Dec, 20 fender neck shapes and fretboard radius explained. How to build a fretboard radius jig radiusing fretbard. This is a simple and effective jig for routing the radius on a guitars fretboard. One of the best kept secrets in music teaching is that each key has certain scales, chords, and chord notes that make up the key. Kiesel guitars offers an assortment of optional fretboard radii, to complement our award winning rapidplay custom shop necks. It definitely had a 10 radius, i had measured up and down the board in case it had been worn down, i.
Blackwater river guitars tools fretboard radius jig allows you to create a constant radius on the fretboard. The pin locations on each end are positioned by measuring down from the top fretboard mounting board and assume the fretboard blank will be. The fretboard radius cutting fixture consists of a new large router base that has a curved bottom. Our teflon fretpads will likely not work on instruments with octave strings. These drawings enable you to make a tool developed to radius a fingerboard quickly and accurately using your router.
These fretboards start at the nut with a smaller radius and gradually expand to a larger radius at the opposite end of the fretboard, giving you a very consistent and gradual taper. Multifunction fingerboard radius jig by ledbelli bass guitars discussion in. Blackwater river guitars tools fretboard radius jig. Even with radius blocks there is endless sanding, on very hard wood, with mixed results. Click on any picture to see a slide show of larger images. If you looked at another circle with a 16 foot radius, it would have an even more gradual curve and the 1 34 wide. The carbide tips are the extra hard a fine k01 carbide specifically for use with extra hard woods used for fretboardfingerboard such as rosewood or ebony. The below jig is a bending jig for fretboard and headstock bindings.
Youll need to use the compound radius calculator to you build a jig that functions exactly as you need it to. For those with good eyesite, the template fitted is 11 radius but because the router bit is going to be an inch lower than this it will actually rout a 10 radius on the fretboard. Jul 24, 2008 there are all kinds of ways to radius a fret board. Just set the first and last strings to the desired action, and then place the radius gauge at the end of the fingerboard and adjust the other strings to match the. Aug 16, 2017 how to build a fretboard radius jig radiusing fretbard duration. The bits are precision machined to provide an incredibly accurate radius. To achieve a perfect fit, the thalia capo comes with multiple interchangable fretpads so that you can match the fretboard radius of your specific instrument. Typically, the larger the number measuring the fretboard face, the wider the radius. What bridge radius to use for a compound radius neck. Ive thought about mounting the holding jig to a length of pvc pipe so it can slide back and forth. And the difference in gauge from first to sixth makes that shape slightly different from the fretboards radius. Binding jig drawings detailed drawings of a tool developed to accurately cut the rabbets on the perimeter of guitar bodies for the binding and purfling. I gave up that method as i had far to much tear out of our incredibly hard local woods.
Woodworking supplies woodworking jigs woodworking projects making musical instruments cigar box guitar guitar building tool design acoustic guitar making ideas. Much as i love gretsch in general, and my tcg duo jet in particular, i have to say that you cant put a whole lot of faith in the published specs when it comes to the fretboard radius. It can be the difference between having a good playing guitar or having one that plays great. At a minimum, i have a lot of sympathy for people like me who have some degree of hand dysfunction and who feel that a radiused board is helpful, particularly with barre chords. Some do just a constant radius, others will do a compound radius. Compound radius fretboard jig ive been thinking about this for a while, looking at different designs on the internet.
The easiest and most precise way to set the action on a compound radius fingerboard is with an understring radius gauge that matches the radius of the fingerboard at the last fret. The fingerboard radius measurement itself refers to the radius of a circle from which a small segment of the circumference equal to the width of the fingerboard is taken. The fretboard radius jig also allows you to make the more sophisticated and challenging compound radius fretboards. I saw something similar to this somewhere on the web, but cant find the original reference.
