The slow build thread - my first ever build

[UrenragK]

Finally got the neck into shape 3rd time cutting the fret slots, after discovering 3 slots were wrong, and re-radiused.

The expensive bridge imported from Germany had faulty plating so will need to be replaced

Started working out control cavity placement, and also started making the knobs from the neck off cuts.

[ID10t]

Coming along nicely.

[UrenragK]

Slow progress but getting there, I think I almost have enough tools now

Almost . . .

[Mossman]

Looks good! Sculpting a neck has been something that's always intimidated me. It will be interesting to see how this progresses.

[edit]

Oops! I didn't realize there were more pages to this thread when I posted that comment...

It's progressing quite nicely!

[UrenragK]

Looks good! Sculpting a neck has been something that's always intimidated me. It will be interesting to see how this progresses.

[edit]

Oops! I didn't realize there were more pages to this thread when I posted that comment...

It's progressing quite nicely!

The sculpting is relatively straightforward, cutting fret slots is the one to be afraid of.

I do have a plan for a jig to do it next time, but it will need to wait until we move and I have my workshop!

[UrenragK]

Well I can't sing the praises of Schaller in Germany enough.

One contact form, a very quick response from their MD asking what the issue was exactly, and a single photograph later, a new bridge, and complimentary pickup surrounds to match, are on their way to me.

Incredible service, and very surprised that they did not want the faulty item back first, especially as it was over £100!!!

[Milkman]

I marked the frets from a template, then measured them, then used a homemade, zero wiggle cutting box to keep the cuts nice and straight. I cut the slots BEFORE radiusing, to a depth that would just be visible after radiusing, then went back and cut the final depth.

[UrenragK]

Yes, same here, until I noticed that on fret was skewed and another was in the wrong place by about 10/1000ths

I don't have a zero wiggle cutting box - do you have a link?

[Milkman]

@UrenragK - mine was very similar to this: https://www.lumberjocks.com/projects/229458

[UrenragK]

I have a scale gauge ruler from Crimson guitars that has cut outs for the fret positions, I could use that and a pin with the jig you showed above to locate the fretboard in the right position.

Thanks for sharing @Milkman !

[TVvoodoo]

I'm watching, but I was hoping to see some of the hardware!

[UrenragK]

Hey Brad! @TVvoodoo

Schaller Ruthenium hardware, and Fishman Fluence brushed steel modern humbuckers!

[UrenragK]

So we're moving house and we have a puppy - which equals seriously restricted opportunities to make progress!

Today I managed to get an hour, finished carving the volute - I'll carve the headstock side some more when I find a sharp gouge, flat sanded the neck, and drilled the tuner holes.

All rather nerve wracking operations after this many hours in the cold!!!

Hopefully some more progress tomorrow, I'm desperate to get the neck pocket finalised and the guitar in one piece!

[UrenragK]

Some progress, and it's coming together

I test fitted the tuners - I can't believe how nerve wracking drilling the holes was, it was really hard to be sure that they were the right distance apart!

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I made a template for the neck pocket, and used it to cut a test pocket in some of the offset material from the body to check fit. It was slightly oversize, and also on doing the test I nicked one side with the router - so repaired it and added a thin shim to both sides to tighten it up.

To secure it to the body for cutting, i used masking tape stuck to the body and the template and then some superglue to hold the two tapes together so that I didn't have clamps in the way. It was all lined up with a laser, and I had marked a centreline on the template before I made it.

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The cut went through with no problems

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And then to test fit the neck . . . Too tight!

I could see there was some interference so with a file and some sandpaper wrapped round it I carefully sanded the pocket sides, tested again, rinse and repeat until . . .

IT FITS!!!

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Snug enough to lift the guitar with no glue or bolts,

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Pleased with the progress, feels like it is getting there now!

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Now, a question, the neck pocket is nice and deep, can I just glue, or do I need to bolt it also? And can tight be too tight for glue?

Any help is greatly appreciated!

[UrenragK]

My next issue is that my wife has packed my Forstner bits somewhere so I can't hog out the pickup cavities or the control cavity!

We move in about 3 weeks, so hopefully I'll find them soon!!

[Mossman]

Nice work on the neck pocket... but boy, that wood looks pretty thin on the treble side.

If you glue the neck in, adding screws will just be an unnecessary redundancy. Personally, I would make it a bolt-on. You'll be grateful you did if any neck problems arise.

[UrenragK]

Thanks @Mossman

Yep, it’s REALLY thin, but it’s not likely to stay, I’ve not shaped the back of the pocket yet and the thinnest stuff will go

Thanks for the thoughts on glue vs bolt.

If I can glue it then I’d rather do that, prefer it to be cleaner look, and if it doesn’t play it can look good hanging

[solteroblues]

if you can pick the guitar up by the neck without it slipping, it's probably just a little to tight for a glue joint. I'd recommend sanding the neck tenon down a hair, so that its a close fit, but not tight. The glue will make the wood swell almost immediately and you'll have to press it in. Just sand it enough that it slips in and out easily, but doesn't wobble.

[UrenragK]

Thanks @solteroblues

[sabasgr68]

@UrenragK I was just wondering how´s your progress with the guitar? Been a while since the last time you updated it... (I know, life has a lot to do with our time, and not always the way we wanted )

[UrenragK]

@UrenragK I was just wondering how´s your progress with the guitar? Been a while since the last time you updated it... (I know, life has a lot to do with our time, and not always the way we wanted )

Life has happened at the moment, we got screwed over by the people we were buying a house from, and we have had to move in with my Mother in Law,

No time, and most of my tools are in storage,

Can't wait to find a place, get in, and get making sawdust again!!

[sabasgr68]

@UrenragK I was just wondering how´s your progress with the guitar? Been a while since the last time you updated it... (I know, life has a lot to do with our time, and not always the way we wanted )

Life has happened at the moment, we got screwed over by the people we were buying a house from, and we have had to move in with my Mother in Law,

No time, and most of my tools are in storage,

Can't wait to find a place, get in, and get making sawdust again!!

Sorry to hear that, Rich. Hope you can find a new place ASAP!

[UrenragK]

Sorry to hear that, Rich. Hope you can find a new place ASAP!

Thank you! Fingers crossed!!

[UrenragK]

We’ve found a freakin’ house!!!

Hopefully we will be back on track soon with project slow build!!

[solteroblues]

We’ve found a freakin’ house!!!

Hopefully we will be back on track soon with project slow build!!

Congrats! I hope it has a workshop bigger than you had dreamed of!