goth_fiend Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) some of you know about a certain deal that went bad on me (mods im not going into anything farther then that, and if anybody here wants to know, look it up) but anyways, we all hear about how people are afraid to start building there own neck, and it may be scary at first for some people, but im confident enough now to start building my own (I have put the ironbird project on hold right now im still not confident enough in myself to start working on her!) so with that being said here we go! (sorry about picture quality, im still getting used to this camera) this thread should also prove the purpose that IT DOES NOT take 2 years to build a 27 fret neck. Here is my maple neck blank (thank you yet again rich for the awesome woods!) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/neck001.jpg nextly I located the center line of the wood and marked out the width of the truss rod (Im using a stew mac hotrod) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/neck002.jpg after I did this, I marked out the angle of the headstock using hiscock's book (I actually have it marked for a 10 degree and 13 degree angle, I will be using the 13 degree) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/neck003.jpg Either tommorow or tuesday I will be cutting out the scarf joint and gluing it up, more pictures to come then. Edited October 17, 2005 by goth_fiend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batfink Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Go for it ! I'm glad you've taken the plunge, the only things you've got to loose are your self asteem and the odd digit or two....seriously though, i was in exactly the same situation until frustration got the better of me and i just had to either do it or foget it - and i'm glad i choose to do it ! http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=19048 I fired the colour coats on the body over the weekend so it should be completed within the next week or two depending on how quick the clear cures and i'm already planning the next one ! Jem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 awesome man, I really like the inlay on that neck, im going to have somebody cut the inlay for me on this guitar, and im going to inlay it myself *hopefully* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 ABOUT TIME MATE!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) ABOUT TIME MATE!! ← yeah im finally down to 2 jobs! , I guess you could call it a "stickittodamoneosis" attack I should also mention the inlay at this time, this neck is going to be on a carved top SS im working on and its going to be a final fantasy VII tribute guitar so to speak (what with advent children, dirge of cerberus and all the other VII based games coming out soon, it seemed like a cool idea, and hey I love FF!) so this is basically what i have in mind, Meteor from the 12th-15th fret with the VII on the 7th fret, now i just need somebody to cut those bad boy's out for me! (and theres the tricky part) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/Ff7logo.jpg Edited October 17, 2005 by goth_fiend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Batfink Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Thanks G-F. The inlay could have been better executed, but saying that so could the whole guitar but that's the learning curve. I dare say pro people like Myka and LGM etc always look back at the end of the build and see things that they could improve on even if the great unwashed like myself couldn't find fault in a month of sunday's. I've made a number of stupid mistakes throughout the build but most of these are down to zero woodworking experience and not paying full attention to what i was doing and none were bad enough to throw the thing in the bin - just things to keep in mind for the next build. Congrats again and look forward to the finished guitar. Jem Edited for your logo: Hmmm...the meteor may have to loose some of it's detailing but the lettering's easy. One thing i've learnt is: shithot drawing = shithot inlay, pisspoor drawing = pisspoor inlay no matter how good you are at cutting. I notice you're in Cali so remember JoAnn at Rescue Pearl's in your area if you fancy having a go at it yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AlexVDL Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 If I had access to CAD or even knew how to use it I definatly would do so, but thank you for the heads up, and batfink I had planned on toning the meteor down a bit, it would simply be too difficult to route out all the tiny bits on it without cnc, im going to draw it out on paper how I want it first then hopefully I will get somebody to do a cad for me of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RGGR Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 draw them out in cad and e-mail al inteso (aiguitars on ebay) icon_wavey.gif Could you elaborate on this some more??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord-of-the-strings Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 Do it up buddaaay! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hughes Posted October 17, 2005 Report Share Posted October 17, 2005 (edited) i never understood why people are affraid to make a neck...mistakes happen. plus, i can make a neck for $4 (not including hardware) so its all good for me...good luck man Edited October 17, 2005 by Hughes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 well I cut out the scarf joint today, but using a handsaw presented a little problem as you will see here.... http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/scarf005.jpg as you can see the cut isnt exactly straight, so now what im going to have to do is recalculate the angle on the neck and plane down both pieces to match (or is there something else I can do? ive already been sanding for quite some time) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/scarf003.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/scarf002.