Pedro Custom TL - (Azure Lagoon)

[Pedrovelo]

So while I wait for a couple of upgrade parts and the finish to cure on my first build, I'm ready to move on to my second.

I've learnt heaps so far and hopefully I won't make the same mistakes twice. Just new ones.

The second build is an ash body tele kit which I plan to put a forearm and belly carve on.

The kit arrived and the grain looks fantastic.

[Pedrovelo]

On close inspection of the neck, I've found a couple of machine marks that run down the fretboard from the nut around the G string through the first and second frets.

Before I start hacking away with the sandpaper and possibly creating an unintentional scalloped fretboard, is there any advice that can be offered to fix this?

I hope you can see what I mean on the photograph.

[lawry]

Hi Pedro, Looking forward to watching the build on this. You have some fantastic grain on the body, should look brilliant when stained etc.. But, sorry man, I can't help you with any fretboard advice, I'm new at this game too. Cheers.

[Gavin1393]

Photograph doesnt really show the depth of the issue, but if its bad/deep scratch then the only way to do it right is to start removing frets but that is a big job. Hopefully its not too serious. More photographs needed to really see...
A gentle sanding with 200-300 grit attached to a paddle-pop stick might make all the difference if it is not a deep scratch.

[Pedrovelo]

Thanks Gav, I don't have the experience or courage to try removing frets yet so I'll try a careful sanding down.

[Scott J.]

Hi Pedro, I had the same problem with the SG I just completed ... machining marks running down the length of the fretboard :x ... check out my build diary "SG's SG" and you can seem them in the early-stages pics ... the marks show up a lot more on a rosewood fretboard when its in the raw than on the maple, but I fear that once you got the clear coats on the maple they'll really stand out a lot more than the rosewood.

I didn't end up completely removing the marks from mine but did manage to reduce them down to almost nothing - but it was a frustratingly fiddly job to do (I just couldn't bring myself to have to remove AND then replace the frets! 8O ).

I started by roughing up the whole effected area with a very-fine-wire brush to blend out the majority of deeper scoring (working lightly across and then mostly with the grain) and the finished of with varying lighter grades of sandpaper (with the grain). I think it was Gav that recommended using sandpaper glued to a paddle-pop stick to work in between the frets and that worked really well with no noticeable "scalloping" between the frets.

I didn't end up removing all of the scoring but its very hard to notice unless you're looking for it ... and several good dressing with bore oil did it wonders - now it just looks like it been well-played 8-) .

Hope this helps and good luck

[Pedrovelo]

Good advice Scott, thanks. I'll give that technique a try.

[Pedrovelo]

Ok, so I've spent the last couple of hours on my day off shaping and sanding the body.

I started pretty conservative on both the forearm and belly carve and have progressively taken more wood. I'm fairly happy with how it sits now but I might still shave a little more off as I go.

[Pedrovelo]

And here's the belly carve.

[Pedrovelo]

A few people have been complaining about the quality control with these Ash bodies in regards to glue spots and filler, but I must say, I'm pretty happy with mine.

There's only one glue spot which I haven't touched yet but it looks like it's just on the surface.

There's no other filler that I can see.