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bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=28223
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Author:  jsimpson [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:02 pm ]
Post subject:  bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

Hey gang -

I have a person with some figured indian rosewood stock, asking if it could be bookmatched and used for a figerboard. My knee jerk reaction is to say no, as adjusting the trussrod would likely split it in half....but what if you ran a reinforcement strip down the middle, underneath?

On the same guitar, they're asking for a ribrest bevel on the back and an armrest bevel on the front....but would like the armrest to be spruce, which I've never seen done. Sitka top, matching sitka block for the bevel stock. Anyone done this? Seems to me that if the grain lined up on both pieces, it should work....would look kinda cool, actually.

Thoughts?

Author:  Kent Chasson [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

I can't think of any problem with a bookmatched fingerboard. They look nice. A good glue joint should be just fine. No need for reinforcement. First, the glue joint should not be a weak spot. The whole guitar is held together with the stuff! Second, if the truss rod is pushing against the fretboard, it's the joint to the neck wood that it's really pushing against.

Author:  Edward Taylor [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

If you do the spruce bevel, please post pics! Sounds neat.

Author:  Mattia Valente [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

I've seen plenty of bookmatched fingerboards, and wouldn't hesitate to do so if the right piece of wood came along.

Author:  DennisK [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

I'd probably use a truss rod that calls for a wood spline glued in above it, to keep the rod from bearing directly against the fingerboard seam.

Spruce bevel sounds cool to me. I doubt the softness would be an issue for just an arm rubbing against it, and the bindings would still most likely take the beating if it ever gets bumped into things.

Author:  TonyKarol [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 3:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

On the idea of the bevel .. where will the purfling and bidning go ??? only on hte outer edge .. so that you carve the top right into a bevel ??? With most bevels, the purfling and binding define the inner edge of the bevel on the top, and as such the top and the bevel block dont actually touch. So you will end up with the binding spearating the bevel itself from the top ... Kinda like this .... except this one is in curly maple ...

maybe there is another way to achieve what they are asking ... not sure

Author:  jsimpson [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 4:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

TonyKarol wrote:
On the idea of the bevel .. where will the purfling and bidning go ??? only on hte outer edge .. so that you carve the top right into a bevel ???



Hi Tony -
Yeah, I was thinking of binding/purfling only the outer edge, not along the soundboard...so it would appear that the soundboard sorta curves right into the rib. Providing the grains of both the top and the bevel line up, that is.

Beautiful guitar, BTW! Niiice!

Author:  Fred Tellier [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 4:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

Why not bend the top like I have seen on some of Sheldon Schwartz guitars, they look real great. I have seen some spectacular book matched fingerboards so go for it.

Fred

Author:  TonyKarol [ Thu Jul 15, 2010 6:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: bookmatched fretboard, spruce as bevel stock

Yeah .. i am with Fred .. might be easier to bend the top and the bracing to provide the bevel .... like a strat ...

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