Planing a Fretless Board

thombo · #1 10-17-2007, 03:23 PM

My primary bass has been a fretless stingray 5 since 2001. As expected, roundwound strings have gradually eaten away at the pau ferro board. For some time now, I have simply avioded playing certain notes in certain places because i knew they would be choked. That said, the time has come for me to suck it up and get my fingerboard planed, only I don't have the $150 that Denver, Co luthiers are asking.
I have worked construction for serverl years and am a fairly handy person. I typically work on my own basses.
How would I go about planing my board?
What materials are needed?
-sanding block radiused to 11"
-what grit sandpaper?
Would you recommend that I attempt this, or should I wait a few more months?

thombo · #2 10-17-2007, 04:25 PM

should this be in the repair/setup section?

Greenman · #3 10-17-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thombo

should this be in the repair/setup section?

Relax Buddy.

Give it time and you shall recieve your answer.

Grantrudd · #4 10-17-2007, 04:53 PM

Just find a radiusing block to fit your radius, and then start out with about 150 grit sandpaper, then work your way up to very fine, about 280 grit. just take your time and make sure that you dont eat too much wood on one side like happened to me the first time i tried radiusing my own fingerboard. then just finish the board how you like and you are good to go

have you tried the lutheir at Guitar X in Denver? his name is Steve Cox, and he did the same job for me about a year back on my 5 string fretless, and it plays amazingly. he only charged me $45 for doing this, oiling the fretboard, and doing a complete setup on my bass. Guitar X is on broadway (i think). look them up on their website www.guitarx.com. they also have some fun basses to play down there.

hope this helps

thombo · #5 10-17-2007, 05:39 PM

i thought guitar x closed... thankfully i was wrong. it seems the showroom is closed, but the website is still going strong. thanks

Grantrudd · #6 10-17-2007, 08:46 PM

they closed? i havent been down there in a while i guess. still if you can find a number for steve, he did a great job on my bass.

Monkey · #7 10-17-2007, 09:29 PM

This might not apply to your situation, but many years ago I gigged heavily on a Carvin fretless with an ebony board. I wore a pretty serious groove under the G string that would make high notes dink out. I used CA glue (Superglue) and built up and groove with repeated applications and sanding. It worked like a charm.

thombo · #8 10-17-2007, 11:52 PM

though i like the tone of the pau ferro board, ebony is still the nicest to my ears.
being a bit of a tinkerer, i have considered applying a laminate to the board (epoxy, urethane, etc) to get a sound closer to ebony, but have concluded that it gets too glassy for my taste... i like a woodier sound. i have been considering applying Minwax Wood Hardener on the pau ferro after i plane it. the hardener absorbs into the wood instead of sitting on top as a laminate. has anyone tried this? if so, how were the results?