ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Z

zozoe

New member
Hey there again~ Take a look at the photo & let me know if this is doable, having a real guitar guy make room for a 22nd fret on this neck? I'm a stickler for having that extra 1/2 note, but the guitar is local, cheap, and a good platform for my pickguards I'm slapping together. To my naked eye, it looks like there's enough room, especially not needing to be ultra concerned about intonation,,,if you're up that high, not a whole lot matters... Thanks for the ops!!

Screenshot_20200507-124356_Gallery.jpg
 
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Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Plenty of Strats and Teles get a 22nd fret by having the fretboard hang over that gap.

Not sure I agree with you about the unimportance of intonation up high; in fact, I'd argue the opposite, but good intonation at 21 will still sound fine at 22, so it's a non issue. You're not changing the scale length.
 
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Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

I did this once for a client back in the 80's. I milled off a flat spot above the 21st fret, and glued on a similar piece of rosewood, shaped to fit. Sawed the slot, hammered in the right size fret and made it wasn't higher than number 21. The guy was thrilled.
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

I think if you were thinking about it like just cutting a slot in the existing board....well I can't see that actually working and its a bad idea. The fret slot would be very close to the end of the board even in the longer curved middle section, so you'd have that high note you're after being unsupported fretwire most likely.
However thats nothing to the fact that the slot would have so little wood expanse left on the pickup side that installing the fret would almost be 100% likely to chip the end of the fretboard right off.
 
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Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

For just a little more, I bet you can find a 22 fret neck.
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Just pick up your slide and play all the way to the pickup - like Jeff Beck do.
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Fretboard has to be extended - not enough room for another fret. I can't help but think a replacement neck would be more cost effective.
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

I think Brad Gillis did that to a vintage strat. I can't find very good photos, but you can see that something is up with the top fret:

BradGillis01-319x319.jpg


Whether it'll work on your guitar, whether there is enough fretboard left, that is another question, and one that is not easily answered.

I know a guy who did this to a strat with a Brazillian rosewood fretboard. You can read about the process here:

http://dinosaurrockguitar.com/forum...oard-extension-i-didnt-know-you-could-do-this

Again, unless you really want to keep your board, it probably isn't worth it. I can see it being done to a Brazillian rosewood fretboard. Regular maple? Not so much.
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Jacew said:
+1

That's the thing with bolt on neck. Just pick what suits to you ;)
Click to expand...

Yep. Doing a good job installing a fret up that high without enough space would likely cost more than a new neck, and with a new neck you can search for something that is built exactly the way your hands like. (And if you get jumbo SS frets the new neck will last for ages.)
 
Re: ANOTHER Bright Idea??

Sirion said:
I think Brad Gillis did that to a vintage strat. I can't find very good photos, but you can see that something is up with the top fret:

BradGillis01-319x319.jpg
Click to expand...

Apparently a '62 that he (had) mutilated with various mods.

Sent from my Redmi Note 8 using Tapatalk
 
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