suicidecustom Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 hello there. i've just completed my first completed guitar and am on to my next (building these darn things is about as addictive as gettin inked) with the build i just finished the only thing i dont like about it is the neck (fender). so, im gonna build a neck through 25"scale with multiple laminations. 3 maple 2 bloodwood stringers and ebony FB (stewmac/lmii). im working out the measurements of each peice full scale on paper first. i picked up the last of the wood today(bloodwood). i have enough maple for 3-4 necks and enough bloodwood for the 2 stringers (.25") and possibly a fretboard (if its possible to use as such). body will be alder. anyway, i was just looking for a few tips as this is my first attempt at carving a neck. thanks for any advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
low end fuzz Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 search for tutorials; Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suicidecustom Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 been there and done that. just looking for as much info as i can possibly get till everything is ready for me to take the plunge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernova9 Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 been there and done that. just looking for as much info as i can possibly get till everything is ready for me to take the plunge. Then lay out the steps in the order you think you're going to do it, with measurements etc and then people will point out any obvious mistakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 Mark a centerline, bring to depth, don't touch it at all while carving, remove wood until it feels right. Seriously, making necks is fun, and not that difficult. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prs man Posted March 21, 2007 Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 [possibly a fretboard (if its possible to use as such)] I have used blood wood for fret boards and it works nice. for carving the neck after things are glued up I start with a spoke shave to rough out the neck then go with a rasp. this might help http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/neck.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suicidecustom Posted March 21, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2007 thanks for the replys. Seriously, making necks is fun, and not that difficult. thats the general concensus i've found. im the type of person that will buy any tool that will make my job easier but when i carved the contour in the back of the guitar i just finished it was extremely satisfying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherokee6 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Try out a test model by using pine. That will give you a bit of confidence to "take the plunge". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suicidecustom Posted March 22, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 im 100% confident that i can do it. im actually quite anxious to get started. just diggin for more tips Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticraft Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 (edited) Mark your center line and thickness and cut the shape of your neck and peg head. Mark guidelines about 10mm/3/8"in on each edge you need to shape. Clamp a block of wood in a vice and clamp the peg head to it and position so you are working at a comfortable angle and use a spokeshave and cut back to those guide lines evenly on both edges. You will need to make sure you are cutting with the grain and learn to roll your wrists to just take a thin slice each time. Adjustment and sharpness of the blade is crucial to easy carving. When they look even you can then start radiusing off the corners bit by bit. Don't remove the center line and keep closely inspecting it and run it through your hands as that is a good guide to unevenness. If you have a heel block like I fit to my guitars then it needs to be fitted up and glued on before you start the carving process. I then use a fine file to dress it up for the next stage and then sand with 120 grit going finer till about 320 grit. When you are fine sanding it with your hands you can feel any slight variations there might be. It is a good idea to leave the neck a tad wider than your finished fingerboard so once the truss rod is installed and the fingerboard is glued on then you can then carefully sand back with a straight edge block so all edges are beautifully flush. Now I have done a few necks I find it one of the most enjoyable parts of the guitar building process. If you aren't that confident practice on some scrap wood before you attack that priceless quilted Maple neck you might have. Edited March 22, 2007 by Acousticraft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martinedwards Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 Yup, I love carving necks. I start off with a centre line. I cut the headstock face angle first and sand it flat. then cut the trussrod slot from the top using a vertical mill then glue on a preslotted fingerboard (life's WAY too short to cut your own!!) Then rough cut on the band saw and then I just wade in with a good sharp chisel. sand it fret it attach it finish it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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