After ripping(slicing) the cocobolo fretboards from a billet(sorry, no photos...), out comes my simple fret slotting jig, .022" kerf saw blade, and fret spacing template.

Here's what it looks like, after a few slots are cut. The template indexes into a pin imbedded in the jig; the solid, tight fit between pin and template insures accurate fret placement.

I have a "handle" attached to my template, which I use to hold everything tight to the jig, and keep my fingers away from the saw blade.

Here are our two slotted fretboards. Notice one is shorter? I've been itching to try a shorter scale length, and decided this would be the right mandolin to do so. The scale length of our A-52 will be 13-1/2", versus my already slightly-shorter-than-standard 13-3/4" scale. In mathematical terms, this is roughly like going from a Martin dreadnought scale of 25.4" to Gibson's 24.6" scale length. I expect the string's feel to be nice and light, and the tone to have a slightly quicker decay(less sustain). We'll see!

Need to taper these bad puppies, eh? Here's the cleanest, simplest, most foolproof and accurate tapering "jig"! Just a wee little block to offset the nut end a set amount, with its opposite end being exactly double in width.

The fretboard is held to the little "jig", the saw's fence is set to the widest width desired, and a cut is made. Next, flip the fretboard over, and make another cut, using the double-width end of the "jig". Perfect taper, every time.

Thanks to Sylvan Wells for showing me this!

Proof that we have our "jig" correctly made is for the wedge shaped off cuts to be identical, which these are.

Next, I'll cut a slot, again using the .022" slotting blade, 1/16" inset from the edge.

In this slot, I'll glue a .020" white fiber purfling; the glue will swell the fiber slightly, proving a tight fit to the .022" slot.

Side dots(position markers) are added, as well as mother of pearl dots on the fretboard surface.

I'll use a razor saw to cut the purfling lines through the slots, for fretting.

Notice something "different" here? Kudos to everyone who spotted the zero fret setup! I've long been a strong opponent of zero frets, but with the advent of stainless steel frets that are all but impossible to wear, I've felt the time might be right to re-think this. So, here we go; another first for me. More on this setup later, when we do the actual setup; you'll be learning alongside of me!

..

Sam's fretboard will be nude, without surface markers or dots. His also has a compound radius of roughly 9" radius at the nut, whereas the SFSF A-52 will be a flat fingerboard.