KnightroExpress Posted February 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Short update today: I made a simple jig to get my neck to the thickness I'm looking for. I'm waiting for my new spokeshave to come in, so actual shaping will have to wait a few days. This is pretty barebones. The neck is clamped on the heel end, secured with tape and a shim on the nut end. The router is set to the 12th fret depth and the shim is adjusted until the 12th fret and 1st fret depths line up with the router's depth. 3 small passes later, you have an extremely consistent starting taper to round from. Hopefully. This guitar is all about trying new things and pushing my personal envelope, so I decided to go crazy thin. It's 0.760" at the 1st and 0.850" at the 12th. That'll go down just a tad as I sand and so forth, so I'm expecting this neck to feel ridiculous by the time it's carved up. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 There's a whole lot of orange in that guitar, you should probably play it through an Orange amp. Be interesting to see what it sounds like. Clever idea on you jig too. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
curtisa Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 19mm aint crazy skinny. C'mon, be a real man! Ibanez Wizard necks went down to 17mm 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitaraxz Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 I like that jig idea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Thanks all! Curtis- that is very true! I'd be happy to go thinner with a lower profile truss rod. Maybe next time... The jig is just three 3"x24" sticks of MDF, super simple. I just knocked it together to test the concept. I'm happy with the result, so I'm going to make a better/permanent version. Likely with clear acrylic sides so setting the depth is easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 12, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 New tool day! I scored a Veritas low-angle spokeshave and tried it out today. It feels amazing and cuts very well, I just haven't figured out the best depth/mouth combo for ultra-thin shavings. I just need to hone my sharpening skills (ha-ha, see what I did there) and learn how to set the tool up for better performance. Verdict: A for quality, D+ for my skill level. Now, on to the guitar. I'm trying something totally new to me: this neck profile is an asymmetrical soft trapezoid. If you hold the neck in proper classical style, your thumb rides the flat portion very comfortably. I don't like the look (or feel) of corners back there though, so blending them out is key. Thanks for looking! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sirspens Posted February 12, 2016 Report Share Posted February 12, 2016 27 minutes ago, KnightroExpress said: Thanks for looking! I'm liking that slim flat neck! I have been wanting to play a guitar with that slim a neck to see how I like it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Thanks! It's different, but in a good way. I've actually got some pretty cool news involving the padauk twin, which I'll share soon. For now though, some pics! I had some swanky stainless headstock logos lasered and I can't wait to polish and mount them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck_Chill-Out Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Trapezoidal neck, I like it. I've felt the back of my left hand against my left forearm from wipeouts while racing on inline skates, so the trapeziodal neck I carved like yours feels good on my wrist. By the way, where did you fond the threaded inserts for your pickup screws? That is a great idea. Mind if I steal it with pride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 13, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Thank you! The more I handle the trapezoidal neck, the more I like it. As for stealing the inserts, please do! These are the inserts and these are the screws I'm using. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 I like that head shape much better, and the body contour looks really sexy. Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
verhoevenc Posted February 13, 2016 Report Share Posted February 13, 2016 Lots to say... should probably make a list! lol - LOVE the headstock inlay idea. Fits extremely well! - Absolutely love the bookmatched sapwood cover to hide the join and get a wide enough piece... will definitely be stealing that! - Would you mind sharing your supplier/part number for the humbucker mounting inserts? I'm super tired of the giant-pilot-hole spiral inserts I've been using. Best, Chris 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 14, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 14, 2016 Thanks guys! Chris: Inserts and Screws. Today, I radiused the fretboard to 16" and installed the frets. It's starting to feel like a real guitar! Over this weekend, I'll get the neck glued in so I can carve the neck/body transition on Tuesday. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Ok, time for some more fun stuff. As much as I love the precision work that defines so much of a guitar, I really find myself in an enjoyably meditative state when I get to freehand carve the body and neck. So, massive pic dump: I've still got quite a bit of blending and smoothing to do, but I like the look and feel so far. Thanks for looking! 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 17, 2016 Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Excellent neck join. The sole plate ties in nicely with your scarf accent.......as if you didn't know that would happen. So it feels good huh? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 Thanks Scott! With the body at 1.5" and the heel carved away, you can get your ring finger on the 24th fret with no obstruction. This is by far the most comfortable guitar I've done. The weight is dead on 6 pounds at this point, so it's decently light as well. Too bad I won't be able to keep it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted February 17, 2016 Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 53 minutes ago, KnightroExpress said: Too bad I won't be able to keep it.... You do get attached to them don't you? I know just what you mean. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 17, 2016 I think it would have been easier to give up if that was the plan from the start. I'd been saving this fretboard for years. Oh well, it's for a good cause. I suppose now is as good a time as any to spill the news. I was invited to participate in an event benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's West Palm Beach chapter. This guitar will be featured at a live auction with the proceeds going to research and so forth for the foundation. I'm excited for the opportunity to help a great cause and meet some great people along the way. The event is called Songwriters in the Round, for those interested in reading more about it. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2016 Today's update is a bit lighter than usual. I spent most of my time sanding, so there's nothing dramatic to show. I did knock together a nifty little prototype magnetic truss rod cover, but I didn't like the end result. Some more pics: From here on out, it's just little fiddly detail work and a boatload of sanding. This thing absolutely must be done by March 10th, so I'm lightly pressed for time. More pics will come as they're taken. Thanks for looking! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 20, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2016 Happy birthday to me! I got myself a bunch of guitar parts -DiMarzio Air Norton and Air Zone with covers, black -Hipshot solo bridges, black -Hipshot open gear locking tuners, black -Couch vintage Cadillac brownburst strap I'm itching to get everything mounted and ready as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 I like that carve My favourite bit too - I like carving and I like seeing a good carve Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Original Posted February 21, 2016 Report Share Posted February 21, 2016 Super Nice! The carve does look great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted February 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 (edited) Alright, time for an update! I've mostly been sanding over the last few days, but I have a few other little tasks done that I forgot to post about. Aligning the tuners and drilling the screw pilot. Made a padauk truss rod cover. I like that it blends in a bit. Finally got myself a can of conductive shielding paint. I like it so much better than copper tape. Machine screw inserts for the electronics cover Machine screw insert for the TRC And finally, sanding. Sanding is life, dust is everywhere. I'm up to P320 all over so next time it's on to P400, then I think I'll string it up in the white to let the neck settle in. And of course, I have to have string tension in order to try out the Katana. Thanks for reading! Edited February 28, 2016 by KnightroExpress Unintentional pictures added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyjr1515 Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 Loving the build! The router pics...are they supposed to be there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psikoT Posted February 28, 2016 Report Share Posted February 28, 2016 That router looks pretty nice. All you need to make a guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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