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Thanks Jammy! I had a little time today to work on the neck joint today. I modeled it after the AANJ. Here is a shot of the finished joint: Here is a closer look: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...int%20close.jpg Thanks again! Best Regards, Mike.

Howdy all. Well, it's the weekend and that means I get some time to work on my JS6 project. Today I shaped the neck. Here is a shot of the roughed in neck: On the utility stand are the tools I use for rough shaping including a spokeshave, rat-tail surform (gets the most use), contour guide (not used much at all), calipers and 150 grit sandpaper on a rubber block. For final shaping I used the rubber block and my random orbital sander. Here is a picture of the finished neck dry: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...ished%20dry.jpg And here is a picture of the finished neck with a coat of naptha: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...ck%20Naptha.jpg Man, that birdseye is gonna look nice! Thanks for looking. Best Regards, Mike. Edit: In case anyone's interested the dimensions are: 1st fret = 0.77 in (19.6 mm) 3rd fret = 0.76 in (19.4 mm) 12th fret = 0.81 in (20.7 mm)

For all those following this project, I made a little more progress today. I finished the control cavity route and drilled out the holes for the controls. Here are some pictures: After 3 passes with the forstner bit: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...tos/Hog%202.jpg All set up for the router with a homemade template: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...20route%201.jpg Finished control cavity: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...20route%202.jpg Best Regards, Mike.

Hey Rob, Don't worry about the english. I have been lucky enough to have done some travelling and have been amazed at how many people speak english in the world. I have great respect for those who can speak more than one language. By the way, I visited Italy last year and I absolutely loved it. Here is a picture of my wife and I in front of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Talk to you later. Best Regards, Mike.

RGGR wrote: Yes, exactly. I used the Dremel to get close then finished up with my grandfather's big, flat metal file. None of the holes for the hardware have been drilled yet. I just layed everything on the guitar so we could see what it looked like with the black hardware. Hopefully I can get some time this evening to work on the control cavity. Mahelcaya wrote: Hey Rob, I'm not sure what the difference is between a compact and a combined drill press. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's one that will hopefully answer your question: The drill press is just a basic, cheap model that I picked up at Lowes (similar to Home Depot if you're not familiar with them). Hope that answers your question. Post again if it doesn't. Best Regards, Mike.

I use double stick tape. Works like a charm and dirt cheap. Comes off easily when you want to change it. Here is a link: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Glues,_adhesiv...stick_Tape.html Best Regards, Mike.

All righty then, I was a busy boy last night and this morning. Since yesterday I've finished the abalone dot inlays, the frets and the headstock shaping. Here is a pic of the neck on my drill press with fret arbor: Here is a pic of the neck just prior to epoxying the inlays: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...ed%20inlays.jpg Pic of post-epoxy inlayed neck: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...ed%20Inlays.jpg Pic of frets just prior to trimming ends: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...rim%20Frets.jpg Post-trimming frets: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...med%20Frets.jpg End on view of fretboard with frets: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...20Frets%202.jpg Pretty level already!: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...vel%20Frets.jpg Test fit on body with black hardware and trimmed headstock: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...%20Hardware.jpg Thanks for looking! Best Regards, Mike.

Ahh yes...Soju. I had a run in with Soju when I was in Korea. I think I still have a headache! Actually, it's very good. For me, Bilgogi and Soju makes a great dinner. Very nice work Hyunsu. World class as usual. Best Regards, Mike.

Hmmm, I think Curtis has a good idea there. I would just add that after using the forstner bit, you then go back and sand the radiused edge by hand. Should work fine. Best Regards, Mike.

And that would be different from now how? Seriously, though you make a very cogent argument Kevan. Orwellian indeed.... Best Regards, Mike.

All right! Progress! Glad to hear you got your tools in. I like what you have so far. As you know, I'm particularly interested in seeing how that laminate neck turns out. Good work so far. I'll be looking forward to more progress pics! The problems you had with the router are very common. This is why I use a band saw to cut the rough outline and then use a robosander, or barrel sander to sand flush. Best Regards, Mike.

Good lord, you're a wizard Mr. Myka! I love all of them, but #23 is exceptional. By the way, thank you for the advice on my birdseye neck blank. Then jointer straightened it right out. Thanks! Best Regards, Mike.

Thanks for the vote Maiden! I'm favoring the black just like you guys. Hyunsu: Kamsa hamnida! I like your idea of using a plane to trim the sides of the neck (if I understand you correctly). I'm going to use that idea. I'm not sure I understand the order in which you make your initial cuts, however. I suppose you mean you trim your blank and your fingerboard separately, then glue them together. I suppose that way would work well too. Maybe next time I'll try it that way and see if I like it better. Best Regards, Mike.

