the difference of the 4 there - to better facilitate a standard 14 fret neck. But, given the tolerance of the drill bushings, if you use standard 1/8th bit, with a tight registration pin, the two pins next to one another are enough to position the fretboard and counter and motion that can be created (keeping the FB aligned) during the gluiing process.

3. I have extra bushings, if you can give me a couple days to get a new baby under my belt, I can try to get some out to you. They are about $2.00 a piece, give or take a little bit.

Thanks,
Stephen

Hope this helps
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Fri Aug 07, 2009 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Thanks for getting back to me quickly Stephen, I appreciate that. I'm glad to hear I'm not cracking up, just yet!!

I went ahead and used the template without any issues at all with the neck I'm currently doing. It's GREAT to not have the fretboard slip-sliding all over the place during glue up. Thanks for doing all the legwork with Lance and Brock to get this set of templates out to us OLF'ers. [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:]

I'd like to get 16 of the drill bushings from you actually, if you can run to that many - I want to make another couple of templates with different scales (I can cut them out on my laser) as well as add some bushings to the two from you guys. Although using an adjacent pair would register the fretboard well enough, I'd like to put them as far apart as possible for the best possible accuracy. I'll PM you with my details and you can get to it whenever you have time - no rush at all. Good luck with having your baby (really, or does that just mean you're really busy getting a guitar ready for Healdsburg?).

Thanks again,
Dave F.
Author:  Ziegenfuss [ Sat Aug 08, 2009 12:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Dave,

Yes, my wife just had a baby, and no guitar I have every built could come close :)

We will get in touch concerning the bushings.

Lasers are awesome. I am jealous that you have one :)

GOod luck with everything,

Stephen
Author:  Dave Fifield [ Sun Aug 09, 2009 3:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Enhanced Fretboard Template - Question on use
Fine business Stephen, and many congratulations to you and your wife on the birth of your child! [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:] [clap] [:Y:]

My wife and I just celebrated our 27th wedding anniversary on Friday - we had 3 boys, 2 are through college and making their way in the world and the 3rd is in high school. I vaguely remember their births - just kidding....childbirth is a life altering experience that you never forget IMO....wonderful stuff!!

Check back with you later. I'm off to laser something.... Eat Drink

Cheers,
Dave F.
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