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Fretless board levelling

jesterbass

jesterbass

Apr 20, 2007
366
131
#1
Hello, I have defretted a 4-string bass, using maple strips in the fret slots. It was a fairly clean job but there's one thing missing: Proper fingerboard levelling so that it has mwah all over. I have seen a video tutorial where a fingerboard is levelled using a long steel beam with sticky sandpaper, but the person who did that used a guitar jig that simulated string tension. Having no such device, what are the general guidelines for properly levelling the board? Trial and error will involve endless hours of stringing, sanding, restringing, etc. with a high probability of eating up all of the rosewood board while sanding it... I am too much of a perfectionist. :) So I thought I 'd go about it after I got a little more informed. So where do I start? Obviously the strings will be off the bass. Do I loosen up the truss rod? I have a sanding block with the original radius of the bass (12" although I should have gone for a little flatter profile) and plenty of sandpaper. Any clues/ideas are welcome.

Thanks!
 
#2
...and here's a bit of my handiwork up to now :)

043.jpg


044.jpg


046.jpg


042.jpg


The rosewood board has developed these nice streaks after some light sanding, I think it looks great. I wonder if it was originally dyed. :)
 
#3
jesterbass said:
Any clues/ideas are welcome.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I haven't done it myself, but my understanding is that you level it with no strings, and the the neck dead flat, which will most likely mean setting the truss rod to little or no tension. Then string it up which bows the neck forward; adjust the rod to get it back to nearly flat; and you're good to go.

Someone who's done it should be able to confirm or perhaps refute this.



BTW, nice grain on that fingerboard.
 
#4
pilotjones said:
I haven't done it myself, but my understanding is that you level it with no strings, and the the neck dead flat, which will most likely mean setting the truss rod to little or no tension. Then string it up which bows the neck forward; adjust the rod to get it back to nearly flat; and you're good to go.

Someone who's done it should be able to confirm or perhaps refute this.



BTW, nice grain on that fingerboard.
Click to expand...

By Jove I do believe he's got it. :D
 
#5
pilotjones said:
I haven't done it myself, but my understanding is that you level it with no strings, and the the neck dead flat, which will most likely mean setting the truss rod to little or no tension. Then string it up which bows the neck forward; adjust the rod to get it back to nearly flat; and you're good to go.

Someone who's done it should be able to confirm or perhaps refute this.



BTW, nice grain on that fingerboard.
Click to expand...
That's how I got mine to work.
 

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