This way of finishing the fretboard edge makes the neck feel nice and played in. Using a blade prevents any 'scalloping' effect, say if you were to just use sandpaper exclusively.
That's just what I needed to see as the neck i'm working on has an ebony fretboard. The camera work was perfect to see how this process is done. Thanks a lot.
Superb tip Chris !. So far in my learning curve,i can remove frets,level the board,for new frets and level and crown them but the bit that's driving me crazy is the fret ends ,,i just can't get them comfortable and even,,,,Would forever be in your debt if you ever had time to show us how the pro,s do it ! Cheers George from Scotland.
Been busy with my band stuff lately but will be back in the workshop soon and do a fret end video for you. In the meantime, check out Chris at Highline Guitars as he does an amazing demo on how to get the ball end frets - ultra comfortable - using a modified Dremel wheel. My way is very similar to that. Basically, you finish them to the proper width first and then press in or hammer, rather than filing down oversized fret ends and dressing the ends while seated. Takes some careful work to ensure you don't take off too much fret material but the results speak for themselves.
I picked a mint 89 Les Paul up a year ago ( in my avatar pic). It had some fret sprout, so I’ve hydrated it in the case for some months. I’ve smithed the bumps out with a modern nail file and 600g paper. I’ll be rolling the binding tomorrow. The quality of the guitar is as good as a new custom shop.
Just a few light passes with 400 grit if you need to smooth out any faceting, but the finish left by a sharp blade is perfect once you get the technique down.
Hey. Maple boards are normally lacquered so you can but it will remove the lacquer as you roll the edges. Then over time your hands would stain the wood with grime unless you filled in those areas with more lacquer. Or it could just look really cool and super worn in to leave the edges raw. Intentional relic job kinda thing.
I haven't tried with any composite materials like that, but I don't see why not as it is very consistent. Try it on a test piece first just in case, I reckon.
I tend to use any hardened smooth metal like a screwdriver shaft. With it being a razor blade, you just need a few light passes to roll over the bevel to make it into more of a hook. If you need more detail, look how to prep a card scraper/cabinet scraper on here, you will find plenty of great demos. Cheers
AKA a cabinet scraper with a hooked edge that can take small shavings when worked. Lots of good sharpening/burnishing examples on YT. With a razor blade, you can clamp it and simply run the edge of a screwdriver shaft over the blade at a slight angle off perpendicular back and forth a few times lightly to create the hook. Works surprisingly well for delicate work.
That's just what I needed to see as the neck i'm working on has an ebony fretboard. The camera work was perfect to see how this process is done. Thanks a lot.
Best results I've seen on YT yet! Well done
Loving Yob in the background
Best part was seeing those big frets! Beautiful neck👍👍👀
Those frets look monstrous
Superb tip Chris !. So far in my learning curve,i can remove frets,level the board,for new frets and level and crown them but the bit that's driving me crazy is the fret ends ,,i just can't get them comfortable and even,,,,Would forever be in your debt if you ever had time to show us how the pro,s do it ! Cheers George from Scotland.
Been busy with my band stuff lately but will be back in the workshop soon and do a fret end video for you. In the meantime, check out Chris at Highline Guitars as he does an amazing demo on how to get the ball end frets - ultra comfortable - using a modified Dremel wheel. My way is very similar to that. Basically, you finish them to the proper width first and then press in or hammer, rather than filing down oversized fret ends and dressing the ends while seated. Takes some careful work to ensure you don't take off too much fret material but the results speak for themselves.
Many thanks super appreciated mate !
I picked a mint 89 Les Paul up a year ago ( in my avatar pic). It had some fret sprout, so I’ve hydrated it in the case for some months. I’ve smithed the bumps out with a modern nail file and 600g paper. I’ll be rolling the binding tomorrow. The quality of the guitar is as good as a new custom shop.
Guitar asmr
Wonderful video. Do you have to re-roll the fret ends or shorten them a bit after rolling the fretboard? Can this be done on a finished maple board?
Superb work - do you do anything special to the ends of the frets after you roll the board edges or do you just leave them as shown in the video?
Just a few light passes with 400 grit if you need to smooth out any faceting, but the finish left by a sharp blade is perfect once you get the technique down.
Hey, I couldn't tell, but are you scraping back and forth, or in one direction then resetting and scraping again in the same direction?
Thank you
I see that you cut the tangs short of the fretboard end. What do you use to fill the gaps?
Hey. I used rosewood dust and wood glue this time. Sometimes I use CA glue but it darkens the gaps too much, I find.
Thks, I was hesitating between colored CA glue or epoxy
I guess with a lacquered maple fretboard you're screwed.
What is that song please?
It's Yob - Beauty In Falling Leaves 🤘🏻
YOB is love
Razor sharp fret ends should be dealt with first
can i do it on a finished maple neck? is there any special care i should take?
Hey. Maple boards are normally lacquered so you can but it will remove the lacquer as you roll the edges. Then over time your hands would stain the wood with grime unless you filled in those areas with more lacquer. Or it could just look really cool and super worn in to leave the edges raw. Intentional relic job kinda thing.
Awesome video! Can I do this in a richlite fretboard?
I haven't tried with any composite materials like that, but I don't see why not as it is very consistent. Try it on a test piece first just in case, I reckon.
How do u burnish the edge of the blade?
I tend to use any hardened smooth metal like a screwdriver shaft. With it being a razor blade, you just need a few light passes to roll over the bevel to make it into more of a hook. If you need more detail, look how to prep a card scraper/cabinet scraper on here, you will find plenty of great demos. Cheers
@@chriswalshcustomguitars3962 gotcha man. I appreciate the help🙂 im gna roll my fretboard
Rolled fretBOARD edges
Fair point!
Don't know what it means to' burnish blade like a card scraper'. What's a card scraper and how do you burnish a razor blade?
!
AKA a cabinet scraper with a hooked edge that can take small shavings when worked. Lots of good sharpening/burnishing examples on YT. With a razor blade, you can clamp it and simply run the edge of a screwdriver shaft over the blade at a slight angle off perpendicular back and forth a few times lightly to create the hook. Works surprisingly well for delicate work.
@@chriswalshcustomguitars3962 Thanks,actually watched a card sharper being sharpened.
That's not rolling fret edges.
The title is fretboard edges, not fret edges