J
jack butler
Active member
Anyone ever had a fretboard replaced? I have a guitar with a cracked Ebony board, neck cannot be replaced so a new fretboard is the only option. Any idea how much this would cost?
Code001
Well-known member
You're looking at around $300+, most likely.
J
jack butler
Active member
Complete with fret job and everything? Or just for the board replacement?
muudrock
Active member
How bad is it cracked and where is it cracked? I've repaired an ebony board before on a neck thru guitar. Alot cheaper and easier to repair than replace unless it is totally trashed.
Any skilled luthier should be able to repair it.
Any skilled luthier should be able to repair it.
Code001
Well-known member
jack butler":uj304oxq said:
If the whole board needs to be replaced, you gotta unglue the current fretboard, install a new one, install new inlays, install new frets, setup, etc. Assuming a fretjob around your neck of the woods costs about 180 to 200, the extra 100 will go into the labor towards fretboard replacement.
J
jack butler
Active member
It's got hairline cracks pretty much up th entire neck. I was thinking about having it replaced witha Maple board to avoid cracking in the future. I have no expierience with Maple, but I don't think it cracks like Ebony. The guitar is not replaceable so I'd do it for 3-400 dollars.
muudrock":1i9qo1b9 said:
chunktone
Active member
muudrock
Active member
jack butler":ujcecrh0 said:
There are ways to repair those types of cracks that will be unoticable when done and will not effect the playability or tone of the instrument. A skilled luthier/repairmen could do it easily. $400 sounds about right, all said and done. You can do it yourself too if you feel comfortable with it. I repaired a neckthru guitar's ebony fretboard for the same reason. I used a slow setting dark epoxy from Stewmac to fill the cracks with a syringe. Did not need to refret. After the epoxy is completely set, a light sanding followed by 000 steel wool to smooth surface and it was undetectable. Total cost to do myself: less that $40 with all supplies and about 3-4 hours.
guitarslinger
New member
Some good advice here.
I just realized I have like 3 neck thrus with ebony.
I should really put more thought in to humidity control. I'm just glad I don't live in the desert.
I just realized I have like 3 neck thrus with ebony.
I should really put more thought in to humidity control. I'm just glad I don't live in the desert.
muudrock
Active member
Absolutely. Also need to make sure you keep ebony oiled so it doesn't dry out, shrink and crack. Lemon oil works well.guitarslinger":33gewol6 said:Some good advice here.
I just realized I have like 3 neck thrus with ebony.
I should really put more thought in to humidity control. I'm just glad I don't live in the desert.
J
jack butler
Active member
Thanks guys, I may try to repair myself but I'm going to get an estimate on replacement since it's already on it's way to the shop. I think I'm going to inquire about having a Pao Ferro board instead of maple, done with Ebony looks beautiful but to tempramental for me. Having to keep something like an electric guitar in humidity controled enviroment seems ridiculous.
FUZZboat
New member
heres what I read a few months back on the subject & saved for future reference:
"It can be fixed if it bugs you. Here's the recipe for repairing ebony cracks:
Find the thinnest cyanoarcylate glue you can find. Hobby stores that sell radio airplanes and such have the stuff. The dispenser is usually a very thin pipette. Anyway if you squirt a little at one end of the crack it will wick its way all the way through the crack by capillary action. It's cool to watch. This seals the crack from moving. If the crack is too wide to totally seal, rub over the surface with a very fine steel wool or 600 grit sandpaper. Black ebony dust will enter the crack and bind to the glue. You can then reapply the glue and go over it again with the abrasive until the crack is gone. This method will usually make the crack totally disappear or at worst look like a grain line. Polish it with 0000 steel wool. You can also color it black to hide it if it's still visible with ebony oil wood dye sold at Stewart McDonald.
Man I love this kind of info. Big thanks GC.:thu:
mikeldtl04-14-2007, 04:12 PM
I would try some of this stuff first:
http://beafifer.com/
click on Bore and Fret Doctor. The site talks about this stuff fixing warping and cracking by replenishing the moisture to the wood. If you could re-moisturize the board the crack would swell up and all but disappear. I would try this before filling the cracks, and if it doesn't work you've got a bottle of the best fretboard oil made"
Hope it helps
"It can be fixed if it bugs you. Here's the recipe for repairing ebony cracks:
Find the thinnest cyanoarcylate glue you can find. Hobby stores that sell radio airplanes and such have the stuff. The dispenser is usually a very thin pipette. Anyway if you squirt a little at one end of the crack it will wick its way all the way through the crack by capillary action. It's cool to watch. This seals the crack from moving. If the crack is too wide to totally seal, rub over the surface with a very fine steel wool or 600 grit sandpaper. Black ebony dust will enter the crack and bind to the glue. You can then reapply the glue and go over it again with the abrasive until the crack is gone. This method will usually make the crack totally disappear or at worst look like a grain line. Polish it with 0000 steel wool. You can also color it black to hide it if it's still visible with ebony oil wood dye sold at Stewart McDonald.
Man I love this kind of info. Big thanks GC.:thu:
mikeldtl04-14-2007, 04:12 PM
I would try some of this stuff first:
http://beafifer.com/
click on Bore and Fret Doctor. The site talks about this stuff fixing warping and cracking by replenishing the moisture to the wood. If you could re-moisturize the board the crack would swell up and all but disappear. I would try this before filling the cracks, and if it doesn't work you've got a bottle of the best fretboard oil made"
Hope it helps
J
jack butler
Active member
Thanks, just ordered it! worth a shot
FUZZboat":d32k9ztx said:heres what I read a few months back on the subject & saved for future reference:
"It can be fixed if it bugs you. Here's the recipe for repairing ebony cracks:
Find the thinnest cyanoarcylate glue you can find. Hobby stores that sell radio airplanes and such have the stuff. The dispenser is usually a very thin pipette. Anyway if you squirt a little at one end of the crack it will wick its way all the way through the crack by capillary action. It's cool to watch. This seals the crack from moving. If the crack is too wide to totally seal, rub over the surface with a very fine steel wool or 600 grit sandpaper. Black ebony dust will enter the crack and bind to the glue. You can then reapply the glue and go over it again with the abrasive until the crack is gone. This method will usually make the crack totally disappear or at worst look like a grain line. Polish it with 0000 steel wool. You can also color it black to hide it if it's still visible with ebony oil wood dye sold at Stewart McDonald.
Man I love this kind of info. Big thanks GC.:thu:
mikeldtl04-14-2007, 04:12 PM
I would try some of this stuff first:
http://beafifer.com/
click on Bore and Fret Doctor. The site talks about this stuff fixing warping and cracking by replenishing the moisture to the wood. If you could re-moisturize the board the crack would swell up and all but disappear. I would try this before filling the cracks, and if it doesn't work you've got a bottle of the best fretboard oil made"
Hope it helps