Re: Making a start
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:36 am
Thanks Ron, I'm planning on using a dark veneer to mark the "frets" to give a contrast to the maple. Initially I was thinking on using a thicker veneer or a thin board to get more of an effect but I think I may go for a thin veneer around 0.6mm.
I have been trying this out on an old bass (Vox White Shadow) I've had lying around for about 20 years. I bought this in the 80's, lent it to a friend who dropped it at a gig, damaged the 2nd fret and fretboard. It needed the fret replaced and a bit of repairwork which I've never got around to.
Decided recently to de-fret it to give me a fretless bass and a chance to try out the method for when I build my lap.
Some photos below, after seeing the thin veneer finish, I'm thinking that that would look sweet on the lap.
I've given the neck a rough sand but still to finish it off. There are a few "holes" around some of the frets caused when removing the frets still to be repaired with superglue. I also repaired a guage in the fretboard by filling it with dust from sanding the fretboard, then a drop of superglue, see highlight in photo.
I used 0.6mm maple veneer, glued in with superthin superglue. I tried to use the minimum amount of superglue to make finishing easier, (and because I'm a Scotsman and I'm sure you've all heard the wallet jokes ). However if I'd used more initially it would have filled more of the little holes around the frets!
Now I need to buy a decent fretsaw with depth control for when I use the same method on the Lap fretboard.
All veneer glued in
Photo on the right highlights the repair to the guage, worked out better than I expected.
Trimmed back the veneer using snips on the sides and a hobby knife on the top. The red stain on the top fret is my blood, I relaxed a bit too much with 3 frets to go, whoops
Rough sand, still a bit of work to do
I have been trying this out on an old bass (Vox White Shadow) I've had lying around for about 20 years. I bought this in the 80's, lent it to a friend who dropped it at a gig, damaged the 2nd fret and fretboard. It needed the fret replaced and a bit of repairwork which I've never got around to.
Decided recently to de-fret it to give me a fretless bass and a chance to try out the method for when I build my lap.
Some photos below, after seeing the thin veneer finish, I'm thinking that that would look sweet on the lap.
I've given the neck a rough sand but still to finish it off. There are a few "holes" around some of the frets caused when removing the frets still to be repaired with superglue. I also repaired a guage in the fretboard by filling it with dust from sanding the fretboard, then a drop of superglue, see highlight in photo.
I used 0.6mm maple veneer, glued in with superthin superglue. I tried to use the minimum amount of superglue to make finishing easier, (and because I'm a Scotsman and I'm sure you've all heard the wallet jokes ). However if I'd used more initially it would have filled more of the little holes around the frets!
Now I need to buy a decent fretsaw with depth control for when I use the same method on the Lap fretboard.
All veneer glued in
Photo on the right highlights the repair to the guage, worked out better than I expected.
Trimmed back the veneer using snips on the sides and a hobby knife on the top. The red stain on the top fret is my blood, I relaxed a bit too much with 3 frets to go, whoops
Rough sand, still a bit of work to do