Crown/Level, worth it to learn?
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Texas Slim
Guest
Re: Crown/Level, worth it to learn?
If you follow the steps carefully, it's pretty hard to mess it up. Just be patient, and most importantly, keep the levelling beam perfectly parallel to the centerline of the fingerboard. otherwise, you could end up with a "compound radius" fretboard.
Look for Dan Erlewine's Fretboard Basics DVD at Stewmac. He shows how to do it, AND shows how to do the job with ordinary, everyday tools you likely already have.
If you follow the steps carefully, it's pretty hard to mess it up. Just be patient, and most importantly, keep the levelling beam perfectly parallel to the centerline of the fingerboard. otherwise, you could end up with a "compound radius" fretboard.
Look for Dan Erlewine's Fretboard Basics DVD at Stewmac. He shows how to do it, AND shows how to do the job with ordinary, everyday tools you likely already have.
DreX
New member
Re: Crown/Level, worth it to learn?
It's worth it to learn, because you can buy a slightly used guitar on ebay and make it good as new for just the cost of materials and time. That, and learning how to do mild ding repair. Check this video out, for the sake of buying, selling or having some peace of mind that if you ding your guitar, you have some recourse.
There are some things to watch out for still. I masked the fret board off per the instructions, but I would occasionally come down against the tape with the file as I was going back and forth, using a triangular file with the edges ground down. I thought the tape was taking the impact, but after I removed the tape there were pressure marks in the wood. It mostly went away after I went over it with lemon oil, but after that I used two layers or more of masking tape over the frets to protect the fret board better.
Another close call was not the first, but the second or third time I did a level and crown, I was going off of memory thinking I could, and I almost forgot to make the neck perfectly flat before running the sanding block over the frets. Visually, there's hardly an indicator to tell you if you've forgot to do this step, so, that's more of a warning for the second time around.
I definitely think people should do their first level and crown with a guitar / neck they wouldn't be sad to ruin. Sometimes instructions are 100% thorough so you have to fill in the blanks on your own, and that's where things can go wrong, IMO.
It's worth it to learn, because you can buy a slightly used guitar on ebay and make it good as new for just the cost of materials and time. That, and learning how to do mild ding repair. Check this video out, for the sake of buying, selling or having some peace of mind that if you ding your guitar, you have some recourse.
There are some things to watch out for still. I masked the fret board off per the instructions, but I would occasionally come down against the tape with the file as I was going back and forth, using a triangular file with the edges ground down. I thought the tape was taking the impact, but after I removed the tape there were pressure marks in the wood. It mostly went away after I went over it with lemon oil, but after that I used two layers or more of masking tape over the frets to protect the fret board better.
Another close call was not the first, but the second or third time I did a level and crown, I was going off of memory thinking I could, and I almost forgot to make the neck perfectly flat before running the sanding block over the frets. Visually, there's hardly an indicator to tell you if you've forgot to do this step, so, that's more of a warning for the second time around.
I definitely think people should do their first level and crown with a guitar / neck they wouldn't be sad to ruin. Sometimes instructions are 100% thorough so you have to fill in the blanks on your own, and that's where things can go wrong, IMO.
Last edited:
ThunderLizard
New member
Re: Crown/Level, worth it to learn?
It is worth it to learn how to do most any guitar repair. It really feels good being able to fix most anything on a guitar. It is also nice to save money on repairs. The coolest thing is getting a "project guitar" off Ebay for next to nothing and repairing it into a real player.
It is worth it to learn how to do most any guitar repair. It really feels good being able to fix most anything on a guitar. It is also nice to save money on repairs. The coolest thing is getting a "project guitar" off Ebay for next to nothing and repairing it into a real player.
koshikas
New member
Re: Crown/Level, worth it to learn?
couldnt agree with u more, it is very satisfying to know that u are capable of keepin all ur guitars in prime playing condition. recently did my 4th levelling/crowning/polishing job. nad havent messed up a single job.
have to stress the importance of polishing after levelling/crowning too, for scratch free silky bending and playing
couldnt agree with u more, it is very satisfying to know that u are capable of keepin all ur guitars in prime playing condition. recently did my 4th levelling/crowning/polishing job. nad havent messed up a single job.
have to stress the importance of polishing after levelling/crowning too, for scratch free silky bending and playing
