Rolling A Bound Neck

[ehdwuld]

Can you roll the bound fretboard edges?
I have rolled the unbound fretboards in my collection

Is it possible to roll bound ones as well?

I had always thought of those as just the way they are

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

Sure, just use a razor and go slow.

Roman shows ya

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

Another one

I use a thinner razor and just drag it up and down the whole neck. Light pressure and the razor passes over the frets.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

I had an SG that someone sanded down the binding so that it was super thin at the fretboard. That neck felt wonderful.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

I've never rolled fretboard edges with the frets in before.


The razor blade method looks like the way to go to do this.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

I've never rolled fretboard edges with the frets in before.


The razor blade method looks like the way to go to do this.

You should always roll the edges after the frets are installed. Doing it before undercuts the fret ends.

You want it to look like this (extreme example, but same idea)

 

[larryguitar]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

You should always roll the edges after the frets are installed. Doing it before undercuts the fret ends.

You want it to look like this (extreme example, but same idea)

I agree; rolling the edge of the fretboard before the frets are in simply makes the ends of the frets stand MORE proud, which works against the whole idea of rolling the board.

I typically use Micro-Mesh pads to break that corner after finishing up the fretwork, polishing until the ends of the frets are rounded and smooth, and the sharp corner of the board between the frets is slightly softened.

Larry

 

[nexion218]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

You should always roll the edges after the frets are installed. Doing it before undercuts the fret ends.

You want it to look like this (extreme example, but same idea)

Wow! Talk about a beauty to behold!

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

You should always roll the edges after the frets are installed. Doing it before undercuts the fret ends.

You want it to look like this (extreme example, but same idea)

That general approach is what the edges of fretboards and frets should look like for best playability. The extremes of them not being this way, and a poorly cut nut, are the overwhelming factors resulting in a guitar that feels like a "cheap guitar." Do this to any old "crappy" $150 guitar (along with the installation of a hand cut nut), and it will play better than a new Gibson.

I've heard lots of online people complain about strings pulling off the edges...but that's just a sign that someone has done it wrong. If done properly, there should be a very minimal, if any, difference in how deeply the fret bevels go in from the ends of the frets. They just get a hell of a lot smoother to move over.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Rolling A Bound Neck

You should always roll the edges after the frets are installed. Doing it before undercuts the fret ends.

You want it to look like this (extreme example, but same idea)

That does look pretty . . . although I haven't run into the undercut fret ends thing you're talking about. After rolling when you finish refretting the dressing you give to the fret ends is maybe slightly more involved with rolled edges (you've got to round the fret ends a bit more than you would otherwise), but ends up being very comfortable to play.