I've always drooled over that lake salvaged stuff Buzzsaw sells. My only concern is how well the stuff will take a stain. Are you going to bleach the top before you stain? I guess you could always leave it natural and just clear coat it. Some of that salvaged stuff is pretty brown, although your piece isn't so much. Best Regards, Mike.

Boy, those Leviathans are sure growing on me. Beautiful top on that one. Nice work Jeremy. Best Regards, Mike.

Thanks Derek! O.K., so that's two for black and one for chrome. I've actually got the hardware for gold and black (including dome knobs by the way). I might as well get some chrome hardware since I'll be using it sooner or later anyway (besides the one-piece swamp ash I have a basswood blank, another mahogany blank and a super light two-piece swamp ash blank ready to go). Thanks for checking in on me Derek. Best Regards, Mike.

Hey thanks! Virtual guitar is an online configurator which lets you see what different combinations of options look like on a guitar. It is kind of cartoonish, but stills gives you a pretty good idea of what the guitar would look like. Here's the link: http://www.usacustomguitars.com/virtualguitar.html Best Regards, Mike.

Thanks Mahelcaya!. O.K., today I rough cut the neck shape. Here is an in progress photo: Here are two more progress photos: Half way there! Done! One thing I noticed is that pencil marks are hard to see on rosewood. Especially after you generate a little sawdust! Next time I'll use a Sharpie to outline the neck cut. I've actually already done this for the final sand-to line. Also, did you notice that huge Swamp Ash blank behind my bandsaw? There's enough there for 3 one-piece blanks. I can't wait to dig into that stuff. As always, thanks for lookin'! Best Regards, Mike.

I went ahead and glued the Rosewood fretboard to my neck blank. Here's the pre-glue taping: Here's the picture of the fretboard glued and clamped: http://www.pariah-now.com/Guitar%20Build%2...ret%20Board.jpg Looks like I'll be ready to cut the outline tomorrow. Then all I have to do is the inlays, the frets, the back shaping, the headstock shaping....man necks sure a lot of work! Best Regards, Mike.

Well, after not feeling well for a week or so I finally got back to work on my JS6 replica. I had purchased a nice piece of birdseye for the neck, but found out that it had a slight twist to it (see this discussion: http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/index.php?showtopic=11593). David Myka and Frank Falbo were kind enough to encourage me to have a go at straightening the blank out with my jointer and planer. I was able to flatten the blank quite well using just the jointer by being careful to pull the blank across the blade and not allowing it to corkscrew across. It's nice to know that something like this can be corrected. Here is a picture of the straightened blank after routing the truss rod channel. Looks like I'll get some nice figuring out of the blank as you can see. To the left you see the 3 fingerboards I picked up at Warmoth. For this neck I'm pretty sure I'll go with the Indian Rosewood (to be more true to the JS6). The Birdseye and Ebony fretboards sure are tempting though! I also picked up 4 necks worth of Dunlop 6105 as you can see as well. I'll be glueing the fretboard tonight or tomorrow. Thanks for looking! Best Regards, Mike.

Nothing wrong with building your first guitar from parts. I built a $100 Saga kit and was glad I did because I learned a lot doing it. And there certainly isn't anything wrong with Warmoth guitars. A friend of mine put together a walnut Warlock guitar from Warmoth parts and I love that guitar. Very high quality parts and it sounds and plays awesome. I myself just received a Warmoth strat neck I purchased out of the showcase and I'm very impressed with the build quality. As for your guitar...very nice indeed. I love the birdseye and the artwork. What a great idea for getting your guitar painted. I see those airbrush artists all the time painting T-shirts and I never thought of asking them to paint a guitar body. How does your guitar sound? My guess would be that it has emphasis in the higher frequencies with the maple body and neck. Cool guitar. Best Regards, Mike.

I think this is one nice looking guitar. Chafin Helios on Ebay I've never heard of the brand. Anyone know anything about these? Best Regards, Mike.

Frank, Thanks for the suggestion. I was a bit concerned about using the planer due to the "corkscrew effect" as you suggest. I'm sure that's why Myka suggested using the jointer first then using the planer. I think your idea of applying post-blade pressure on the jointer is a good one and I'll use it. I really have nothing to lose so I'll give it shot just the same. I'll look at this as a learning experience. Best Regards, Mike.

Myka, Thank you so much for the advice. It's good to know I don't have to throw out this nice birdseye blank. I'll give it a shot with the jointer and planer then. You make stunning guitars by the way. Thanks again. Best Regards, Mike.

Hi all, I was taking a look at my maple neck blank before starting to work with it and I noticed that it has a slight twist. The blank is 13/16 by 4 by 27 inches. I have a 4 in joiner and a 13 in planer. Would either of these help? The blank has a great birdseye figure and I'd hate to throw it away, but I will if I have to. Thanks in advance for your advice. Best Regards, Mike.