Fretboard edge rolling tutorial

[WezV]

this is the way i do it.  it is by no means the only way to do it but i get good results with it

I have a neck that needs a little bit of wearing in so it seems the perfect opportunity to show this technique.

here is the neck pre roundover:


its a maple tele neck from warmoth.  It has been used a little bit and has a coat of oil on it  already.  part of the job on this neck is to get the finish a little more consistent and also do some extra fretwork to help give it a worn in feel.  that will all be done after the roundover.

I am using an 'irwin' stanley knife blade for this, although i actually prefer a fine razor blade this does the job just fine too!!

here is how i hold the blade - it starts with the first scr@pes at this angle (Blade nearly flat on fretboard face):


and ends at this angle (blade nearly flat on fretboard side):


frets 1 and 2 done


and up to 11:


here is a short vid or me doing a couple of frets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WKy48CP4J9w

on this neck i am aiming for a consistent roundover so my strokes go in 1 direction only all the way from fret to fret.  i do switch directions to even it out but essentially its  done in full strokes.  If i was doing a relic or wanted it to look old rather than just be comfy i would be doing the strokes back and forth which would give a more scalloped feel to the roundover. 



this works great on most woods but if they are grainy (like wenge) i would sand the roundover in


after this a rub with 0000 wire wool will leave it perfectly smooth (probably best to use synthetic wirewool on maple to prevent discolouration)
 


 

[WezV]

most importantly... i am not really pressing down, just lightly stroking the blade across the wood.  start light untill you develop a feel for how much pressue to apply

[_tom_]

Very helpful tutorial wez, thanks :) Will try it on the next strat neck I buy!

Rounded fretboard edges always feel way better.

[WezV]

oh, and the golden rule applies

you can take wood away but its very hard to put it back!!!

so go slow

[Twinfan]

Nice one Wez, but I didn't want the edges rolling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  :o  :o  :o


Just kidding  ;)  Looks great, and with a fret 'tweak' will play really nicely too I'm sure.  Don't forget they're stainless steel before you go buggering up your nice tools!  :lol:

[WezV]

dont do that to me! ;)  this is all part of taking off the newness

[Ratrod]

Thanks for that tutorial.

[Twinfan]

dont do that to me! ;)  this is all part of taking off the newness

I know Wez, just messing  ;)

Looks great!

[indysmith]

Nice tutorial! I might give this a go one day.

[jibidy]

I have a question about this.

Why?

I can understand scalloping but rolling?? Especially on the bass side??

Is it a bit like chasing after a vintage strat??

[WezV]

well i started on the bass side just to show the technique.  as an eternal thumb over the top player i do the bass side as much as the treble and just happened to start there

why - simply because its fantastically more comfortable than a hard fretboard edge.  i do it on all my guitars, and most guitars i do fretwork on -  because they are simply underdone untill the edges are rolled in some way. 

the reason i roll rather than do the tyler edge scallop is because i am not after vintage accuracy - i am after something that adds comfort but also looks neat and suits a modern styled guitar (like at least 3/4 of what i make) without making a fretboard that looks like chunks are missing

 

[_tom_]

I have a question about this.

Why?

I can understand scalloping but rolling?? Especially on the bass side??

Is it a bit like chasing after a vintage strat??

Its so much comfier. Nothing worse than a neck with hard edges, you dont realise how much they dig in til you play a rounded/rolled neck.

[jibidy]

I'll have to try one.

Don't american fenders have rolled edges?

[WezV]

i believe they do, the custom shop ones definately do... and as far as i recall they do them the same way i have shown - by hand with nothing more than a blade


i tried to be slower on the video but it really is a quick and automatic process once you get used to it.  i dont normally do it in my kitchen either but the light was better and i could stand my camera on a saucepan ;)  its one of those jobs i like to do sitting in front of the tv, much to the annoyance of my fiancee :)

[jibidy]

My mate just bought a very nice fender USA deluxe strat.

I shall go over to his house soon...