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Thread: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

  1. #1
    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

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    You may have seen my Tone Experiment with the mandolin recently.....well with this much time on my hands I'm determined to make the best of this $350 instrument. I put on $54 Thomastik-Infeld strings...playing it with a Blue Chip CT55 and just used a Coping Saw to remove my Florida....with the strings on.....it didn't even go out of tune!!

    And no, it's not perfect, but it's good enough, as it "works".....somewhat on an angle but again saved some money and now I can play in the sweet spot without the pick click.

    I'm actually rather surprised that just worked out so well.
    Collings MF

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    Registered User J Mangio's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Now you can make a Bolo Tie with your Florida, great conversation piece.
    2021 The Loar LM700 VS

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    Fingers of Concrete ccravens's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Glad I'm not the only one that is bothered by pick click.

    It even bothers me when I hear it on recordings.

    Kudos for your DIY ethic.

    Your next step should be to remove all the thick gloss that Kentucky and other imports seem to be plastered with.
    Chris Cravens

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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Great job! I appreciate your bravery.

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    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    “With the strings on”

    Nice. Did you protect the top?

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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    What brand of coping saw did you use? I hear that Blue Chip will carry them soon in a Floridectomy Kit™.
    Jim

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    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    The Blue Chip coping saw will be $179.
    Collings MF

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    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by BrianWilliam View Post
    “With the strings on”

    Nice. Did you protect the top?
    Actually, and honestly, No......I just went for it. And proud to say not even a scratch on the top. I did use very thin cardboard to protect the strings as I was cutting "up" from underneath the Sunshine State.
    Collings MF

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    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by rickbella View Post
    Great job! I appreciate your bravery.

    Thanks..I'm going to clean it up with a wood file and sandpaper to even out the angle at the end of the fretboard.
    Collings MF

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    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by Traveling Tracks View Post
    The Blue Chip coping saw will be $179.
    You can get a "Knew" one for $20 cheaper...

    https://www.knewconcepts.com/Coping-saws.php

    The titanium saws are over $200.oo
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  14. #11
    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by Traveling Tracks View Post
    The Blue Chip coping saw will be $179.
    But you can have it engraved with yur name for only $5 more. Also, it will never wear out.
    Jim

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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by Traveling Tracks View Post
    Thanks..I'm going to clean it up with a wood file and sandpaper to even out the angle at the end of the fretboard.
    You may have to take the strings off but if you square it off and remove the fret you should be able to create a ledge to finish it off with binding. You might have a long enough piece that you could salvage from the part you cut off. Then again, maybe not.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    I too find the extension in the way and decided to scallop the extension on both of my F-5's. I guess I prefer the overall profile with the extension as opposed to the Sam Bush style.
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    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

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    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by jim simpson View Post
    I too find the extension in the way and decided to scallop the extension on both of my F-5's. I guess I prefer the overall profile with the extension as opposed to the Sam Bush style.
    Just curious, did you do it yourself or have it done? I had a luthier do that to my Weber Bitterroot F a few years back.
    Again, this was kind of down and dirty....just couldn't take the thing being in my way! so....whack! : )
    Collings MF

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    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Great! Now can you float it to Cuba?

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    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by ccravens View Post
    Glad I'm not the only one that is bothered by pick click. . . .
    Oh, man! That's why I got rid of my first mando. It had a single-coil pickup under the strings, right by the fretboard.

    CLICKITY CLICKITY CLICKITY CLICK!

    I'm in Maine. Why send my picks to Florida?

  22. #17
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    I actually scooped the extension on my F5G years ago. I went forward with the courage of the ignorant and some help from a page on Frank Ford's www.frets.com. I started out with a small laminate router and ended up using files, a chisel, and sandpaper. If I was doing it again I would have used all hand tools.
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    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  23. #18

    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    I used to pay a luthier to scoop the etension on budget F5s. I then just 'took the bull by the hirns' and went for it myself. Usually takes about an hour. I get a couple of sharp chisels. I start with gradfually edging up about 6 or 7 frets, remove them and then with the mandoli wedged between my stomach and the wall and with me sitting down I just CAREFULLY work away at it. Obviously the fact that they are usually bound soesn;t help but I always get them good.

    Always amazes me how manufacturers charge a good but more for their mandolins which have bound fingerboards (which I very much like) and yet you can buy a cheap Savannah F5 or similar, bound all round for a fraction of the cost.

    There is always the pleasure of having done something yourself but best to do it on the cheaper ones first.

  24. #19
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Can you send me the extra high range fretted section you removed so I can add it to one of my mandolins that lacks the upper notes?

    Signed, Never Had Pick Click

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  26. #20

    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    If you hear pick click its because your technique needs tweaking. The pick is being inserted too deep into the strings and hitting the extension - or any other spot you might play. I have a mando with an unscooped Florida extension and hardly hear it but when I do it reminds me to work on gliding the pick over the strings only as much as necessary to produce the sound I want.
    Northfield F5M #268, AT02 #7

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    Gummy Bears and Scotch BrianWilliam's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Sanctimonious posts on the internet? Now I’ve seen everything....

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    Traveling Tracks Traveling Tracks's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by bigskygirl View Post
    If you hear pick click its because your technique needs tweaking. The pick is being inserted too deep into the strings and hitting the extension - or any other spot you might play. I have a mando with an unscooped Florida extension and hardly hear it but when I do it reminds me to work on gliding the pick over the strings only as much as necessary to produce the sound I want.
    Although I'm working hard on "tweaking" my technique by playing as much as I possibly can.....I'm not sure your theory holds water....as evidenced by other lazy pickers who have scooped their extension.....Click image for larger version. 

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    Thile...Mike Marshall....John Reischman.....and....and...and...
    Collings MF

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  32. #23

    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Whatever, the noise is due to the pick being inserted too deep. If you moved your picking up the neck you'd hear the same thing. You probably dont do it during tremolo...it’s your mando do what you want.
    Northfield F5M #268, AT02 #7

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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Just removed my "Florida"...myself..with a coping saw...

    Quote Originally Posted by Traveling Tracks View Post
    Just curious, did you do it yourself or have it done? I had a luthier do that to my Weber Bitterroot F a few years back.
    Again, this was kind of down and dirty....just couldn't take the thing being in my way! so....whack! : )
    I did the extension scoop my self. I used a dremel with the small sanding barrel. I did cover the surface to protect it. I've done this procedure many times over the years and feel pretty comfortable doing it.
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

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