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So since nobody (at least that I can find on the internets) seems to make a vintage radius (7 1/4") pre-slotted fretboard I thought I would make my own, then I looked on the Stew-Mac site and their pre-radiused, pre-slotted boards are cheaper than the blanks!


What if I got the pre-radiused, pre-slotted one and re-radiused it to vintage spec, has anyone done this? Would I have to re-slot the frets?

Also stew-mac doesn't make their hot rod with the slotted adjusting nut (old Fender styled) in a bass length. How hard is it to change the adjusting nut out on these?


thanking you in loving kindness

you might need to reslot the fretboard after radiusing it. you can get little saws for that sort of thing at hobby shops.
there must be somewhere else that you can buy a fender style bass truss rod. i've got one of those hot rod ones. i don't think you can change the nut on them.

make sure that if you are dropping the rod under the board that you have a good 4 mms of wood(at least) between the bottom of the fretbaord the top of the truss rod, theotherwise you may have some problems down the road.

I think in the long run it will be better to use the pre-radiused board even if I do have to re-cut the slots. I guess my other worry is if the edges will be too thin.

I can make my own Fender vintage style bass truss rod but the hot rods are so much easier to do (so I hear).

Shoot me down in flames, but how about warping the fretboard (steam/heat) to radius and then sanding/planing the bottom flat?
I have no idea how difficult this is but presumably it would maintain the depth of fret slot so would be a trade-off - if you can do it.

that would work, but it would be much more work than its worth, you would be better off just depening the slots.
get a pre-radiused board. get a 7.25 block, and go at it, it will take 30 mins with rosewood.

Well ok, I called Stew-Mac and they said it should be fine to re-radius the board.

As far as the hot rods go no dice, they're welded...

It looks like I'll be making my own.