Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (Full Version)

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tele -> Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 19:19:27)

I have a guitar with a neck that has orange lacquer/varnish(I still don't know the difference[&:]) on it and I would like to replace the fretboard on it at some point. The thing is that when shaving the fretboard to the size of the neck one has to remove lacquer off the neck also, meaning there will be mix of natural and orange colored spanish cedar on the neck. I know this is cosmetical but is there any way to minimize the loss of original lacquer or is it possible to somehow re-color the part where will be no lacquer? Is there such thing as orange shellac for example? thanks



Sr. Martins -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 19:24:47)

Ebony is black. Why dont you just remove the varnish from the fretboard before taking the fretboard off?



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 19:32:53)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rui Martins

Ebony is black. Why dont you just remove the varnish from the fretboard before taking the fretboard off?


I mean after you glue the fretboard onto the neck, you have to shave excess ebony, and that way I have no idea how to save the lacquer of the neck(spanish cedar)



Sr. Martins -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 19:49:00)

Cant you use the old freboard as a template to cut the new one?

Any final adjustment could be made with the same care as you would shave the varnish from the fretboard before removing it.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 20:37:18)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rui Martins

Cant you use the old freboard as a template to cut the new one?

Any final adjustment could be made with the same care as you would shave the varnish from the fretboard before removing it.


I'm not sure if it's possible to make it perfectly fitting.

I haven't thought of it yet, before removing the original fretboard, what is the best way to remove the fretboard lacquer? I have thought about cutting a line between the neck and fretboard with scapel, I'm not so sure it will work.



jshelton5040 -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 25 2013 23:07:06)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tele

I have a guitar with a neck that has orange lacquer/varnish(I still don't know the difference[&:]) on it and I would like to replace the fretboard on it at some point.


Why do you want to replace the fingerboard?



constructordeguitarras -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 1:16:52)

First of all, yes there is orange shellac--in fact, it may be the most common kind.

Second, before you remove the fingerboard--I have done it by heating it with a clothes iron for a long time, like 45 minutes--you could score along the joint between it and the neck with a knife--that is, cut through the finish so you won't tear the finish jaggedly onto the neck. Then before applying the new fingerboard you could place masking tape along that joint on the neck side to protect the neck finish while you glue, and sand the edge of, the fingerboard.

Finally, shellac blends seamlessly with many finishes and will probably do the trick for you on that fingerboard edge.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 9:58:05)

Thanks.

How about the lacquer of the top, will it get damaged from the heat?



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 10:03:40)

quote:

ORIGINAL: jshelton5040

Why do you want to replace the fingerboard?


Because of the scale, it's 667mm

and BTW I am not doing it by myself but with a luthier



C. Vega -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 13:54:05)

What scale length are to trying achieve?

I would think, or at least hope, that the "luthier" you're working with would have some suggestions as to how to remove and replace the fingerboard as cleanly as possible..
You do realize that, among other things, you'll also have to move or somehow modify the bridge to change the saddle position. Si?



jshelton5040 -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 14:02:16)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tele

Because of the scale, it's 667mm

and BTW I am not doing it by myself but with a luthier

If you're going to a shorter scale there's a lot more to consider than the finish. Like repositioning the bridge, figuring out how to deal with the space at the nut end of the fingerboard, and getting the head angle and slots adjusted so the strings attach to the rollers correctly (not to mention the weird effect at the sound hole). All of this can be done but the result will never be cosmetically pleasing. Sometimes it's easier and cheaper to sell this guitar and buy a new one that's built with a scale you like.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 14:15:46)

actually it used to be 660 and we go back to 660 from 667 so no problem on that.

The biggest issue now is to make it look clean. Any more tips are welcome.

About heating the fingerboard, is it really 45 minutes for the whole fretboard?
I am worried a bit about the lacquer of the top, if it gets damaged from the heat.



C. Vega -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 14:18:25)

No problem??? Are you familiar with the tern "intonation"?



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 14:51:00)

quote:

ORIGINAL: C. Vega

No problem??? Are you familiar with the tern "intonation"?


please spare your jokes. I'm sure it will be fine as 660 is original lenght. Moving the saddle and nut are obvious procedures.



Sr. Martins -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 14:53:24)

How are you going to move the saddle?

How many times has that bridge been glued already?



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 26 2013 15:28:12)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Rui Martins

How are you going to move the saddle?

How many times has that bridge been glued already?


The bridge was moved back by sawing a new slot in the bridge. Now it has to be filled and sawed at original position. But currently I am only worried about the lacquer.

Is there a chance that the heat might damage the lacquer on the neck or on the top?



constructordeguitarras -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 27 2013 13:14:26)

The time will depend on the kind of glue that was used and the thickness of the fingerboard. In my case it was aliphatic resin (yellow carpenter's) glue. I'm sure it would be easier with hide glue. The clothes iron was approximately the width of the fingerboard and I moved it back and forth the whole time and there was no problem with any other part getting heated.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 27 2013 18:06:53)

I'm just wondering, as the lacquer on the top is some kind of poly and I have read that some use heat guns to remove poly finishes...



Sean -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 27 2013 22:49:17)

Ya poly delaminates off the top with heat.
There is a heat sink material welders use, that may work; it stops thin body panels from warping while welding.

I can't picture someone moving the saddle back 3.5mm without trashing the bridge, or why they would have done that 667 conversion in the first place.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 28 2013 8:39:35)

quote:

or why they would have done that 667 conversion in the first place.



Beats me...

There was however space in the bridge to facilitate the scale. Will see how to roll about the top part, maybe it has to be shaved off carefully.



Ricardo -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 28 2013 16:03:36)

quote:

ORIGINAL: tele

quote:

ORIGINAL: C. Vega

No problem??? Are you familiar with the tern "intonation"?


please spare your jokes. I'm sure it will be fine as 660 is original lenght. Moving the saddle and nut are obvious procedures.


Don't forget to take off the strings and frets!! [:D]

Obviously you acquired the guitar already modified (oddly) and want to restore it to original size? I would think the entire bridge needs to move or had been moved, not just saddle. Odd.



Morante -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 28 2013 16:16:36)

Why not just play it as it is?. If you accompany a singer, especially a woman por malagueñas, the extra space could be very useful.

The best Conde I ever played (offered for 4000) euros was 670mm. I would have bought it without qualms, though I have small hands, but I didnt need another flamenco guitar.



tele -> RE: Changing fretboard on a neck with lacquer (May 28 2013 17:35:34)

Well it's almost done now and there were no issues. The original bridge had a kind of flat surface at the point where the bridge saddle is, and there was seemingly space to move it 3.5mm back(other 3.5 at the nut). Now it's just replaced at original position by filling the old slot and sawing a new one at original location. As for lacquer it went off nicely with a blade, however will have to be careful when sanding the fretboard side, I will use couple layers of tape and go slow.



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