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Brian's Guitar from Conception to Birth
or How to Build a Guitar in 62 Easy Steps! |
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20
Taper the Fretboard |
  The
process of tapering the fretboard is exactly like that used when
tapering the neck. Now that your neck is rough cut, you will be able
to determine exactly how long your fretboard has to be. Set the
fretboard on the neck, mark the location, then make the cut. To do
the tapering, you’ll need another jig to hold things steady at an
angle. I reused the hold-down clamps from the neck tapering jig
(they’re about $12 each!).
|
  Just
like before, determine how much you need to taper off of each side
and make a couple of spacer blocks to that width. Set your table saw
fence to the exact width of the fretboard at its thickest (plus the
width of your jig’s fence). Clamp your fretboard in with one spacer
block making double-sure you’re tapering the correct (nut) end. Make
the cut. Roll the fretboard over 180 degrees like a log, add the
second spacer, clamp it down, and make the second cut. It’s a
perfect cut every time. |
The
process of tapering the fretboard is exactly like that used when
tapering the neck. Now that your neck is rough cut, you will be able
to determine exactly how long your fretboard has to be. Set the
fretboard on the neck, mark the location, then make the cut. To do
the tapering, you’ll need another jig to hold things steady at an
angle. I reused the hold-down clamps from the neck tapering jig
(they’re about $12 each!).
Just
like before, determine how much you need to taper off of each side
and make a couple of spacer blocks to that width. Set your table saw
fence to the exact width of the fretboard at its thickest (plus the
width of your jig’s fence). Clamp your fretboard in with one spacer
block making double-sure you’re tapering the correct (nut) end. Make
the cut. Roll the fretboard over 180 degrees like a log, add the
second spacer, clamp it down, and make the second cut. It’s a
perfect cut every time.