The lower portion swivels, just insert the bolt in the side at the desired radius and route away. My main guitar at the moment is a charvel san dimas style 2. According to the gretsch website, my duo jet is supposed to have a 12 radius fretboard. The neck angle jig has become the industry standard in guitar building tools. The note names on the thin e string will be the same as on the thick e string. Secure the fretboard blank to the jig with carpet tape, then run the router sled up and down the. May 10, 2015 the fretboard radius cutting fixture consists of a new large router base that has a curved bottom. Posted on december, 20 by manchestermusicmill if you have ever been in the market for a strat, tele, or other fender guitar, you may have been, or may still be confused as to the different neck shapes available to you, and how the fretboard radius is related to these shapes. The 14 end looks like a 14 radius when compared with the radius guage. The tool crib 11 free guitar plans, 20 guitar building jigs.
Gold tone ob150 banjo with radius fretboard radius. The edge vise is specifically designed to work with the jig, it also doubles as a end graft tool. Conversely, the smaller the number, the smaller the radius. Takes a long time, even longer with shorter radius boards. I built a couple of different ones that relied on a 12 router in a table and had the board run over it in a pendulum type of affair. When you can think of music in keys, then so many scales and chords become predictable. The kiesel guitars custom shop just got more custom. Ive included an image that shows the specifications of an ibanez sz320 being entered into the calculator so you can see how its properly used the jig is also built to exact specifications in cad for this particular fretboard. This provides a rough shape to be finished with a radius block. I will also be able to lock the bridge and carriage in place and use a sliding feed fixture to radius fingerboards up to any practical length a bass builder would ever want for fingerboards that run the entire length of the instrument. Ended up with a couple of fingerboards that werent true doing it this way. Compound radius fretboards dreamin, plannin and makin. The tool crib 11 free guitar plans, 20 guitar building. Is a flatter neck radius really any better for shredding.
This jig will allow me to radius fingerboards with the grain, across the grain, or both simultaneously. I know exactly what im going to get when i order my v220, except for the fretboard radius. Fretboard radius explained weve found over the years that feel is what really draws a player to a certain guitar. If you were to cut a 1 34 wide section, it would have a slight curve. And heres my version and plan of the fingerboard radius jig. A flatter radius assists in setting the string action rather low and still not having bends note out. There are all kinds of ways to radius a fret board. Typically when examining a bass guitar, the fretboard radius will be narrower towards the nut of the guitar and wider towards the front pickup at the botton of the neck. Built me a fretboard radius jig and router sled a guitar forum. Pictured is an ebony fingerboard with a 16 radius at the nut end and 24 radius at the body end.
Bass guitar notes, fretboard radius and neck profile. Electronic version many luthiers find that placing the proper radius, both evenly or consistently into the fretboard one of the most difficult tasks of the build. So, if you know that there is a g on the third fret of the e string, it goes for both e strings theyre just in different octaves. At any rate, ive been making them by sanding the radius by hand with concave. Inspired by a design by don williams who adapted a design by harry fleishman. The larger the radius, the flatter the fingerboard. For now, we are concentrating on how to construct yourself one. Sure the aesthetics are what may first catch ones eye, but in our experience it is the feel that gives a player that got to have it syndrome. If you get buzzing on the low e string, then your guitar likely has a fretboard radius that is smaller than 12. Neck profile and fretboard radius, with 1 jig telecaster guitar forum. Similarly, the second set you see on the right of the picture is radiussed at to produce a 12 fretboard curve. This model supports settings for both 1 and 2radius fingerboards compound radius fingerboards. Apr 12, 2012 pretty simple in concept the router is bolted into the sled, which rides on two curved runners that slide on pvc rails. My problem has been that my stationary belt sander does not have enough length.
This jig is based on designs by marty mcclary and todd stock. I will explain in another article on why and how to use the neck jig. Made from aluminum this jig allows for precise neck alignment and control giving you a perfect neck joint. Lets start by saying classical guitars have a flat fretboard, ie.
Jan 05, 2018 for those with good eyesite, the template fitted is 11 radius but because the router bit is going to be an inch lower than this it will actually rout a 10 radius on the fretboard. The radius matches the stew mac radius guage, at least the 12 end does. He also slots them, perfect every time i might add, but i too am interested in building a radius jig. A jig for quickly putting a radius or a compound radius on a fret board.
