Need a description

**monradon** · Nov-14-2007, 4:19pm

What do they call it again when one removes the bottom frets and scallops it out for the pick

Trying to do a search of photos or ideas on how far up they usuallgo and drawing a blank.

**JHo** · Nov-14-2007, 4:44pm

I believe that's considered a scooped fretboard extension.

**Dave Cohen** · Nov-14-2007, 8:59pm

http://www.frets.com

**monradon** · Nov-14-2007, 10:37pm

Is there anyone who uses the tiny frets on the extender my fingers are too wide

**sunburst** · Nov-14-2007, 11:53pm

Here's one way.

**Bernie Daniel** · Nov-15-2007, 7:35am

John,

That is a terrific instructional -- all you would need to know --logically laid out.

Thanks for posting it as I have been thinking about doing this to my F5L (question is what does it do to the value of the instrument?)

One quick comment.

I have seen this "operation" done a few times where a small vestiage of the fret channel is left on the ebony extension and them this shallow groove is filled in with some white material or I have even seen some nylon fishing line glued into the remaining track. #Then the mandolin still looks like it has 29 frets instead of 24.

**MikeEdgerton** · Nov-15-2007, 7:39am

Originally Posted by (monradon @ Nov. 14 2007, 23:37)

Is there anyone who uses the tiny frets on the extender my fingers are too wide

They were there for the classical players that fancied the mandolin in Loar's time. On Ralph's Banjo Special I use my fingernail on one of the upper frets (not that high, I scooped mine as well). I'm guessing you could use a similar technique if you actually needed to play a note up there.

**MikeEdgerton** · Nov-15-2007, 7:42am

Bernie,
Here's another one from Frank Ford's frets.com.

**Bernie Daniel** · Nov-15-2007, 7:45am

Mike, Thanks.

Question: #Does anyone think it would be feasible to actually cut the extension off between the 23rd and 24th frets and then fit the piece removed with a set of stainless steel pins that would match holes in the end of the remaining fingerboard -- then in theory one could remove the extension for playing and still restore by just plugging it in if that was desired at some later time? #Maybe not enough support that way for playing but the original appearence would be there. #Few use those frets anyway.

**MikeEdgerton** · Nov-15-2007, 8:42am

People cut them off all the time (Brad Einhorn's Daley was done that way). I don't know of anyone that ever made one that was removeable.

A suggestion for anyone doing this is to stop by your local Home Depot and shop for Formica for your kitchen. They have samples of Formica (or Wilsonart) or whatever that are about 4 X 6 inches. They also have the small ones, look for the large ones. Slip that piece of formica under the extension on the off chance that you go a little too far when cutting off that extension. When I scooped mine I basically built a box that surrounded the top and left the fingerboard exposed. Too many people accidentily drop a chisel or a file.

**sunburst** · Nov-15-2007, 9:34am

Originally Posted by (MikeEdgerton @ Nov. 15 2007, 09:42)

...stop by your local Home Depot and shop for Formica for your kitchen. They have samples of Formica (or Wilsonart) or whatever that are about 4 X 6 inches. They also have the small ones, look for the large ones. Slip that piece of formica under the extension on the off chance that you go a little too far when cutting off that extension. When I scooped mine I basically built a box that surrounded the top and left the fingerboard exposed. Too many people accidentily drop a chisel or a file.

I just use "pre-approved" credit cards, expired debit cards, and leftover electronic hotel room keys for that sort of thing.

I find a certain amount of humor in the snap-on extender idea.

If you wrap the binding around the scar from the incision, though, it wouldn't work as well. You can peel the binding away from the extender, cut the extender off, then glue the binding around the new shape so it doesn't look so...amputated.

**Bernie Daniel** · Nov-15-2007, 9:45am

Originally Posted by

MikeEdgerton: When I scooped mine I basically built a box that surrounded the top and left the fingerboard exposed. Too many people accidentily drop a chisel or a file.

[QUOTE]Sunburst: "... I find a certain amount of humor in the snap-on extender idea"

I think that the protection when you work is very prudent advice.

OK so I am a luthier's comedian.

But I keep thinking about the aesthetics of it. #How about this idea then?

You could maybe cut the fingerboard extension off right at fret 23. #Then cut off that little piece of extension below fret 29 and glue that piece onto the end of space below fret 22 and fill in the junction with powdered ebony and glue to mask it. #And also mask the binding seam.

This preserves the look of the fingerboard extension but gets most of it out of your way for picking.

This is slighly OT but I would guess that unless your potential customer wants the mando for classical music that potential buyers would not seen a scalloped fingerboard extension (or even a cut off one)as being a detraction from the selling price? #Would most agree with that?

**resophonic** · Nov-15-2007, 11:20am

This my camping mando and I just didn't want to do the fussy fret work at the extension, I can't play there anyway. I just double stick taped a piece of thin plywood onto the finger board when the frets where out, used the squared off end at the bottom of the plywood as my template guide for a router. First pass with a cove bit and then cleaned off the rest with a dado bit. A bit of sanding...done! It's a fun place for a bit of inlay as well.