Official Luthiers Forum!

hey, i got a question, i was trying to level out my fretboard last night and radius it and after I was more or less finished I noticed that the fretboard has a hump in it, its more or less level from 1 to the 12th and then drop towards the top from the 12th to the 20th, its more or less a 1.0-1.5mm drop, is this normal?, im assuming that when the neck is in tension the arc will become straight but its just a little nerve racking and I wanted to check

Thanks

Mike

Hi,

I’m assuming that the fingerboard is not attached to the neck and that you are leveling and carving the radius on a flat surface. Therefore, I will venture to say that the drop is not good especially 1.5 mm. I do sometimes add a dip from the neck/body join but it is very slight if at all present.

With the 1.5 mm drop you will have to consider how thick the fingerboard is in that slopped area and would it take the frets without breaking. The other thing to consider is if you intend to play the guitar in the slopped area it may prove difficult and likely you will have intonation problems.

For me I would go with a new fingerboard and chalk this up to experience.

A typical error in sanding and leveling is having uneven pressure throughout the stroke or that the work material is not level and well supported.

_________________
Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

If this is an acoustic I wouldn't get too worked up . After all , you plan the fretboard and you can make the final adjustments on fret leveling. Besides on the acoustic this will be your extension over the top and you may need to adjust this to make the board transition true on to the top.
If this is an electric you will glue this to your neck and you can adjust the planing with the frets
How thick is the fretboard? If you are at 1/4" you can try and true it some more but again , on the acoustic it won't be too bad as you don't know what you will need to do with the part of the board as it goes on the top

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it