scalloping the fingerboard extension

[shortymack]

Yea I watched it, was really cool actually but I still dont think it serves any purpose. I would bet that 9 out of 10 people dont like it, need it, use it, or want to/have it scooped. So why even have a piece of nothing there? Just chop it off at the factory, problem solved, lol.

[Bill Snyder]

Then purchase a mandolin that does not have it but don't deny everyone else a chance to have it if they need it to play their repertoire.

[shortymack]

Im not denying anyone anything, sheesh. JMHO is all. If the forum format allowed for polls it would be an interesting one asking who actually uses it or likes it.

[Jim Nollman]

I can comment on that, since this morning I brought the 30 year old mandolin that started this thread to my favorite luthier. He will repair several instances of cracked binding using yellowed binding from another old instrument. He will replace several frets, and then dress them all, and recut the nut if necessary. And finally, he'll scoop the fingerboard.

I'll never play anything above the 18th fret, and I only go that high on a few showboating tunes. But I don't see the gain in chopping off the extension. I personally view the scooped extension as a thing of beauty and a worthy design statement. As always, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

[mandroid]

One of my friends got a A4 with off noting problems the whole fingerboard was replaced,
it is now scooped for the 2 partial frets past #20, the last full width fret.

the lower tier A's never went above #20 anyhow..

[Hobo]

I decided to scoop the Florida end of my fret board. I used a dremel tool with a 6" base to stabilize the cut. So far, so good, no problems... except my fret slots are too deep. If I cut off anymore I'll lose the binding. Any ideas how to finish this off and have it look good? Here's a pic of where I am:

[sunburst]

Your choices are fake frets and fake wood (or real wood). For fake frets, fill the slots with something light colored, for fake wood, fill them with something dark colored (black). (For real wood, make little veneer splints and glue them in the slots (PITA)).

[Dale Ludewig]

I'm a big fan of scooped boards. But I don't think anyone has ever raised this issue: it's not reversible. You can't go back without major surgery. What if at a certain point you've changed your mind and decided you'd like the option of playing up there? Just thinking out loud.............

[Hobo]

Thanks John...
Dale: I'll never in a million years need to play up there :–)

[sunburst]

As many old Martin guitars as there are around, with the fingerboard extension sawed off so someone could get to the neck joint to steam it (before someone figured out you could just drill a hole!) for a neck re-set, I recon a new piece of ebony glued on there would do the trick. New fingerboard would be better (as in the case with the old Martins), but just gluing it down gets you by... and besides, nobody plays up there ...

[Hobo]

The removed frets came out clean -- I could just put 'em back into the slots as well. It may look weird, but after all it's not a vintage instrument.

[Dale Ludewig]

My post was actually tongue in cheek, referring to a particular operation that men can have when they have decided that they don't want any more offspring...

[Philphool]

I'm thinking of removing the top 20 keys from my piano, too.

[EdHanrahan]

Remove? Just take the Dremel and lower 'em!