planing fingerboard

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planing fingerboard

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12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

planing fingerboard

My 1974 conde has a low action at the frets and has a the right amount of buzz. However its 10mm off the sounboard at the bridge and is uncomfortable to play. The neck is straight...no issues there. If i lower the bone by even 0.5mm its rattles way to much. Does anyone know if its possible to plane say 2mm off the fingerboard refret and the lower the bone so that its 8mm off the face?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2014 23:06:47

jshelton5040

Posts: 1500
Joined: Jan. 17 2005

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

Are you seriously considering altering your Conde for one or two mm's at the saddle? Do you know how much it will cost to have a luthier do this work? I wouldn't even consider doing what you're suggesting if it were my guitar.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2014 23:31:35

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

thx ...I didnt know whether it would be expensive or otherwise but 10 mm is high for a flamenco guitar. My other 3 condes have heights at the bridge of 7.7 and 8mm and very comfortable for flamenco because your fingers rest on the face for many techniques.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2014 23:47:10

tele

Posts: 1464
Joined: Aug. 17 2012

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

one to two mm makes it a problem with the player , not guitar

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 19 2014 23:52:38

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

I understand your problems with the stringheight at the bridge. 10mm is to high for most serious players

Its difficult or impossible to say if its possible to shave the fretboard on your guitar without having seen at least a photo of the side of the fretboard over the soundboard and knowing how thick it is there.
Normally when working this problem, you plane the fingerboard in an angle. So that it stays same thickness at the nut and some 1,5mm thinner at the soundhole (in your case, you need to take off around 1 - 1.2 mm at the 12th fret and leave 1st fret as it is.) It can't always be done. Some fingerboards will end up being to thin near the soundhole and the refretting will become difficult or impossible.
Its a lot of work and a bit risky because you have to cut new fretslots over the soundboard, so it costs money to have it done and choose someone who knows and who's willing to do the job.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2014 8:09:23

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

quote:

choose someone who knows

Yes this is vital. I had this done at the same time as a refret by an experienced luthier and I was very pleased with the outcome

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2014 8:54:05

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

thx Anders.....its good to hear from someone who actually understands the problem of strings height over the guitar face. Too many people talk about action over the frets and although it does have an effect on the feel , the height the face is far more important IMO.
I will take it to a luthier here and see what he says after looking closely at it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 20 2014 21:49:12

Ricardo

Posts: 14822
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

my sanchis is designed for this job in the future. Very thick ebony board but it buzzes and is like 10-11 at the bridge.....made be bleed once. But it's a relatively cheap guitar. I wouldn't think twice about doing it to a probably great sounding 70's era conde, totally worth the money and efforts. Perhaps instead of planning, a new fingerboard can be put on that has a steeper angle so you can bring down the bridge 2 mm and have a clean sound? My 73 conde has the opposite issue...7 mm at the brige but it doesn't buzz at all unless you play real hard. Same deal I would have to get a new fingerboard that is a bit thicker (unless they can veneer a thin piece of ebony on top?).

Good luck!

Ricardo

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 21 2014 14:15:18

12850bd

Posts: 148
Joined: Nov. 9 2006
From: australia

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

thx Ricardo....He said the finger board slopes nicely to about the 12th fret but then goes more or less horizontal. He said he can easily refret it and sand it down after fret 12 and it should give me a saddle height of about 8mm. Those old Condes have a unique sound totally different from post 90 models....very warm. He agrees with you that it is well worth doing

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 22 2014 21:17:06

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: planing fingerboard (in reply to 12850bd)

That sounds like the guitar has had a slight neckangle change over the years. Nothing strange about that.
What you describe is not a big job. so, good luck.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 23 2014 7:47:24