Official Luthiers Forum!

I got my LMI serviced Fingerboard 25.34" in today and realized that on their website it says "Fingerboard slotted to 25.34”, 22 frets if not specified" and I guess I didn't specify so they sent a 22 fretter. The StewMac dread plans (herringbone plans) calls for a 20 fret board. What are my options at this point? Does adding a fret (21 frets total) mess with intonation or anything strange?

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

Among your options are return it and exchange it, which they will probably do, but you lose the shipping fees. Or, sell it to another luthier. Or save it for another build. It won't change the intonation, but there is always someone who might find it peculiar.

Its fine .. you need to cut it off at the 21st fret (or close to it) anyway for a 20 fret board - depends on how close to the soundhole you want it to end up.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

I;m afraid that the rosette will not be covered by the fretboard if it is cut at the 21st fret. I will measure it for sure tonight. I could make a larger sound hole like Martin does on one of their models...

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

I just looked and counted the frets on the Martin HD28 LSV (large sound hole model) and it has 21 frets.

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

Doc you will be fine. If 20 or 21 doesn't cover the top of rosette (which it should), the 22 will. Has nothing to do with intonation unless nut to 12 and 12 to saddle slot distances are messed up, which coming from LMI would doubt. By the way my son was accepted to OSU Medical School there in Tulsa. Long process

Wow .. that model must be one of the few .. pretty much every other D only has 20 ... adn as you look at it, you see the FB goes well into the soundhole. Even on a std 4 inch soundhole, 20 frets plus the wood to 21 will cover most any rosette. The centre of the soundhole is usually 5 7/8 to 6 inches from the 14th fret neck joint .. so draw it out.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

You don't mention if you're binding your FB or not, but if you do that will extend the length a bit as well...I find generally that lopping it off at the 21st fret and adding binding covers everything nicely.

Congrats Stan! OSU has a great medical program! And I do hope to visit you soon but not sure when:)

Yes I do planning on binding it...after looking at it I do think that the binding will cover the rosette.

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Bro. Matthew A.
Oklahoma

If its ebony you could fill in with ebony dust and Supa-glue. Macassar would be a bit trickier to match.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Although you should be ok with what have, if not and doesn't work, let me know and I will send you one

I did this also. I dadoed half way through the thickness of the fretboard below the 20th fret. Then patched in a new piece of ebony holding it the thickness of a fret slot away from the top edge of the 2oth fret (or less and then recut the 20th slot). I reshaped the 16" radius and - wala! - a 20 fret board. You really can't tell anything happened - especially after I bound it.