Advice on replacing a fretboard on a Tele neck

Jonathanthomas83

I had the board radius flattened to 9.5" about two years back by our very own Feline, and they did a superb, superb, amazing job. Amazing fretwork too.

But I'm missing the 7.25" radius, as stupid as that may sound.

It's been reworked once and there's probably too little of the board left to re-radius. So can a fretboard be taken off and replaced and finished well enough to look like new? Doesn't seem like I'm getting much luck finding a decent replacement neck.

WezV

Yes it can, easier if it's a separate fretboard already, but not impossible if it isn't.  

You may actually still be able to re-radius what you have... Depends on overall neck thickness  and how far the side dots are from the edge.  Certainly the easiest option if it's viable.

Veneer boards are not easy to replace or rework, but since it's already been re-radiused  I'm guessing it doesn't have one of those.

Funkfingers

Jonathanthomas83 said:

I'm missing the 7.25" radius, as stupid as that may sound.

Not stupid at all. 

Counterintuitively, some moves are easier to execute on a vintage radius, skinny frets and a medium high action. Others are easier on 9.5”, medium jumbo frets and and low action. Modern widdly moves are easier on a compound fingerboard radius and huge frets. 

Having the stock fingerboard flattened deprived the neck of some of its overall thickness. (We are talking millimetres but that is enough to affect how a neck feels in the hand.) Changing to taller fret wire could compensate for the removed wood but will also leave the neck feeling scalloped. 

In true tFB fashion, the correct solution is to have two Telecasters. 

Jonathanthomas83

WezV said:

Yes it can, easier if it's a separate fretboard already, but not impossible if it isn't.  

You may actually still be able to re-radius what you have... Depends on overall neck thickness  and how far the side dots are from the edge.  Certainly the easiest option if it's viable.

Veneer boards are not easy to replace or rework, but since it's already been re-radiused  I'm guessing it doesn't have one of those.

Any idea who can do this for me?  @WezV ;

Rocker

A new neck?

Jonathanthomas83

Rocker said:

A new neck?

I've considered it, but this one has the serial number on the back, a new MiJ would have a different serial. No bigge, I guess, but still. Also, I want a Fender branded neck and like the shape of this one and the vintage tint. And as much as I've tried, I can't find a replacement MiJ '62 Reissue Tele Neck, unfortunately.

Freebird

Get another Tele and keep that one  

Jonathanthomas83

Freebird said:

Get another Tele and keep that one  

It's crossed my mind, must admit. Am hoping that this would come at a fraction of the cost of a new one...though with the money I've spent on it already, it's a stupidly false economy!

Freebird

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Get another Tele and keep that one  

It's crossed my mind, must admit. Am hoping that this would come at a fraction of the cost of a new one...though with the money I've spent on it already, it's a stupidly false economy!

Is it the MIJ Tele?

Jonathanthomas83

Freebird said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Get another Tele and keep that one  

It's crossed my mind, must admit. Am hoping that this would come at a fraction of the cost of a new one...though with the money I've spent on it already, it's a stupidly false economy!

Is it the MIJ Tele?

Yes. I should have left it as is, because that's what I want to return it to. I'm a ridiculous person.

WezV

Jonathanthomas83 said:

WezV said:

Yes it can, easier if it's a separate fretboard already, but not impossible if it isn't.  

You may actually still be able to re-radius what you have... Depends on overall neck thickness  and how far the side dots are from the edge.  Certainly the easiest option if it's viable.

Veneer boards are not easy to replace or rework, but since it's already been re-radiused  I'm guessing it doesn't have one of those.

Any idea who can do this for me?  @WezV ;

It's not something I am doing at the moment, still not got all my tools set up for it after my recent move

Freebird

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Get another Tele and keep that one  

It's crossed my mind, must admit. Am hoping that this would come at a fraction of the cost of a new one...though with the money I've spent on it already, it's a stupidly false economy!

Is it the MIJ Tele?

Yes. I should have left it as is, because that's what I want to return it to. I'm a ridiculous person.

My Baja Tele has a 9.5" radius, but I also like the 7.25" radius on my Strat. I think you should have one of each 

Jonathanthomas83

WezV said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

WezV said:

Yes it can, easier if it's a separate fretboard already, but not impossible if it isn't.  

You may actually still be able to re-radius what you have... Depends on overall neck thickness  and how far the side dots are from the edge.  Certainly the easiest option if it's viable.

Veneer boards are not easy to replace or rework, but since it's already been re-radiused  I'm guessing it doesn't have one of those.

Any idea who can do this for me?  @WezV ;

It's not something I am doing at the moment, still not got all my tools set up for it after my recent move

No worries, mate, if you know of anyone else, let me know.

Freebird said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Freebird said:

Get another Tele and keep that one  

It's crossed my mind, must admit. Am hoping that this would come at a fraction of the cost of a new one...though with the money I've spent on it already, it's a stupidly false economy!

Is it the MIJ Tele?

Yes. I should have left it as is, because that's what I want to return it to. I'm a ridiculous person.

My Baja Tele has a 9.5" radius, but I also like the 7.25" radius on my Strat. I think you should have one of each 

My tastes have changed a bit and I'm back in the vintage camp. :-) I've always had 7.25" until recently and just fancy going back to it