Fretboard north/south orientation... Not an option?!

[AllHailDIO]

I was looking at some Unique Choices FBs and carried them over to Photoshop.  Well, with a particular body, I like how the fretboard looks rotated one way (right side up / north) rather than the other way (right side down / south).  So I called Warmoth... and I was informed that they cannot arrange that detail!

I told them that I find that a bit odd... that I could write in the notes and also send them a picture to help clarify.  Still a no.

Has anyone had the same answer?  I am curious if I simply worded my question incorrectly but I didn't wanna keep pressing it and make the phone call awkward haha...  But seriously, I find that extremely odd!  Hmm... What y'all think?

Using the laminate top from the body to make the headstock veneer was do-able though so that's good!  :hello2:

 

[Cagey]

I suspect it has to do with how the blanks are cut. Necks are wider at the heel than they are at the nut, so if they cut fretboard blanks to match fairly close, compensating only for different nut widths, then rotating the blank wouldn't be possible. The nut end would always be too narrow to cover the heel end.

 

[Fat Pete]

I haven't asked the question, but I have noticed this on the Warmoth site:

"Warmoth's production managers do use their expert discretion to choose the way the laminate top is oriented on the body wood for the best appearance and structural integrity."

This appears to refer to bodies but is shown on the info for unique choice fingerboards too.

 

[mayfly]

are you talking about necks or bodies?  You reference both in your post.

 

[AllHailDIO]

I suspect it has to do with how the blanks are cut. Necks are wider at the heel than they are at the nut, so if they cut fretboard blanks to match fairly close, compensating only for different nut widths, then rotating the blank wouldn't be possible. The nut end would always be too narrow to cover the heel end.

Hmm, interesting.  Well the way I assumed is that the planks are not pre-cut before receiving customer's specs for the "final" cut.  I assume they do the whole job in one sitting; I assume that's more efficient.  And I assume the planks are all much thicker and wider, and consisting of only right angles, than its finished product.  But again, that's all assumptions...

After some thought, I figure the issue has to do with communication... or more specifically, miscommunication.  The customers says he or she wants it a certain way... It has to be interpretted.  What if the explanation was poor or there's a mistake in the interpretation?  Because an expectation was set, there is now room for error... And errors lead to unhappy customers and wasted materials.  Things could get sticky... It makes sense to avoid all that mess. 

Fortunately for me, I found a different Unique Choice fretboard that looks good either way, right side north or south :toothy10:  It's a good thing this happen because I actually like it more than my initial choice! 

I haven't asked the question, but I have noticed this on the Warmoth site:

"Warmoth's production managers do use their expert discretion to choose the way the laminate top is oriented on the body wood for the best appearance and structural integrity."

This appears to refer to bodies but is shown on the info for unique choice fingerboards too.

That makes sense.  Don't want funky looking guitars while sporting your brand's name... That's bad advertisement and would defect your brand's image. 

And structural integrity also makes sense; gotta have the grains match parallel with each other, or so I assume.  However, rotating a fretboard 180 would still yield the same grain alignment.  And obviously you couldn't have the plank be used perpendicular haha.

Experts for the best appearance... Hmm... I can understand that to a degree but really, can you be an expert on something as subjective and personal as taste?  For body woods, it makes sense, but rotating a fretboard 180 degrees IMO is such a minute visual and structural change... :dontknow:  Since it is such a minute change, I think the opinion of the person shedding out the cash is more relevant than an "appearance expert" that'll never play the darn thing  :icon_tongue:

are you talking about necks or bodies?  You reference both in your post.

I did?  That's news to me  :icon_tongue:

In a side note, I did briefly mention that the laminate for the body can be used for the headstock veneer.  Never mentioned anything about north /south orientation of laminates for bodies.  So to answer your question, I'm talking about necks (technically fretboards) as the title name suggests  :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

Well the way I assumed is that the planks are not pre-cut before receiving customer's specs for the "final" cut.  I assume they do the whole job in one sitting; I assume that's more efficient.  And I assume the planks are all much thicker and wider, and consisting of only right angles, than its finished product.  But again, that's all assumptions...

