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Sourcing an unlined Maple neck or fingerboard


oldslapper
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Thinking of replacing the neck on my 62RI P with an unlined fretless neck. Having some difficulty in finding maple boards, either necks or just fingerboard. Lots of rosewood, ebonal or ebony, but not maple.
Couple of questions:

-Does anyone know of any suppliers of maple boards?

-How easy is it for a luthier to remove a fretted board and replace it with a fretless? Would the labour involved be just a costly as just buying & replacing a whole neck I wonder? Both would require setting up time/costs.

I could get the current frets removed and replaced with dark wood inserts, but the dots would still remain...and it wouldn't be maple :-)

Thanks for any help & advice
John

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[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/311682883302?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484361666&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9045502&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/311682883302?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484361666&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9045502&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0[/url]

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[quote name='ambient' timestamp='1473165124' post='3127541']
[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/311682883302?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484361666&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9045502&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/311682883302?lpid=122&chn=ps&adgroupid=27378760866&rlsatarget=pla-181484361666&adtype=pla&poi=&googleloc=9045502&device=c&campaignid=620865095&crdt=0[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks! Didn't come up on my eBay search.

John

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Yeah getting the blank is easy enough, but I'd imagine you'd be looking at £200 minimum to plane off the old board, glue on and profile the new one, then presumably refinish the whole neck since the new board won't be finished.

So while it's possible, I doubt it'll be any cheaper than sourcing a replacement (especially when you factor in that you can probably sell your old neck for decent money on ebay to offset the cost if it's not modified).

I'd be having a chat with http://www.simscustom.com myself

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Getting it converted wouldn't be much cheaper than just getting a new neck. With a new neck you are not harming resale value and you also have the option of switching back again!

Sims start at £285 for a maple neck, I assume that includes frets so a fretless should be a fair whack cheaper!

http://www.simscustom.com/html/00pricing.htm

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[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1473168984' post='3127607']
Getting it converted wouldn't be much cheaper than just getting a new neck. With a new neck you are not harming resale value and you also have the option of switching back again!

Sims start at £285 for a maple neck, I assume that includes frets so a fretless should be a fair whack cheaper!

[url="http://www.simscustom.com/html/00pricing.htm"]http://www.simscusto...l/00pricing.htm[/url]
[/quote]

Yep definitely the best option to go with a new neck :). It's perfectly possible to replace a fingerboard, I've done it numerous times but they were occasions where it was the only option. But in this case a new neck would be the best approach.

The Sims prices aren't quite as cheap as £285 (unless I'm misunderstanding them). I understood it as £235 for the machining, £50 for the neck blank and this doesn't seem to include a fingerboard! Which is another £35. I also don't believe it includes finish, which is a necessity on a Maple board and looks like that would be another £135. So £455.

Long story short...I'm cheaper B). Get in touch if you'd like a quote.

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[quote name='dannybuoy' timestamp='1473178153' post='3127711']
Shuker also offer complete necks from £200:

http://www.shukerguitars.co.uk/services.html
[/quote]

Contacted Jon, swift response and really helpful.
I have since got my eye on a possible ready made neck, but if that falls through Jon seems to be the best option, and so reasonable given his reputation, I expected a higher quote.
What would anyone suggest the current 62RI neck would go for, in current climate?

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