So, using octave shapes you can work out the positions of all the notes of a certain letter on the neck. The way it is set right now, it is not adjustable, it is set for a 12 radius at the nut, and a 14 radius at the end of the board. Since almost all electric guitars and most acoustic instruments require a. Neck back contour jig demo inspired by bill scheltema plans part 3 duration. After 515 minutes time varies from species to species in a steam box, the pieces are introduced to the preheated aluminum jig and slowly clamped into shape.
Multifunction fingerboard radius jig by ledbelli bass. Diy plan for a fingerboard radius jig kappi guitars. Gold tone ob150 with radius neck fretboard the new ob 150 banjo with radius fretboard and with zero glide nut installed free. Nov 17, 2015 the larger the radius, the flatter the fingerboard. May 11, 2020 when the radius is consistent and the fretboard true from end to end, move to 100, 150, 220, 320, 400, and 600. Gls fretboard radius jig genone luthier supply blog. That may sound like a big difference, but over the 2 span of a guitar fretboard it is virtually. Jul 23, 2014 typically, the larger the number measuring the fretboard face, the wider the radius. This base rests on two metal pipes and can slide both back and forth in. Jul 30, 2015 a jig for quickly putting a radius or a compound radius on a fret board. The tele shaped one it has a 1216 compound radius and that feature. The radius of the circle hence determines the amount of the fingerboards curvature see diagram below.
The radius cutting section of the bit is 50mm 2 so you can radius a 100mm 4 wide blank without an issue. Here are some pictures of the jig i built for routing a compound radius on fretboards 12 radius at the nut end and 20 radius at the soundhole end. This base rests on two metal pipes and can slide both back and forth in addition to along the new. Spanish language plans for a classical guitar bonus. The fret board face of both boards is excellent the radius of both is very good, and a precision straight edge held on the board shows no light. The original designer of this type of jig is mario proulx of proulx guitars fame who has a brief description and some photos of it on his website.
Learning the notes of the fretboard chainsaw guitar tuition. Built me a fretboard radius jig and router sled a guitar. How to build a fretboard radius jig radiusing fretbard duration. The following table lists common fretboard radii used by major manufacturer. Often touted as one of the best kept secrets in the industry, kiesel 6 string guitars and 4 string basses are available with 3 fingerboard profiles. This is the first time anyone has ever offered a radius fret board on a banjo in this price range. After 24 hours in the jig, the pieces have taken their new shape.
When the radius is consistent and the fretboard true from end to end, move to 100, 150, 220, 320, 400, and 600. This is the first run, it is still a work in progress. Router fixture for radiusing guitar fretboards hackaday. Standard tension and high tension rubber fretpads are included with every capo. P special and its fretboard and frets were original, but they were only.
Pretty simple in concept the router is bolted into the sled, which rides on two curved runners that slide on pvc rails. Takes a long time, even longer with shorterradius boards. Youll need to use the compoundradius calculator to you build a jig that functions exactly as you need it to. Straight radius necks, or necks with a single radius from nut to heel have been a standard for many years. Share copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format adapt remix, transform, and build upon the material. If the radiuss are the same but the bass foot of the bridge is higher, your a and d string will be. If the radius of the fretboard and top of bridge are the same, then all the strings would tend to be equal in height above the fretboard. Ok, i know that not everyone thinks that radiused fretboards are worth the time and trouble that it takes to make them. The gold tone ob150 with radius neck fretboard offers.
A compound radius can be obtained by placing the pins in di. Straight radius necks, or necks with a single radius from nut to heel have been a. You can now get the new gold tone ob 150 with a radiused fret board. If there is still buzzing on the low e then drop it down again to the 9. Need help selecting fretboard radius 12 inch or 14 inch. Another fretboard radius jig page 2 telecaster guitar forum simple and cheap 22 string celtic harp built around a mounting dulcimer body celtic instruments homemade musical instruments cultural crafts pyrography patterns flautas box guitar cello craft work music stuff.
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