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How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=36617		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Bill Higgs [ Mon May 28, 2012 10:02 am ]
Post subject:  How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
Can anyone tell me how they go about shortening an existing (attached to the guitar already) fretboard 0.012-0.024" (to help with intonation)?

Thanks,
Bill
Author:  Andy Birko [ Mon May 28, 2012 10:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
Use a nut that's shaped like an "L" that overhangs the fretboard by .012" to .024".
Author:  grumpy [ Mon May 28, 2012 10:24 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
With the nut firmly glued in place, use a slightly modified, thin, razor saw to cut between the fretboard and the nut. The modification is to simply take out the saw tooth's set on the nut side by passing a stone on that side of the blade. This way, it won't cut into the nut at all, only the end of the fretboard.

When done with the cut, knock-off the nut and make a new, slightly thicker one...

Easy peasy!
Author:  TonyKarol [ Mon May 28, 2012 11:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
I measure with the calipers, and then mark a line with a pencil where I want to cut to, and then using the mini die grinder router base and a small bit, with a magnifier on, I route it off, then clean up with a file ... years agoI had one old Ovation that needed almost an 1/8 inch taken off to get to play correctly. I couldnt believe the nut slot was that far off ...
Author:  ChuckB [ Mon May 28, 2012 12:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
I use a good sharp chisel and sneak up on the amount I want to take off.

Chuck
Author:  Billy T [ Mon May 28, 2012 1:39 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
TonyKarol wrote:
... years ago I had one old Ovation that needed almost an 1/8 inch taken off to get to play correctly. I couldnt believe the nut slot was that far off ...


You believe it now don't you!! :D

The "quality control" at Ovation is awful! I've had bridges out so far it was impossible to get even close towards proper intonation. Others I've seen were perfect. Virtually the same model too. Ovations have enough things going against them.

I've used a shelf nut(overhanging the fret board) worked great! Stephen Delft has an article where he glues little blocks of bone onto the nut itself to make up for individual nut compensation.

On the Ovation that had a bad saddle location I made a shelf, like the shelf nut because I didn't want to remove the bridge or recut the slot. I have a fixture now that works well. I has thinking about making one to router the fret board on existing guitars. File or saw would work great too.
Author:  wbergman [ Mon May 28, 2012 4:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
I saw an article where individual grooved blocks were slipped under the string at the nut. Each block was a little different in width to provide the appropriate compensatin for each string. I suppose they can be superglued once the set up is perfect. This all depends upon the fret spacing being something compatible with the needed compensation.

I just did a quick Internet search on "guitar nut compensation and intonation" and ther were a lot of long articles.
Author:  weslewis [ Mon May 28, 2012 4:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
I compensate the nut by shaping a bone shim to the fretboard radius , by using a piece of fretboard with sandpaper glued on , then gluing to then nut when it is firmly seated in the nut slot with ca, then marking and filing as usual .
Author:  Bill Higgs [ Mon May 28, 2012 9:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: How to shorten existing fretboard at nut
Thanks for all the good ideas guys. I really appreciate you taking the time to teach and share.

Bill
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