could somebody give me info on how to install a brass or copper plate on a fretless fingerboard (or any other metal) what to use and where to get it and the average price, would be really appreciated
8 Comments |
 | C Nyal de Kaye says:
1/29/2013 6:48:40 PM
I am interested in the answer also,
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 | Annon says:
1/31/2013 6:39:30 PM
Copper fingerboard sounds interesting....but I would sure get pissed the first time I put a dent in it, such as might happen if the banjo gets knocked off the stand onto a radiator or something......
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 | Im wit Beard says:
3/27/2013 7:38:05 AM
Just joined the group and spotted your request.Have a look on my page for photos of plate fitted to a fretless mountain banjo. I got the 1mm brass plate from UK eBay. It was sold as a finger plate for fitting to a push type interior door. They are normally a foot long but this one was 14" ,long enough to reach the 12th fret. I first taped the plate to the finger board using double sided tape then turned the banjo over and drew onto the plate using a permanent marker pen with the side of the felt nib that would run against the neck masked with a small piece of masking tape to prevent ink getting onto the edge of fingerboard. I then removed the plate and cut away most of the waste material then finished off with files until all of the remaining black ink was filed away. This will still leave a small amount to remove once the plate shape has been glued to the banjo. Yo can cut a wave shape at the twelth fret end or leave it strait.(The plate can also be made to end just below the 5th fret if preferred.) Tape the semi finished shape into place on the finger board making sure it is tight against the nut then trace the twelth fret end onto the finger board with a sharp craft knife point.(Be Careful!!).
Make a tool from a baby hacksaw by super gluing two of the waste strips of brass along each side of the hacksaw blade leaving just 1mm of the sawing edge exposed.You now have a depth stop saw that cannot cut deeper than 1mm.
Place the banjo onto a padded surface and make cuts across the fingerboard from the nut end, every 1/2" until you get to the point where the plate will end. It is most important to keep the saw as level as you can and saw until the saw is no longer able to cut due to the depth stop rubbing against the fingerboard surface.Next make more saw cuts between the first series and if you can even a third between the now numerous cuts but keep them all as parrellel as you can and no closer that 1/8"from each other . Now using flies (not to rough) file away until you get down to the botom of all the saw cuts and then with semi rough and then fine sand paper remove the last trace of the saw marks. If you have decided on a straight across end to the plate its fairly easy but if you have designed a shaped end then this bit has to done carfully. I finished mine using the craft knife and my Wife's round ended emery boards. dont go to deep and try to keep the step created in the finger board sharp edged and square to the fingerboard. I use two part epoxy (15 minute delayed cure type glue) to fix the plate into position clamped with strips of masking tape until glue is dry. After a couple of hours to allow the glue to harden You can then carefully
remove any slight overlap of Brass with a fine flat file and emery paper or wire wool as preferred. try not to spoil the finish on the wood next to the brass edge. Finish up and crack on with some tunes.
Sorry this is such an epistle but I have tried to make sure you have a usable plan of action.
Above all take it slowly mistakes are costly.
Good Luck Malc.
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| C Nyal de Kaye says:
3/27/2013 1:30:05 PM
Thank you Malcolm for the very good and detailed information. It is well written and easy to follow. A pleasure to read.
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| Annon says:
3/27/2013 5:39:36 PM
I was wondering two things.....what does the banjo with a copper finger board sound like, and, is there a preference as to which type of strings to use (perhaps nylon strings would least damage the plate in the long term)?
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| C Nyal de Kaye says:
3/27/2013 6:02:54 PM
I fitted one to a banjo with steel strings some years ago. It did lift the sound quite a bit, especially on slides on the first string where it is weak, and slides are perhaps what a fretless banjo is all about.
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| Annon says:
3/27/2013 10:29:24 PM
I see. If I ever have the opportunity to obtain a regular banjo, I might modify my salad bowl banjo with a brass or copper fretboard - I bet it looks really great, but with only one banjo at my disposal, I'm not sure I want to screw around with it... I might mess up, then I wouldn't have anything to play. :)
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| Im wit Beard says:
3/28/2013 12:36:35 PM
C Nyal de Kaye says:
3/27/2013 6:02:54 PM
Your most welcome,thank you.
Malcolm
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