Fret level - a new experience

[RVA]

From your description you are going to take off pretty much nothing from the centre of the neck - it's all happening at the edges. The dots are going to be plastic, not mother-of-pearl, so they will sand along with the wood if necessary. I promise you won't sand through a dot.

This guitar has abalone birds like a PRS - go figure!! I will hope for the best - and I will go SLOW this time!!! thanks again!

 

[DonP]

This guitar has abalone birds like a PRS - go figure!! I will hope for the best - and I will go SLOW this time!!! thanks again!

Birds, for that money? Pictures please!

 

[RVA]

Birds, for that money? Pictures please!

I do not do this lightly Don, because it makes me a rather ill to show it off right now, but for you, my pleasure.

 

[DonP]

If that plays half as well as it looks, then it's worth all the effort you put into getting the neck right. I like it.

 

[RVA]

If that plays half as well as it looks, then it's worth all the effort you put into getting the neck right. I like it.

Thanks. It is very nice. I tried to post more pics, but photobucket is not being cooperative. i will post more when I can

 

[Inspector #20]

Nice!

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Love those Bird fret markers.

 

[RVA]

Some more

 

[RVA]

I put in new gold covered PRS pups with 50's wiring and new knobs. However, I will not try to play i until it has new frets.

RVA's folly

 

[jtcnj]

Good luck with this guitar and a salute to you wading in deeper to the whole guitar tech. thing.

I always take light exploratory passes with the sanding beam and assessment at the start of a fret level.
Helps to verify my truss rod position as well before I set to it.

I've not done nearly as many as you but I am getting a good handle on it.
Did my first on a set neck recently and all went well.

 

[RVA]

OK, so here we go. I got the hang of pulling the frets fairly quickly. At least I think so! I started at the first fret and worked my way down. However, the wood loss seems to increase higher on the fret board. I do not feel that this was a result of a poorer attempt, because I felt more control as I went along. Maybe the wood? Maybe just a function of the frets and the way they were installed (which I heard stated by Crimon guitars during my research)? Maybe because the FB is wider there? In any event, I was rather satisfied with my first experience

 

[RVA]

Now for the sanding to uniform 14" radius. Note the high and low spots. I was happy to see it matched the problem with the fret level, which was to be expected.

 

[RVA]

Getting better

Notice the low middle at fret 1. That took work to eradicate

Almost there

 

[RVA]

So I was left with some chips, but it has an even radius and will be much more playable. I will look into chip filling (and I probably should have saved that rosewood dust, but I didn't think of it until now!). All in all, I am happy with the result thus far.

 

[Inspector #20]

Looking really well done...

 

[Inspector #20]

I never saw anyone but PRS with those birds????

 

[DonP]

That's looking really good. Maybe not the Rockies, but it was looking a bit like the Catskills before you started.

 

[RVA]

I never saw anyone but PRS with those birds????

Yes, it is a "tribute"!!

 

[RVA]

That's looking really good. Maybe not the Rockies, but it was looking a bit like the Catskills before you started.

Thank you! Yes, it was an experience in topography! After I learned the shape of the FB, I forgot any misgivings I may have had about this endeavor, and that includes my fret leveling mistake that started it all.

I am waiting for the Jescar frets and slot saw arrive, and then it is on the the install.

 

[RVA]

BTW, I heated the frets well before removing them, but that did not stop the wood loss. I saw a helpful video where it was suggested to keep your fingers on the fret ends while heating to acertain when they were hot enough. I like this method.