CHANGING FRETBOARDS

[Bfeeney]

First off, I am VERY good handyman, and do things the right way. Hell, I've been working on cars AT MAJOR DEALERS for 10 years. I know what I'm doing. Hopefully that will filter out the pessimistic nay-sayers.

I have a 24 fret 24.75" Explorer knock-off that drives me nuts. All the guitars I've had in the past were all 22 fret, so naturally I got use to it. Well this one with 24 is really f@cking me up! It throws off my orientation. I see on Stew-Mac that I can get a slotted fretboard for pretty cheap, I thought 'yeah, just change the fretboard'. Then I thought about the glue holding the board to the neck. Does anyone know anything about the glue manufacturers use for these? I don't want to go in guessing it's one kind and it turns out to be something totally different and I damage it. I'm not going to take it to a luthier and have him rape me on a simple job.

[BrianS.]

I'm not going to take it to a luthier and have him rape me on a simple job

Stick to polishing cars on the showroom floor...

[aleclee]

What are you going to do with the extra 1/2" of fretboard? A 22 fret board is going to be shorter than a 24.

[phil_104]

What are you going to do with the extra 1/2" of fretboard? A 22 fret board is going to be shorter than a 24.

This. That's your major issue.

Woodworking is also waaaay different than anything you've dealt with in the auto industry. Just be mindful that wood is organic and shifts, so if you do move forward (which I would not), be prepared to deal with that, and read up a lot on how to do it right.

[Bfeeney]

The car thing was just saying I'm good at this kind of stuff, not that it cars and wood are the same. I have modded guitars before successfully, that's not the issue. The question is the glue.

[BrianS.]

Just grind it off with an angle grinder and then epoxy the new one on. Don't forget to wear a dust mask when grinding...

[SlyFoxx]

Might you just remove the last two frets? Not the prettiest solution.

[JOLLY]

I would think that it would be just as cheap to sell the guitar and get one that you don't have to do such modifications to.

[stratsandaks]

I would think that it would be just as cheap to sell the guitar and get one that you don't have to do such modifications to.

+1

As has already been mentioned, you're going to be left with a 22 fret neck with a gap at the end of the fretboard which is going to look wrong. I'd deal with the 24 frets (not really an issue from my perspective) or just sell it and buy a 22 fret guitar you dig.

[Bfeeney]

I would think that it would be just as cheap to sell the guitar and get one that you don't have to do such modifications to.

Well I'm a lefty, how many lefty Explorer's have you seen that aren't outragiously expensive (seen the Dean's and don't like the heads). I took what I could get.

I could get a custom neck done at Warmoth for $160. Would that mess up the scale if I replace a 24 with a 22?

[Sruffie777]

I would think that it would be just as cheap to sell the guitar and get one that you don't have to do such modifications to.

+1 why reinvent the wheel just buy the right wheel,

[aleclee]

I could get a custom neck done at Warmoth for $160. Would that mess up the scale if I replace a 24 with a 22?

Yes. It probably wouldn't intonate correctly.

[AlexR]

I'm a lefty too, so I feel your pain.

Personally I'd give the current explorer the spanish archer (el bow) and go for a Warmoth body and neck, that way you'd know they'll play well together. If you've been in the auto industry for a while you've probably played with an air spraygun before with lacquer finishes. Just finish the body and neck with some stain and clear....

[Ball&Chain]

First off, I am VERY good handyman, and do things the right way. Hell, I've been working on cars AT MAJOR DEALERS for 10 years. I know what I'm doing. Hopefully that will filter out the pessimistic nay-sayers.

I have a 24 fret 24.75" Explorer knock-off that drives me nuts. All the guitars I've had in the past were all 22 fret, so naturally I got use to it. Well this one with 24 is really f@cking me up! It throws off my orientation. I see on Stew-Mac that I can get a slotted fretboard for pretty cheap, I thought 'yeah, just change the fretboard'. Then I thought about the glue holding the board to the neck. Does anyone know anything about the glue manufacturers use for these? I don't want to go in guessing it's one kind and it turns out to be something totally different and I damage it. I'm not going to take it to a luthier and have him rape me on a simple job.

You will get used to it in time. Id look at it as an opportunity to have something thats different.

Otherwise, if its just not going to cut it, if I were you, id head on over to the guitar center or sam ash on morse road and trade that one in on something of the 22 fret variety.

[Bfeeney]

I'm a lefty too, so I feel your pain.

Personally I'd give the current explorer the spanish archer (el bow) and go for a Warmoth body and neck, that way you'd know they'll play well together. If you've been in the auto industry for a while you've probably played with an air spraygun before with lacquer finishes. Just finish the body and neck with some stain and clear....

I've thought about it. Back in he day I cringed because it would end up being a $700-$900 project, but I guess now I only have to get the body and neck. And yes I've got some paint time in, there is a few pics floating around the posts.

[Bfeeney]

You will get used to it in time. Id look at it as an opportunity to have something thats different.

Otherwise, if its just not going to cut it, if I were you, id head on over to the guitar center or sam ash on morse road and trade that one in on something of the 22 fret variety.

I spent $160 on it NEW, I would spend more in gas to get to Morse Rd. than they would give me for it!

[ItsaBass]

I can think of a few options:

1. If the fretboard overhangs the butt end of the neck, chop off the overhang.
2. Remove the two extra frets and fill the slots.
3. File down the extra frets to almost nothing.
4. Color them black with a Sharpie so they don't disorient you.

The one thing I'd probably not do is replace the fretboard on a knockoff guitar...unless I simply wanted to learn how to do it.

Can you post a pic of the end of the neck?

[Ball&Chain]

Its probably really similar to this.

[Bfeeney]

Yep, flip it around to a lefty. Something else I also found I don't like about 24 frets is the pickups are closer together. I find myself hitting my pick on the neck pickup when I am PMing. For $160 I shouldn't complain, it's a cheap trial & error, now I know don't get 24 frets and look at the spacing between the pups.

[Aceman]

Well, I don't know, but I'm guessing:

1. Heat the board until it comes off, other wise it will need grinding/sanding.
- No idea how to heat it like that
- Sounds dangerous to paint and neck warpage
- grinding could be tragic as well if too much gets sanded
- still need to clean up the wood / glue

2. I would suspect that IF the wood is clean, Elmo's wood glue and some C clamps
- Wood needs to be good and clean/pourous
- Glue applied well (even, quickly, not too much)
- clamps with lots of pressure for a week? Month?

It's one of those things that $160...might be an AWESOME skill to have.

Other factors:
Board too think - still have to grind
Board too wide/thin - thin is fail. wide needs sanding to match body
Adding frets...whole other hoo-haa

If you do it, please document in pics and words.