Dovetail question (and a couple of pics)

[MKlee]

Okay, my first build and the dovetail setting went fairly well (thanks, in large part, to John's video's ... but now I have a question. After setting the dovetail just like I wanted it (2 business cards proud, within 1/32 of the centerline, and 1/8" high at the bridge position), I then proceeded to install the truss rod and glue the fretboard (already fretted) to the neck. The challenge I'm having now is that the fretboard is still "warped" from the frets after the 14th fret. The ebony is VERY stiff at the end and I can no longer get the dovetail into the position it was in prior to gluing it to the fretboard. Make sense??? Here is a picture, hopefully you can see the gap caused by the bowed fretboard;

neck mount.jpg

I've tried pulling it together with a clamp but I'm scared to death of collapsing the body of the guitar. My assumption is that this is something everybody has had to deal with ... I guess the alternative is to not fret all the way to the bottom until the neck is glued in place, but this seems dangerous too. Thoughts?

Here are a couple of other pictures too (I just couldn't wait to install the tuning machines) ... I'm fairly happy with my first attempt at inlaying. David Nichols of custom pearl inlay did the pearl for me and had it to me in 4 DAYS!!! And he was the best price I found too! Awesome to work with ...

Just waiting on my binding router tool and I'll be finished with the construction (almost). On to the finishing research ....

[David L]

Nice inlay job, looks really clean! Sorry, can't help you with f/b problem, I'm still trying to get the box closed and haven't even touched the neck. OK, well I have touched it but I have yet to do any work on it. I am anxious to hear the feedback that you get though (nothing wrong with cheating huh?).

David L

[tippie53]

that will all go in when you clamp it. Once the finishing is complete , do a dry fit. Also next time when you fret . clamp the fingerboard down and place 2 pieces of scrap on each end of the fretboard . What is happening is your barb ends have not seated yet , and clamping and forcing a little back bow helps that.
Trust me , it won't be an issue. When you clamp your neck in for real , be sure the neck bottoms out and the the fretboard is flush , then clamp the extension . Have fun .
nice looking guitar by the way .

[MKlee]

John,

Would it help to clamp my fretboard (and neck) to a straight board which would then allow me to clamp the extension straight? Would this help to seat the frets and straighten the whole thing out? The extension is VERY rigid and I've tried clamping it down to the body of the guitar but I can't get the neck to bottom out ... I've cranked pretty hard and feel I'm on the verge of crushing the body.

On your suggestion for future fret jobs ... how much back bow do you create? In other words, how thick of a piece of scrap would do you use on each end to create the back bow?

Thanks,
Mark

[Tony_in_NYC]

Mark,
Did Dave Nichols cut that script name for you? If so, can you PM me about how much he charged you for it? I had him do actual inlay work for me and his price was amazingly low for the job. I would appreciate the info.

And back on topic, I had the same problem and concern with my first guitar. The extension curved down just like yours. I was also concerned that I would crush the guitar when squeezing the extension down. But, under that part of the top, you have the neck block and the upper transverse brace which are both pretty substantial. I wouldn't worry about crushing the guitar. But what do I know?

[tippie53]

it won't hurt to clamp it flat but that little bow you have is nothing to worry about. Once you glue that and clamp it you will be fine. I had them much worse and never hurt a top putting one on.
In the future if you place about 1/8 in scrap from the top on each end and clamp in the middle you should help the fretboard flatten out nicely

[MKlee]

Tony,

Yes, Dave Nichols cut the pearl for me and he was AWESOME. I got several quotes from a number of other custom pearl places and prices went all the way up to over $300 with a 3 week lead time! Dave's quote was so low I had to email him back just to make sure I wasn't missing a comma somewhere. And the best part ... I had it in my hand 4 days later!!!! He is quite a character. I'll PM you with the quote.

Mark

[Tony_in_NYC]

That sounds like my situation on my first guitar. I was quoted as high as $800 for star position markers here in NY City. When Dave quoted me his price, I put a stamp on the box and shipped it off. About 4 days later, back in my hands.
The one thing that killed me was that the guy here who quoted me $800 said it was a very labor intensive job. He charged $80 an hour and it would take 10 hours or more to do the job. Just before Keif, Dave's protege started the inlay, he called to ask how I wanted the stars positioned, and said I would get a call when he was done to arrange payment. About 45 minutes later, my phone rang, it was Dave's wife Nadine and she wanted to arrange payment. I nearly fell on the floor. When I said I couldnt believe it was done already she said, as dry as you can imagine, "Well...the glue aint dry yet, but otherwise, its done." 10 hours my eye.
I have nothing but nice things to say about the work they did for me and dealing with them. Nice, nice people.