2.5itim Posted May 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2016 Well I shouldn't have routed the pickup cavities on this type of neck pocket before the neck pocket itself, now after a $150 bill I think I can finally get this neck pocket routed tomorrow when my new router shows up. Because the longest template bearing I can get in 1/4" shaft which is what my router is was 1", and because around the pickup cavity area there's nothing for my bearing to run along anymore since that material is already gone. So I had to go to woodcraft and get a 1/2" shaft 1/2" diameter 1-5/8" cutting length bit (which doesn't have a bearing so I'm just going to run the shaft along my template which should work fine I think), but because of the 1/2" shank I had to buy a new router which they didn't have in stock so I had to order it and it will be here tomorrow. So today I got my neck pocket taper jig sorted out, at 12" from the front of my body I need the template raised .420 off the face of the body to give me my taper, so I cut a piece of wood at .420 to use as a riser block, double sided tape, regular tape and clamps this dude shouldn't be moving anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 9, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Well I got my neck pocket cut last Thursday, I don't know what the hell happened but I practiced on 2 scrap boards and those the neck fit perfect, nice and snug! I routed it on my body and now the pocket is to big, I can almost squeeze in 2 pieces of .023 veneer. I blew my knee out on thursday night so I have a while to think about how I'm gonna fix this. I'm kind of thinking about glueing 2 pieces of veneer on each side of the pocket and then my neck should fit tight, what do y'all think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 If it's going to be a set neck, then you probably have little to no choice about that! I'd spend some time figuring out how it happened in the first place to prevent future mishaps. Bummer that it happened this time out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted May 9, 2016 Report Share Posted May 9, 2016 Yeah, that's likely the best way to go. Bummer, that it happened, but that's another good repair trick to learn. Sometimes the mark of a good builder is how well he recovers from mistakes. Bummer about the blown knee too, I've been there before as well. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Yeah I'm really itching to get out there and try to get this sorted out but It's gonna be a bit, I think that I can make the veneer work, I'm gonna go to woodcraft and get some maple veneer at some point to try and make it a little less noticeable. Thanks scott, this is my 3rd go around of dislocated knees but the first one on this leg. I think I was just plagued with bad knees from the get go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Pros, the only reason that I could think that this happened was because I used 2 different router bits. For the test pieces I used a 3/4" bit with a bearing, for the actual pieces I used a 1/2" bit without a bearing and just used the shaft to run along the template. That's the only difference between them so it must be it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 10, 2016 Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 Ouch ouch ouch. No matter how anybody recommends doing this, don't! It truly is a bad idea. Even at low speeds with a clean bit, the shaft still burnishes and heats up the template surface, often burning it up. There are better ways, and they're cheaper than causing problems with expensive workpieces....! Ouch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2016 (edited) Honestly I knew that I shouldn't do it but it's the only way that I could think of to do it, I really screwed myself by cutting the pickup cavity first, if I hadn't of done that I could have just used my regular bearing router bit. I took extra precaution to cut all the material out without touching the template until the final cleanup pass but I guess even still it made my template bigger. Well, lesson learned and now gotta focus on getting it fixed! Edited May 10, 2016 by 2.5itim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 12, 2016 Report Share Posted May 12, 2016 I'm sure you can. Live and learn. Unlike your knee....we seriously never learn not to get hurt at gigs eh? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 18, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Ok we are back in business here! I found my center line on the neck and figured out that the neck pocket was slightly off center from the center of the body towards the treble side so I glued up a piece of maple veneer on that side to push the neck back over to center and now we are all centered up and a nice tight fit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 18, 2016 Report Share Posted May 18, 2016 Wow that flame is intense! Looks very PRS. I like! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Thanks man!!! My buddy who this guitar is for wanted as close to a prs as I could get, he has 4 prs's so needless to say my work is really cut out for me here lol. I got the space cut out for the neck pickup on the neck also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 Killer top! Can't wait to see it carved. How are you going to carve it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted May 19, 2016 Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 The shape of the uncarved body looks great as it stands! Reminds me of the ultra-rare Aria Pro II Integra guitar in a weird way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 19, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2016 I agree pros, I was just sitting here last night looking at this thing and thinking about how it's pretty crazy how a carve on a top can completely change the look of a guitar. I'm definitely going to make another one of these things as a flat top at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 This is already a beauty! Any ideas for finish yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Thank you andrew, Yeah I have got a couple ideas, the guy that this is for wants me to do something similar to this so I'm gonna see how close I can get to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightroExpress Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Sweet. Have you tested anything yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 That's definitely a nice colour. I hope to do a similar one on mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 No I haven't just yet, I'm planing on getting a little farther along with the body before I start testing. Simpleone89, let me know how it goes for you if you get to it before me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 21, 2016 Report Share Posted May 21, 2016 Sure! Hopefully I should be able to test on scraps by the end of this week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2016 Somebody talk me out of this!!! I have been watching numerous videos on carving a top with a 4" angle grinder and 80 grit flap disk. I did a test on some scraps and really it didn't turn out to bad, so with that being said should I take a grinder to a $300 piece of wood? Lol i am pretty dang good with a grinder and I think I can manage this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 Well I still have lots of hand work to do but I feel like this is a good start! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2.5itim Posted May 26, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 That's what she said?!? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SIMpleONe89 Posted May 26, 2016 Report Share Posted May 26, 2016 Wow that's great! Angle grinders look like fun. I've not used one before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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