11" Radius Block

rochishin · #1 08-11-2008, 05:14 PM

Hello,

Does anyone here know where I could get an 11" radius block for leveling the frets on my musicman? Would I have to have one custom made? I have no tools so making one is out of the question. Thanks for any and all help.

SDB Guitars · #2 08-11-2008, 05:25 PM

No idea, without just making one...

You might consider switching to a 12" radius. Those are *easy* to find, and a little bit flatter radius wouldn't feel bad, to my hand.

asad137 · #3 08-11-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rochishin

Hello,

Does anyone here know where I could get an 11' radius block for leveling the frets on my musicman?

Shades of Spinal Tap -- in two ways?

Asad

Luke73 · #4 08-11-2008, 06:12 PM

Have you tried www.stewmac.com ?

rochishin · #5 08-11-2008, 07:09 PM

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies. I looked at stewmac, no luck. I was wanting to slightly compound radius the frets from 10" to 11" to 12". How would 10" to 12" be? Would it even make a difference? SDB, how do you make a radius block? Again thanks.

FunkyFlashFive · #6 08-11-2008, 08:52 PM

if I remember correctly, you can make a radius block by finding something like a can or bucket with the desired radius, attach adhesive backed sandpaper to it and then run a block of wood up and down it until the edges of the block begin to be sanded.

rochishin · #7 08-11-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunkyFlashFive

if I remember correctly, you can make a radius block by finding something like a can or bucket with the desired radius, attach adhesive backed sandpaper to it and then run a block of wood up and down it until the edges of the block begin to be sanded.

Thanks tripleF! Now how do I measure for an 11" radius

Son of Magni · #8 08-12-2008, 06:56 AM

You're not supposed to learn this until the 8th grade, but I'll let you in on the secret. It's 1/2 of the diameter.

ZolkoW · #9 08-12-2008, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rochishin

Hello,

Does anyone here know where I could get an 11" radius block for leveling the frets on my musicman? Would I have to have one custom made? I have no tools so making one is out of the question. Thanks for any and all help.

for fret leveling, you don't really need a radiused block... a perfectly flat block is great.

erikbojerik · #10 08-12-2008, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZolkoW

for fret leveling, you don't really need a radiused block... a perfectly flat block is great.

Not to mention....if you sand parallel to the strings (instead of parallel to the centerline) you'll naturally end up with a gentle compound radius.

You might want to invest in some StewMac radius gauges if you want to be precise about this. And (perhaps more importantly) a good straightedge and set of feeler gauges so you can make sure you're actually level while you do this.

Just go slow, and use nothing coarser than 600 grit for leveling, and you should be fine.

In the end....I don't think you'll notice much of a difference between 10" and 12".

John Wentzien · #11 08-12-2008, 07:33 AM

I made an 11" radiused block by attaching some sand paper to an old 22" bass drum, and cut an 8" piece of 2x4 and just sanded until it laid flat on the drum shell.
I was careful and it didn't hurt the drum at all--just had to clean up the sawdust!

Jensby design · #12 08-12-2008, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Wentzien

I made an 11" radiused block by attaching some sand paper to an old 22" bass drum, and cut an 8" piece of 2x4 and just sanded until it laid flat on the drum shell.
I was careful and it didn't hurt the drum at all--just had to clean up the sawdust!

Hey man,your exposing my secrets to whole world

well at least to a about 50 nerds here at talkbass

Just kidding,I know there is at 300 of us

eleonn · #13 08-12-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

You're not supposed to learn this until the 8th grade, but I'll let you in on the secret. It's 1/2 of the diameter.

hoytbasses · #14 08-12-2008, 12:25 PM

you can also use a 12 or 16" block and just gently rock it as you follow the string path. And I disagree with starting at 600 for leveling: if there is a great amount of difference, you'll be sanding until you're my age!. Start with 320 to level and work up to 600: if you have lots of flat areas, you need to re-crown the frets. most folks use crowning files but i use a nicholson triangular file with great success (and way cheaper than crowning files for the casual fret technician)

as for the diff. between 10 and 12" radius... not a whole heck of a lot. The greater radii will keep you from having strings fritz out if you bend strings......One of my customers, for whom I've built 4 basses, does do a lot of bending on the G string. His first bass that I built had a 12" radius (5 string) and we have graduated to a compound: 12(ish) at the nut to 16 at the 22nd fret. In all candor, I've been at this so long I just go by feel and eye on a 6x48 belt sander... but when i'm done I cneck it with radius blocks....They're old eyes but good eyes :-)

kfh

rochishin · #15 08-12-2008, 08:52 PM

Thanks again, all good stuff! SOM, I'm trying to figure out what to use to radius the 11 inches. and yah I'm in grade seven duh!

I figured 10"-12" wouldn't be too much of a difference but I'm glad I asked, as a lot of you guys are far more experienced than I. All good stuff, thanks!

P.S. the drummers I know won't even let me stare at there kits for too long let alone sand on them