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Post new topic Fretboard - making your own
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Author Topic:  Fretboard - making your own
Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 2 Jul 2005 5:37 pm    
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Is there a program out there where you can put in number of strings, such as 7, string spacing, such as 3/8" and scale length, such as 23" and it will let you print out on your computer a fretboard that you can transfer to wood or plexiglass to make your own fretboard?

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Tom Jordan


From:
Wichita, KS
Post  Posted 2 Jul 2005 10:20 pm    
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Scott,

That is excellent! Is it printed or regular paper or photo paper? (I'm assuming that it is paper...is it? Also, what are the chances that it will fade?

Nice work,

Tom Jordan
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Gerald Pierce

 

From:
Maydelle, Republic of Texas
Post  Posted 3 Jul 2005 12:09 am    
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Very Nice!
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Gerald Ross


From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jul 2005 4:41 am    
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Excellent, professional, artistic work Scott!

Question: Is it now possible to build a "Steel Guitar Forum" non-pedal guitar using components manufactured by our members? A Rick Aiello pickup, a Scott Houston fretboard... Who is making bodies?

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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

[This message was edited by Gerald Ross on 03 July 2005 at 05:42 AM.]

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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jul 2005 6:29 am    
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Lookin Good! I was wondering how to get the design on the fretboard I wanted and I can see the possibilities here. Thanks!

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Michael Aspinwall

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 3 Jul 2005 1:52 pm    
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This one was printed at Kinko's--While I'll admit it won't hold a candle to
Scott's, it didn't turn out too bad. Just a piece of black construction paper, fret lines are 1/16" pinstriping tape' stars are stick-on vinyl (both from the same online hobby shop). Xeroxed the whole shebang and, like Scott, put it under a piece of 1/8" plexi (cut to fit at the local Ace Hardware for for $3.50.) http://photobucket.com/albums/y142/archiemaxwell/?action=view¤t=pedalap2004.jpg
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Steven Cearley

 

From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 5 Jul 2005 5:13 am    
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Thanks for the great pics. My question now is: On a 23" scale seven string how many frets? The Fretfinder program lets you put in any number, will it compensate correctly no matter what number you put in?
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Gene Jones

 

From:
Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)
Post  Posted 5 Jul 2005 6:15 am    
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*

[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 13 November 2005 at 12:59 PM.]

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Randy Reeves


From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jul 2005 5:27 am    
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very beautiful fretboard idea and design.

Ive got a few questions.

does the plexi get scratched?
what about the edge. does the paper design show through?
does the plexi cause glare?
how is the plexi attached to the guitar body. ?
is the paper glued to the plexi?

lots of pickyquestions. they stem from experience in building a couple lap steels.

I took the hard route and actually used real fret material and made , well, a standard fret board..
it was labor intensive. and hwereas it looks good, it seems too much; it is a lap steel.

I like the simplicity and great looking 'return' with your fretboard idea.
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Michael Aspinwall

 

From:
Arizona, USA
Post  Posted 6 Jul 2005 8:03 pm    
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Hear hear. I trimmed the paper with a staightedge and X-acto knife. Used a Moto-tool attachment to "dish" the top of the board to accept regular pickguard screws. Once you've lined up the paper & plexi on your workbench, align & punch holes in the paper to match the plexi--I used a 1/8" paper punch so's the holes would be nice & neat. Thinking about making a few different designs so & can change 'em to fit my mood.........
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Randy Reeves


From:
LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA
Post  Posted 7 Jul 2005 6:16 am    
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what a nice thing. now I wont have to hammer in fret wire . I have some good visual designs that would work.

props guys.
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Malcolm Leonard

 

From:
Rhode Island, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jul 2005 5:12 pm    
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Scott,
That is just super nice looking!!Love it!
Malcolm
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