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Scalopped Neck

Scalopped Neck

What was the hit in the 80's among flitzfingers a' la Malmsteen and doesn't seem so modern today is still in demand on special guitars. The speed and ease comes mainly from the fact that the strings are not pressed all the way to the fretboard (normal fretboard), but the player presses only so hard between the frets until the tone was produced between the fretsticks - and not harder!

Anyone who has ever played such a fingerboard shape will hardly want to go back to a "normal" one after some time to get used to it. But it's all a question of personal style and taste.

And this is how it is done: mark the centers between the frets with the pencil.

Mark the middle

I clamp a ball cutter in the Dremel and mill along the center drawing in 2-3 milling passes. In this way, I determine the depth at the camber. About 3/10mm remains as an allowance.

Milling on depth

Milling on depth II

I use the sanding roller to sand the arches in the wide places. In the high places, you have to work with the hand file.

Roughing the arches

Fine adjustment with half-round or round files.

Finishing

And this is what it looks like. Since the position signs of the side and front are ground, they must first be closed and then reset.

Almost finished sheets 1

Almost finished sheets 1

With epoxy and some sanding dust from the fingerboard, the filling of the old marks is done.

Fill the ancient markings

Fill the old marks 2

The fingerboard is treated with hard wax and the scalopped fingerboard is finished.

Pavers Neck

When the strings are wound, it looks like this:

Ready Instrument 1