I'd bet the planks are pre-cut. The "unique choice" charts sorta prove that to be the case. Besides, why wouldn't they be? Set up the bandsaw, grab a piece of Pau Ferro, and slice off fretboards until it's gone. Filter out the best ones for the "unique choice" pile, and push the rest out to production.

To do it your way, they'd have to treat fretboard creation like a deli counter. Find out what you're supposed to supply, grab a block of the wood requested, adjust the bandsaw if needed, slice a fretboard off, and put the carcass back. Doing that for each neck would mean a lotta lost motion.

I would think blanks would be all right angles, too. But, some of that wood is pretty expensive, so the less of it you convert to sawdust/scrap, the better off you are. That means cutting as close to usable size as possible. But, I'm just guessing, too. I know if you buy fretboard blanks, they're generally oversized to allow for edge/length trimming, which would mean they'd likely be reversible. But, they're also selling the whole piece and leaving the wastage up to your budget.

 

[Logrinn]

are you talking about necks or bodies?  You reference both in your post.

I did?  That's news to me  :icon_tongue:

I think Mayfly was referring to Fat Pete's comment, not yours.

 

[AllHailDIO]

I'd bet the planks are pre-cut. The "unique choice" charts sorta prove that to be the case. Besides, why wouldn't they be?

We both can only assume.

I assume the planks are already in the dimensions for ONE fretboard... And not cut like deli meat for multiple planks for multiple fretboards. That was my assumption so that is why I thought the way I previously had. If that's not the case and I have known better, I would have had not made this thread at all.

What you're saying does make sense though. I didn't think of it like that. I know absolutely zilch about woodworking sooo...  :dontknow:

are you talking about necks or bodies?  You reference both in your post.

I did?  That's news to me  :icon_tongue:

I think Mayfly was referring to Fat Pete's comment, not yours.

We both can only assume.

Btw sorry Mayfly if I sounded snarky.  I tend to take the piss on people but its only meant for good fun.  I was raised in a household full of smart ass brothers...comes with the territory haha. 

 

[stratamania]

There are a couple of other reasons for fretboard blanks to be precut.

One if its unique choice a boards grain is not going to be exactly the same all the way through.  So they are not going to slice a piece off and then take a photo for the next slice to be offered as unique choice.

More importantly once they are cut they need to be left to settle and acclimitise before you can safely build with them. There is always the possibility of warpage to consider.

Also wood orientation in construction of anything can also have the direction of grain taken into account for workability and strengh.

 

[AllHailDIO]

There are a couple of other reasons for fretboard blanks to be precut.

One if its unique choice a boards grain is not going to be exactly the same all the way through.  So they are not going to slice a piece off and then take a photo for the next slice to be offered as unique choice.

More importantly once they are cut they need to be left to settle and acclimitise before you can safely build with them. There is always the possibility of warpage to consider.

Also wood orientation in construction of anything can also have the direction of grain taken into account for workability and strengh.

Ahh very wise man!  That makes perfect sense. I just had ignorant preconceptions about the process.

 

[stratamania]

No problem.

I am sure you will enjoy the guitar and that in the end is the most important.  :icon_thumright:

 

[aarontunes]

There are a couple of other reasons for fretboard blanks to be precut.

One if its unique choice a boards grain is not going to be exactly the same all the way through.  So they are not going to slice a piece off and then take a photo for the next slice to be offered as unique choice.

More importantly once they are cut they need to be left to settle and acclimitise before you can safely build with them. There is always the possibility of warpage to consider.

Also wood orientation in construction of anything can also have the direction of grain taken into account for workability and strengh.

This is the correct answer.

 

[AllHailDIO]

No problem.

I am sure you will enjoy the guitar and that in the end is the most important.  :icon_thumright:

Most definitely!  I'm pretty excited to assemble and play her haha I feel like a 9 y/o being told we're going to Disneyland! 

:turtle:

This is the correct answer.

Thank you for confirming!  I appreciate everyone's time (I learn something new every day).  Just hope I didn't come off as an arse!  :doh: