Considering Scalloping my guitar..

[AngusYoung01]

After playing a Jem, I liked that the last few frets were scalloped, so I may do this to my SG special.... but what would I do after scalloping, would I finish the board?

[WezV]

if you are goin to do it, do it to a cheap fender style guitar where you can easily replace the neck - strat style necks can be had real cheap

here is a tutorial
http://projectguitar.com/tut/scal1.htm

it uses a motorised sander but you can do the same with shaped sanding blocks.

i find 12-24 can be done with a couple of rattail files and a good clean up with sandpaper working through the grits after

[hunter]

Do it on a maple neck ... rosewood boards are a bitch to work across the grain of the wood.

[WezV]

i would disagree.  With maple you have the issues of refinishing and you also have the fact that maple if very unforgiving to shoddy workmanship.  You may be able to hide the odd amateur error on a rosewood board but no way will you on a maple board.

Another thing i would consider is not scalloping the whole fret, just scallop behind the fret.  Particulalry on the 1-10th frets where the extra width you are scalloping can lead to problems if you havnt done it before.  This will mean you can use the same two rat tail files for the whole board because the scallops will be the same size.  so, for a start its easier, and it will also allow you to still do a bit of chord work by fretting behind the scalloped section.  Doesnt quite look as cool though!

[AngusYoung01]

I only have the one guitar, but I'm planning on scalloping the 19th fret upwards, maybe 18th, depends. Definitely not the whole fretboard!

I'll be using a rat tail file for the job, but will I need to refinish at all, as I'm not sure what finish has already been used on my board?

[WezV]

it really depends on teh quality of the board - if it seems a little dry after you have done all the finish sanding then use a bit of oil like lemon oil or soemthing hardening like danish oil

[AngusYoung01]

it really depends on teh quality of the board - if it seems a little dry after you have done all the finish sanding then use a bit of oil like lemon oil or soemthing hardening like danish oil

I regularly apply Dunlop Lemon Oil... will this mean I wont have to apply any varnish coating at all, if I just use the Lemon Oil?

[WezV]

Most fretboards have no finish on them when they leave the factory, nor do they need it unless it is a particularly dry freboard(other than maple and bubinga which regularly get lacquered)

[AngusYoung01]

Thanks Wez :D


I'll get scalloping then!