My self scalloped Squier neck.

[faekildare]

Woot. My self scallop cali squier!!! haven't really finish but thought i would share with everyone.

 

[Phil]

Wow it sure looks good man.

Care for some elaboration on the process you went through? It'd be an interesting and informative read.

 

[vernplum]

Hey - good job man. My first scalloped neck was a DIY job also on a Squier in the late eighties. How long did it take you, how are you replacing/touching up the fret markers and what about the finish?

Cheers

 

[faekildare]

hmmm. Let me try and explain it all out as best as i could. There are some name of the files which i still do not know of.
Basically, the Larger the frets (fret 1 to 12) the harder it is to scallop.
U need files of 2 diff sizes min. I use Half Round files for mine, the smoother one and the one that looks like a durian skin (diamond half round file?)
Draw a line on where u will be hitting the rounded edge. Start off with the corner of it, and start filling away to get the basic cresent moon shape at the corner from one fret to the other.
than do the same for the opposite side. Once u have the rough shape, start filling from the middle, than work progressively to the sides eventually creating the scallop shape.
Now, this is just for your information. Just because your using a really rough file doesnt mean it will makes things faster a lot faster. took me about 7 hours to create those scallops u see in the pic.
Another thing to look out for is to make sure u do not file until u hit the fret. U might loosen the frets in the process which is a NO NO. Thats u see some parts along the frets which i intentionally left alone, and just in case i want to re fret in the future.
If there is any other information, please feel free to ask. I will try my best to answer you.

 

[faekildare]

I am intending of using a wood marker and color them back, or just use inlay sticker (yea, i am lazy). After that, i will cover it with a few layers of Danish/Tung oil, and than polish to shine. That will allow it to have the lacquered look.

 

[vernplum]

Get a hole punch and a sheet of black plastic (Art Friend). Punch out the holes and use the little circles - they fit just nice.

 

[faekildare]

omg. Excellent idea. I will do that

 

[faekildare]

YES!! Finally finish scalloping all 21 frets. cant wait to try it after finishing it.

Anyway, Heres how it looks like.

 

[LadyInTears]

may i know which files and sandpaper you used? haha need the exact model,
also, how long do you need to leave the oil on?

 

[SmFizz]

bro that is super sick..
but what does scalloping do btw? or does it juz look cool

 

[tyzjames]

lol serious im newb to this kind of things

if im not wrong it makes bending/hammer ons etc clearer and easier.. but must be careful not to press to hard if not the note will change..

 

[theunknown]

bro that is super sick..
but what does scalloping do btw? or does it juz look cool

Scalloped Neck Guitars are generally for experienced guitar players and are harder to play. The advantage is being able to bend notes further and some say it helps in playing faster solos. -

taken from http://mediawebsource.com/guitar/guitarnecks.htm not that im so sure about it. what's with the hostility? isn't soft a place we can learn new stuff?

 

[zullio]

bro that is super sick..
but what does scalloping do btw? or does it juz look cool

read here.

 

[faekildare]

Erm. Model of files and sand paper?
Files: Round file and wood rasp. Needle round file.
Sand paper: Glass paper, 1000 grit sand paper and 1500 grit sand paper.

The danish oil i use requires 6 hours of drying and 3 min coats. Think i will coat a few more layers and maybe buff it up with compound wax after that for that lacquered look.

 

[klover]

wah bro that is some talent you got there. very nice diy scalloping. thumbs up.

 

[faekildare]

Haha. Thanks a lot. There is one particular fret i over scalloped and it looked like a full scallop instead of a half (which was my original intention.) But, Nvm la, when playing, the feeling is the same.