D16 RGT neck shape.

[Erny cherbak]

I've owned this guitar eight years, and realize that the micarta fretboard is too sharp on the corners and causes finger pain after a while. Anyone know of a good luthier around Amarillo TX who I can trust to round it off for me?

[Paul Verticchio]

Hello.

I'm responding only to move this question back to the top of the list...in case we overlooked Erny's question.

Do we have or know a good tech around Amarillo TX?

Sorry Erny, I'm from Illinois otherwise I'd offer to help. Rolling the edges of fingerboards is a common task for me.

Have a good one :)

[Paul Hostetter]

Get it fixed down Route 66. I know it’s is 4 hours away, but there are several good shops in and around Albuquerque.

[LARRY KLOSE]

Get in touch with Bryan Kimsey, lives and works on a ranch near Clayton, NM (very NE New Mexico).  http://www.bryankimsey.com/.  First rate repair person, first rate guy, and within driving distance.  I'd get in touch through the web site as he's very helpful and will answer your questions.  He's done occasional warranty work for builder Mario Proulx, among others.  Check on Winter conditions before you go; see some of the non-lutherie pictures on the site.

While you're at it, invite Bryan to join this site.  He'd be a real contributor.

Larry

[Mark A. Kane]

My experience with attempting any sanding of Micarta or Black Richlite has been less than stellar. It isn't wood. It is, to the best of my ability to discern, layers of paper or fiber impregnated in resin. When I sanded it, it turned fuzzy, and no fine grits of abrasive nor any sanding or smoothing technique my pea brain could conjure ever made it smooth again. It remained fuzzy.

Others may know better; I'd not attempt it again without "local knowledge".

It occurs to me that I might have been sanding Richlite, not Micarta. It seems the two terms are used interchangeably, but I suspect the two materials are likely somewhat different in composition.

[Robbie Collins]

I don't know if this helps but here's a video on fabricating with Richlite:

http://www.ecosupplycenter.com/products/countertops/richlite/richli...

Also, the Richlite Fabricator's Guide:

http://www.richlite.com/assets/resources/resource-files/fabrication...

Mark, I'm guessing you sanded through some layers of paper. I speculate that Martin has these fabricated with the radius as radiusing would leave the same fuzz. Anyone have a piece of Richlite? Be interesting to see if a heat gun or propane torch would clean up the fuzz.

[Erny cherbak]

 Thanks to everyone that has replied to this. You know, it looks to me like the binding is cast into the fretboard when it was made. Martin says it is Micarta. The fit is just too perfect to have been added later, but I could be wrong about that. I will get a hold of the guy in NM and see what he has to say, and maybe Martin too.

Erny Cherbak