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I ordered this serviced fretboard from LMI about 10 years ago, and I'm happy to finally put it to use. It's radiused and slotted, so now I need to locate it properly, trim it to fit, then glue it on to the neck. How would you do this if you were in my shoes? This is my cursory plan of action, and I'm hoping for some feedback on whether or not it's a good way to go.

1) An initial leveling, to be repeated again once glued before fretting.
2) Trim it close, then use a small plan to trim it up to the nut slot.
3) Clamp it in place, then drill holes in a few fret slots and use the bits as guide pins during glue-up.
4) Trace the tape while it's clamped, then trim after.
5) Glue it on, level it after.

I'd mark a good centerline on both the fretboard and the neck, for lining up later, and then taper the fretboard. I use the fretboard to guide the neck shaping, so I want the fretboard tapered to what I want the final neck to look like before it's glued on. I drill holes in fret slots for four guide pins (bits), 2nd and 11th frets I think, and then glue and clamp.

Not sure what you are referring to with the tape.

I do all the leveling and then fretting after the neck is glued on - that seems to be unusual here, but I can't see a good reason to do it differently.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Er, I mean "taper"



Correct. The neck is ready to go, minus the board. Neck is from Hanalei-Moon.

James : I,m sure you have considered your string spacing on the bridge in re: to the taper of the fingerboard and neck.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

since i am using dot markers only at this time,
i drill those, then put a screw in a couple of those,
then remove the screws and cover with the dots.
i like filippos method though.