custom fretboard

[jartzh]

My martin kit comes with a resin fretboard. Can I use it to make a fret board out of a hard hardwood I have laying around? I am a wood sculptor so I have all the tools( except anything to cut a straight line).

I would like to try my hand at inlaying something into the fretboard so I would like to know I could replace it if I messed it up.

[MaineGeezer]

If I'm understanding you correctly, I don't see why not. I can't think of any reason why you'd HAVE to use the supplied fretboard. Make whatever you need, out of whatever you want! Just use something that is hard enough to stand up to fingernails and whatnot, and stable so it won't warp. I made the fretboard for my guitar out of a slab of dogwood. Or uise the traditional ebony or rosewood.

[tippie53]

you never know till you try so go ahead . A mistake is only a mistake if you don't learn from it

[nkwak]

As others with more experience have said, go for it. I've seen jigs akin to miter boxes that use preslotted fingerboards as templates and guides to "lock in" the correct intervals (which are crucial by the way.) I'd invest in a decent pull saw though and not just any miter box/saw combination that you would see at a big box hardware store. i give you credit though; I usually just chicken out and order preslotted ones from LMI for $40.