westhemann Posted January 16, 2011 Report Share Posted January 16, 2011 So on a whim I decided to build a short scale but fully pro quality single cut...Tineo body,one piece maple neck with a scarf joint,maple fretboard(24.03" scale) Started it last night After about 2 hours work today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 Scarfed the neck,planed it all to a square blank,and traced out the taper.This blank had enough length to sketch out all the way to the bridge,so that is what I did.Marked out the bridge position,then measured the bridge for the string spacing and added 1/8" on each side,then drew the taper the entire direction(1 5/8" nut width) Then I cut the fretboard to length,laid it on top,and marked out where I will cut to make the end of the neck. I ordered some black dyed 1/16" veneer for accents on some of these up and coming instruments,and when it comes in it will become a part of this neck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 17, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 This neck is going to be 2 1/8" wide at the 24th fret.The idea is to make this instrument as compact as possible.I am considering shrinking the nut width too,since I am making my own nut this time.I was considering 1 9/16" nut,since the neck is already 1/16" more narrow at the other end than what I usually do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 17, 2011 Report Share Posted January 17, 2011 What is it about the narrow string spacing that you like? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 I just feel like when I am picking that with wider string spacing I tend to chop at it more,but on more narrow string spacings it just flows better. Maybe it has something to do with the 1 mm picks I use..I just feel like I don't need so much room. As far as fretting goes,I just don't need that much room.I suspect(since my hands are not small)that most guitars are made to fit the "finger width challenged" members of the overfed masses... My hand in front of my single cut Chording on a 1 5/8" nut So if I,a guy with "normal" hands,like a smaller string spacing and smaller guitars,it makes me wonder how many out there also find large guitars and wide necks with long scales to be ungainly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 My fingers are considerably shorter than yours...there's a shot of you playing at a fairly young age around somewhere and my first thought was damn you've got long fingers. I built my guitar with a 1 5/8" nut because that was what my neck plans called for. I found it difficult to avoid muting strings when chording. I got better as I learned....but after playing an LP I still find it easier with a wider spacing. The trade off is it's tougher to get a pinky on the low E. I figure that is more due to my inexperience, which is why I asked a more experienced player...namely you. I certainly agree that it's easier to play the shorter scale over the 25.5". Thanks for the input. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Our Souls inc. Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Its not always a matter of long fingers - mine are long as heck too, but they are thick so I make all my necks wider than normal. Thats why I started making my own nuts - finding them in "my" width wasn't easy..... I can play an Am chord with two fingers on a regular strat or LP, and always mute out the G string on an open C . Spreading the width out leaves me with enough room to get my digits in there. Probably a good thing I switched to bass recently..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mender Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Its not always a matter of long fingers - mine are long as heck too, but they are thick so I make all my necks wider than normal. Thats why I started making my own nuts - finding them in "my" width wasn't easy..... I can play an Am chord with two fingers on a regular strat or LP, and always mute out the G string on an open C . Spreading the width out leaves me with enough room to get my digits in there. Probably a good thing I switched to bass recently..... My fingers aren't particularly long, and not especially thick, but I find it uncomfortable to play a narrow neck, i.e., a 42mm or 43mm (1 9/16" - 1 5/8") nut width. That is the main reason I got into building my own guitars (and then for other people). I wanted a wider neck, which couldn't be bought over the counter, so I made myself a guitar with a 46mm (1 13/16") nut, and later, 48mm (1 7/8"). These I find extremely comfortable to play, and most of my customers over the years have preferred these sizes. I also prefer shorter scale guitars. Of course, at the moment, I can't play any size neck, or build anything, as the wrist op I had in November didn't go according to plan, and I can't rotate my forearm at all now. I may need more surgery in the near future to correct this problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Dammit Mender, that blows. Around here, we'd say hang tough...is keep a stiff upper lip roughly the same thing for a Brit? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mender Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Dammit Mender, that blows. Around here, we'd say hang tough...is keep a stiff upper lip roughly the same thing for a Brit? SR Yep, same meanings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarvey Posted January 18, 2011 Report Share Posted January 18, 2011 Let's hope you can live up to that name "Mender" Good luck. A big fear of mine. Great build. My brother was in town and played my 1st guitar and it was too wide and thick for him. I love it and actually feel my hand gets less tired when I have more to grab on to. Just personal preference I suppose. That is the beauty of a "custom built" anything. I love these detailed discussion on the minutia, after all, it's all minutia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 I really don't know why I feel more comfortable with smaller spacings while others with smaller hands don't..I just always feel like I have plenty of room between the strings.More than I need for sure. Smaller scale is more because I like to reach all 24 frets,but I don't like the nut to be very far away from my body.But the scale really doesn't make much difference between the frets,only over the entire fretboard does it add up noticeably for me My fingers are long,but thin Yes my cuticles are shredded..i work with my hands for a living My "truss rod router jig" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Hope it gets better,Mender.The older I get,the less things move like they should. More things than I want to think about Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Nice straight edge...what is it? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Walnut...future neck blank...so are the flame maple pieces poking out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 i have fairly long skinny fingers especialy skinny considering my size. and i prefer a larger neck period i like a chunkier neck for pure comfort, but i liek the wider string spacing because im not the best player and i mute strings but the better i get the less i do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Well,in metal (because of the super high gain) you have to mute the strings you aren't playing while you are playing the notes you want,so I lean my leftover fingers against the ones I want to mute,and if I am using all of my fingers I lean my index finger over them while pressing the ones I want.I am guessing everyone who plays metal does the same thing... But I have no problem clearing the strings I need to clear while muting the ones I need to mute..If for some reason my fretting hand can't do it my palm takes over automatically Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 23, 2011 Well I did not have much time this week,but I did get the neck rough shaped Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 So, maple neck and fretboard...is this the one you're putting a face plate on? How are you going to finish the tineo? How is it to work...I don't think I've ever had my hands on any? SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Yeah,faceplate is on this one..just a plain black plate because I thought it would look nicer than the plain maple to put my goat on. Tineo...well,it is easy to work..doesn't splinter or tear out and it sands easy..I have no idea how it will sound,though it has a dark tap tone.I can't say that it's worth searching out,I just happened across it. This one is just going to be clear..I don't think I am even going to seal it with CA..I doubt it needs it since the grain is very non-porous.No tints of any type..I think it looks nice as is because of the light colors of the woods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 Well I guessed wrong then. I was guessing this would get that glossy black paint job you've been wanting. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 No,the glossy black one is going to be the Explorer.Although if the tineo looks like crap after the sealer coats(If the grain just looks stupid),it may not be a bad alternative to mask off the neck and paint the body black. Hmm..now you tickled my painting bug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 But no,the idea is to bring black into the theme with the black headstock,black hardware,and black in the inlays...and all that should offset the light colors and really make everything pop visually. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 Wow...I can't believe it's been a year. Anyway...the latest My new sanding block.I cracked the old one installing flooring Control cavity.I still need to drill for the 3 way switch and the output jack Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted March 4, 2012 Author Report Share Posted March 4, 2012 And now I need some serious sanding time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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