Official Luthiers Forum!

HI Guys

I should first explain I have always used unbound fingerboards on my guitars, but have reached the conclusion that bound would be nice. I was examining a really nice one and the fret ends are dressed about half way across the bindings. I can't for the life of me figure out how they dressed the ends without marking the bindings?

Do you think they dressed them then installed the bindings?

there is a tool called a tang nipper. This removes the part of the fret tang that is in the slot. This allows you do "pocket fret" over the binding. I do this on all my guitars bound or unbound as it lets the edge look cleaner.

Thank you, I understand than you nip out the tang.

but how do you then file the ends when they are not right on the edge ?

Many Thanks for your help

If the binding is a two layered laminated affair then the fires two layers are glued on, the fret slots cut into those binding layers and then the final layer is glued on and the frets tangs nipped off just enough to have the fret lay over that last layer.

OR, they could use a dremmel with tiney .o22 bur to lengthen the slot through part of the binding. I have done that with some success.

John

Its alot of work but you can finish up the fret end before you install it.You have to measure it perfectly and sand then micro-mesh.Gibson electrics are done this way on refrets.I've done 1 this way and thats about enough!

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

checkout semi-hemispherical frets. (I don't have a handy resource), but I think this might be what you are talking about.

I am interested in learning how to do this too.

They are just a smidge in from both edges of the fretboard.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I think thats it Brock they are just in and the advantage as I see it is you never actually touch the fret ends when playing.

I don't have any problems with bound finger boards. You must do as others have said and either use tang nippers, use several layers of binding, or install the binding about .040" proud and use the binding as the fret end, filing in between frets leveling the binding to the fret boards ( the way Gibson does it on New instruments). The semi-hemispherical system is great but doesn't need to be done if you take your time, file the ends with a can't-saw-file and use micro-mesh to 12000 to finish it all up. Micro Mesh 12000 can actually make bare wood look like it has a finish on it. I don't use plastic on my guitars (anywhere). So my bound finger boards have wood binding and I have never had a problem, I always use the nipper. ( thank God for the tang nipper!).

Side Note - Sylvan Wells was offering a seminar on Jigs and the semi-hemispherical fret polishing system. Unfortunately it was canceled due to lack of participation. Perhaps if you enough people ask he might offer another? I can't speak for him...I can tell you that it would be well worth the cost.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I am thinking a video .... :-)

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

If you don't want to spend on a tang nipper, do what repairman have for many years. Grind a the tang with a grinder using the edge of the wheel. That leaves a little semi-circle of tang on each end. set your fret, crown down on a vise and cut off the remainder with the side of a 10" mill file. It takes 2 or 3 strokes. You can prepare a fret in about 20 seconds using this method and a little practice.

--Mark Joy

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Mark Joy

mjoy Guitars

[URL=http://www.dunwellguitars.com/Fretwork-SemiHemi/Fretwork-SemiHemi.htm]

Found this description of the process, may be of some help.

Dan Erlewine's advanced fretting I and II pretty much covers it all. But...you can't ask questions.

That link to DunWell is very interesting! THANKS!Dave-SKG38542.8466898148

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I've always done bound boards (I think I've done a total of 3 unbound ones), and the fret tang nipper (StewMac has it) is very much worth its price. Makes it stupidly simple. In fact, I trim back the tang on ALL fretjobs I do, including unbound boards, so I can easily/invisibly fill the gaps at the edges. Gives it all a nice, smooth look.