Fretboard over top

Please put your pickup/wiring discussions in the Electronics section; and put discussions about repair issues, including fixing errors in new instruments, in the Repairs section.
Post Reply
User avatar
Dick Hutchings
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:39 am

Fretboard over top

Post by Dick Hutchings »

I've been thinking about this on and off since I just did a reset and getting close to finishing my own guitar. The dovetail is the one place I would like to use HHG but it requires moisture to release it. It's easy to induce steam into the dovetail but not so much under the fretboard. Heat alone won't do it so I'm considering using Titebond over the top of the guitar where it's very easy for future reset using heat alone. Tell me I'm wrong.
Dick Hutchings
User avatar
Bob Gramann
Posts: 1101
Joined: Fri Jan 06, 2012 11:08 am
Location: Fredericksburg, VA
Contact:

Re: Fretboard over top

Post by Bob Gramann »

I use Titebond Original for my fretboard tongues. I used to use plain Elmer’s glue to make removal even easier but I had some cases where removal was too easy—the tongue released when I didn’t want to remove it. Titebond seems to be just right. I use HHG to hold the fretboard to the neck. The Titebond releases easier than the HHG, so I can remove the extension from the body without threatening the bond between the neck and the fingerboard.
User avatar
Dick Hutchings
Posts: 105
Joined: Sun Jan 08, 2012 6:39 am

Re: Fretboard over top

Post by Dick Hutchings »

But, once you start seaming the dovetail free, the fretboard will start releasing, I think.

After re-reading Frank Fords post http://www.frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier ... etest.html, I see where it will release with heat and pressure. I now think, HHG for everything.
Dick Hutchings
User avatar
Barry Daniels
Posts: 3186
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:58 am
Location: The Woodlands, Texas

Re: Fretboard over top

Post by Barry Daniels »

I do not think steaming the dovetail will release the fretboard sufficiently. That is too far for the steam to travel and is not the path of least resistant. It is easy enough to use a household iron and a putty knife to loosen it before doing the dovetail.
MIMF Staff
Alan Carruth
Posts: 1265
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 1:11 pm

Re: Fretboard over top

Post by Alan Carruth »

I use a small amount of HHG along the center line of the FB to hold the tongue down. It's usually easy to get it loose once you've released the tenon, either by loosening the bolt or steaming.
Post Reply

Return to “Flat-Top Acoustic Guitars and Bass Guitars”