- 1
You can't remove the fretboard with the strings still attached.Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images
Remove all strings. Unwind the machine heads, trim off the coiled section and slide the ball-end out of the bridge. - 2). Put a towel over the top portion of the fretboard. Set a clothes iron to a low heat. Run the clothes iron over the top three frets for approximately three minutes. The heat melts the glue bonding the fret tang to the fret groove. When replacing a nonbound fretboard, you wouldn't waste time removing the frets, but you can't remove the binding in one piece with the frets on.
- 3). Pull the top three frets out with snub-nosed nippers. Grip them between the nippers and gently rock them out.
- 4
Fingerboard binding is typically of contrasting color to the fingerboard wood.Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Cover the next three frets with the towel. Run the iron over the towel and pull out the remaining frets, three at a time. Put the removed frets to one side. - 5). Cover the binding with the towel and apply heat to the edge of the fretboard for three minutes. Lift up the towel and slide a razor blade between the binding and the edge of the fretboard. The heat melts the glue and the razor blade detaches the binding from the wood. Continue this process along the length of the binding, from the fingerboard overlay portion to the headstock.
- 6). Find the binding joint. Binding is never fitted in one piece; typically it is fitted in two or three. Examine the edge of the fretboard with a magnifying glass to locate the joint. This is where you'll separate the binding.
- 7). Slide a putty knife into the small gap create by the razor blade and gently wiggle it. As you wiggle it, pull the binding away from the wood, but be careful not to snap it.
- 8). Detach the binding from the side of the fretboard as far as the joint with the next piece of binding. Place the first section of binding to the side. Remove the remaining portions of binding using the heat, razor blade and putty knife.
- 9). Heat the fingerboard overlay with the iron and slide the putty knife underneath. Continue to apply heat to the fretboard from the overlay to the headstock, while sliding the putty knife between fingerboard and neck. Once the glue has melted, the putty knife jiggling process may take up to two hours, but it's essential not to rush.
- 10
Remove the fingerboard from the neck once all of the adhesive is dislodged. - 11
Clean the top of the neck and the binding with naphta-based cleaning solution and a rag. - 12
Brush polyvinyl acetate onto the neck. Stick the replacement fingerboard onto the neck and clamp in a pair of bench-clamps for four hours. - 13
Glue the old binding back into the groove between fingerboard and neck. - 14
Glue the frets back into their grooves and drive them in with a jeweler's hammer.
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