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/scarf001.jpg http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/scarf004.jpg Little bit of a bumpy start but im not too worried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 Eesh. Looks like you need to practice your hadsawing a little, and/or make sure your saw is sharp next time 'round! Have you got the extra length at the heel end to compensate slightly? I wouldn't reccomend changing the angle to anything steeper; stack the headstock bit on the shaft, as shown in Hisock's book, mark the angle you want planed away on both sides, accuratel. Then rasp and/or plane away until they're pretty much level, adjust to an even finer cut (you're taking very, very small bites with a very, very sharp plane at this point), and/or true up the surface with unidirectional strokes of a large, flat sanding board. No side to side, no back and forth, just one direction. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 yeah, Im definatly not very good with handsaws, I will be fixing the problem tommorow though, thank you for the advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 (edited) well since I was bored for a while now I figured I would whip out the ole staightedge and protractor, and get the angle fixed on the neck, obviously i have yet to cut it, but I have more then enough room on both piece's right now, though i know for a fact im going to have to add some wood the heel area when the fretboard come's in (unlike somebody we know ) so im figuring on doing a second scarf joint on it, is this advisable? oops almost forgot the picture! Edited October 18, 2005 by goth_fiend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guitarfrenzy Posted October 18, 2005 Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 I use the bandsaw a lot to cut scarf joints, but you better have the bandsaw setup good or you'll end up with the same problem you just had. What happened is your blade wasn't exact perpendicular to the table of the bandsaw, so it cut at a slight angle. I'd go back to that bandsaw and get it setup correctly before attempting any more scarf joints. You should always test with scrap wood, until you know for sure the table is set correctly. Also, you should never have more than 1/8" from the top guide and the wood your cutting for a accurate cut. There is a whole list of things to do when properly setting up a bandsaw to cut good. From setting the guides away from the blade on each side slightly away, to how you setup the back bearing that keeps the blade from moving back too much when bandsawing. But most important to what your doing is that the table is setup correctly and not at any angle. You can't always go by the markings either unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 (edited) well I fixed the problem today, took me a few hours using a surform plane, sandpaper and of coarse a plane as well, thank you mattia for the suggestion, it worked perfectly! http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/fix001.jpg (this is the headstock end finished) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/fix002.jpg (this is the neck end after using the surform on it a bit) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/fix003.jpg (again with the surform) http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y74/the_fined/fix004.jpg (the neck end finished, the end on it got slightly torn because i got carried away with the surform, but that part of the wood will be cut out eventually so its not a big problem) Edited October 19, 2005 by goth_fiend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 (edited) scarf joint is gluing up as I type, I will check on it tommorow and probalby route it out on monday speaking of routing, what would be the best method to route out the truss rod and carbon fiber rods? I am in no way shape or form going to freehand route those! Edited October 19, 2005 by goth_fiend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Im now starting to think about the body for this guitar...and im trying to figure out if I should go with a dinky body or an RG body style, either way it is definatly going to be a carved top (another first for me..dear god this project is becoming more daunting by the day!) and im still not sure If i want a flame or quilt top on it, what do you guys think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 hey this looks a little bit like a roughed out neck! Im going to be doing a little bit more planing on the headstock tonight, and i very well may route out the truss rod and carbon fiber rods tommorow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeiscosRock Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 Looking good so far. This is helping nudge me towards building the neck for my first project, which will be coming up after the holidays (I don't feel like shelling out a small fortune to get a custom made set-style neck) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 definatly go for it, as you can see its not all that tough! and so far with tools and everything else im still considerably cheaper then a warmoth right now (and they dont make 27 frets) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeiscosRock Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I won't even be using a bandsaw. I'll be improvising with a plethora of hand tools and the odd jigsaw or two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goth_fiend Posted October 19, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I havent used my bandsaw on this neck yet, and not all of us have one man, you should be fine, just take your time, measure twice (or 3 times, or more!) and then cut man, just plan everything out before you do anything, of coarse you will run into some snags (like me with the scarf on this neck) but as you can see, it got sorted out pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynamesucks Posted October 19, 2005 Report Share Posted October 19, 2005 I won't even be using a bandsaw. I'll be improvising with a plethora of hand tools and the odd jigsaw or two. ← i made my neck by hand it gives you a good feeling, i did sort of cheat on the fretboard with a preslotted one. you should be fine when cutting the scarf joint as long as you use a sharp saw and take it slowly trying to keep to the line as to avoid having to plane more of. most importantly, sharpen every tool before you use it for the first time, if theyve been sitting in a draw many a year like mine had they will be as blunt as a spork you get out of the canteen . a sharp tool will make it all that much more easier and enjoyable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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