Unwanted Frets

**Duane Graves** · Aug-11-2009, 8:20pm

Tell me what is the normal procedure for eliminating the 5 or 6 frets that extend to the end of the fingerboard. You know that part of the fretboard that extends itself to within (looks like) better than two inches close to the bridge. I have an Epiphone E-MM-50 F-style and when I go to pick, well, the sweet spot is right under these frets and I get a 'clicking' sound as the pick hits these frets. Wonder why they do this anyway? Does anyone really play up there with any kind of consistency?

Wish I could describe it better but I think you'll know what I mean once you use your imagination. I see that some mandolins have about 5 or 6 of these frets removed and it looks like not only the frets are gone but that part of the fretboard is made 'thinner' where these frets were as if a luthier kind of gouged out the extension that held the frets. Please explain if you can. I think I will need something done as that 'clicking' sound is not good, for sure.

--Capo

**Jim Broyles** · Aug-11-2009, 8:24pm

Like this.

**onassis** · Aug-11-2009, 10:22pm

Go click the "Builders" link at the top of this page and then click onto John Hamlett's website (I'd embed a link here but I know nothing about that stuff). He has a complete pictorial of one done using only hand tools. I recently used this method to do an extension scoop to my own mando (Jade JF18), and can attest that it's a pretty simple procedure.

**Jim Broyles** · Aug-11-2009, 11:01pm

Sunburst's Pictorial

**onassis** · Aug-12-2009, 7:09am

Thanks, Jim! You computer-savvy guys are the coolest! I'll have to figure out how to do that one of these days.

**jim_n_virginia** · Aug-12-2009, 7:49am

Picking clicking on the fret board extension is the result of poor right hand technique while playing. You can work on it or you can get your mandolin "scooped"

**Ray(T)** · Aug-12-2009, 10:02am

My Holoubek was "scooped" from new but has the fret positions inlaid which, in my opinion, makes the job much neater. If you're just having the fretboard extension reduced to wood you may as well just have it chopped off!
Ray

**Duane Graves** · Aug-12-2009, 11:54am

Originally Posted by jim_n_virginia

Picking clicking on the fret board extension is the result of poor right hand technique while playing. You can work on it or you can get your mandolin "scooped"

Hey, Jim. I think I will try your way first as I'm sure others, perhaps yourself, have done this and have been successful with the techinique change. I just bought my Epiphone and really don't want to change it. The gouging examples given are excellently laid out procedures but they look expensive if I give it to a Luthier and 'forever-doing-it' if I take the challenge. So I have decided to see if I can play in the sweet spot there that I like without clicking. Many thanks to all.....

--Capo

**mandroid** · Aug-12-2009, 1:15pm

One sees the Gibby Sam Bush modification was to saw off the 'peninsula'
(at St.Augustine)

and [optional] put a strip of matching binding on the end of the fingerboard.

**musicofanatic** · Aug-18-2009, 1:06am

Yeah, Bush and his sloppy right hand technique sure sucks. If Sam wasn't such a no-playin' slacker and had maybe spent some time refining his plectral manipulation, he wouldn't had to castrate the f.b. of his mandolin!