The slow build thread - my first ever build

[UrenragK]

A little more progress today

Neck and headstock cut, now waiting on glue and clamps before I can carve the neck. I want to get the fret board on before I shape the profile of the neck so that it is easier to clamp.

[ronnx]

Looking good!

[uwmcscott]

That is looking very nice. Shaping a neck by hand seems like one of the most daunting tasks one might attempt, can't wait to see how it progresses.

[UrenragK]

Some more progress;

Fret board marked out, locating pins drilled, and spoke wheel slot cut,

Fret board glued to neck, left 12 hours for glue to cure, and trimmed, then rough sanded,

Fret slots cut,

Beginning to look like a guitar! Next tasks are radius fretboard and carve neck.

[Milkman]

Looking good!

[UrenragK]

Looking good!

Thanks!

[uwmcscott]

Looking good, thanks for the update. How many times did you re-measure your marks before cutting the fretboard slots? That to me would be one of the most daunting tasks of building a guitar.

[UrenragK]

Looking good, thanks for the update. How many times did you re-measure your marks before cutting the fretboard slots? That to me would be one of the most daunting tasks of building a guitar.

Oh wow, THE most daunting!

I tried with vernier gauges first, when I checked it against another neck it was wrong,

Then I thought I'd eyeball the other neck and mark each fret, somehow that was wrong,

I got a fret scale ruler from Crimson Guitars, marked it up, and then a tip I was given was to score with a scalpel or sharp knife to give the saw something to be guided by,

I think I measured it about 20 times before I cut, and even then I was terrified!!

So far so good though!

[uwmcscott]

Looking good, thanks for the update. How many times did you re-measure your marks before cutting the fretboard slots? That to me would be one of the most daunting tasks of building a guitar.

Oh wow, THE most daunting!

I tried with vernier gauges first, when I checked it against another neck it was wrong,

Then I thought I'd eyeball the other neck and mark each fret, somehow that was wrong,

I got a fret scale ruler from Crimson Guitars, marked it up, and then a tip I was given was to score with a scalpel or sharp knife to give the saw something to be guided by,

I think I measured it about 20 times before I cut, and even then I was terrified!!

So far so good though!

It is looking great from this perspective as well. Knowing all the intricate details of how each component was built and assembled/finished will surely be very satisfying once you have it all complete. I've never built a guitar, but I did finish the basement of my house all the way from framing the walls to wiring, plumbing, painting, etc. When I hang out down there I don't see just the finished product, I remember all the trouble spots I hand and how I worked through them, and all the hidden things you don't see. But I would imagine you'll look at any other guitar you pick up in a much different way too.

[UrenragK]

It’s taught me I need a much better space to work in, something with all the tools set up, and a decent bench!

Started on the fretboard radius today, pleased so far, need a levelling beam to check it all along.

[Milkman]

What did you use to radius it? If you used a long-ish (6-8”) block with sandpaper attached and sanded very deliberately the whole length of the board, it will be true along its length. There’s just something about different species of wood laminated together that revs my engine!

[UrenragK]

I've got a short radius block,

I have a 16" levelling beam on the way

[brentona]

Rich!!!

This is looking KILLER. I am anxiously following along with this! Keep up the good work and always listen to your Foreman. They know what’s best!


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[andrewsrea]

Very cool and original!

[UrenragK]

Thanks @brentona !! It drives me on that people are enjoying it, even though I’m bumbling through and still don’t know if I can actually pull this off!

Thanks @andrewsrea really hoping I can hear it playing soon!

I have done some more today, post coming

[UrenragK]

So today the radius was finished and the neck carving commenced!

[UrenragK]

And the nut I plan to use arrived too

[UrenragK]

All while the foreman slept

[UrenragK]

@uwmcscott - turns out shaping the neck is pretty straightforward, the scary job is cutting fret slots!

[Milkman]

Man, I gotta get back to my project! Yours is looking great!

In regards to the nut... I treat my pup to some beef bones, then keep them out in the sun for awhile, and make nuts out of them later. That little foreman you have there would be happy to help, I’m sure.

[UrenragK]

Good shout on the nut! I thought for this build I’d try out the zero glide fret nut, reducing contact hugely, and giving me one less job, and set of tools to buy!

I’m in the throes of measuring machine heads and working out the drilling plan for them,

Santa brought me a superb pillar drill, with lasers!

[UrenragK]

The new pillar drill, physical depth stop, and a digital display of RPM and cut depth,

Laser cross hairs, and lights to give better visibility of workpiece

[UrenragK]

No idea why you’ve got photos of the wife and foreman!

[sabasgr68]

Anxiously awaiting for the moment you give us the gift of a glaring guitar solo with it! Awesome job!

Wife and foreman as supervisors are great...

[UrenragK]

Frustrating day today, double checking the fret slots before I put the frets in, and 3 were off!

Several hours of sanding later, the fretboard is ready to have the slots re-cut. The worst job!

I did get to mock up, and started on the neck pocket to try to cheer myself up.

Slots part deux tomorrrow