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Hi, I have got the Martin Koch book/CD and have got some timber for my neck that is a bit bigger than what he said, but I can easily get it cut to the right shape. My uncle is a carpenter and is doing all the thickness sanding and alike for me at his work. One of the guys there makes guitars in a big way and said that the sizes I have for the neck are a bit off (haven't actually spoken to him yet, so I'm not entirely sure what exactly is wrong). I was just wondering what you all have as minimum dimensions for a neck. It will be 25" scale, bolt on or glue in, with an angled headstock... I'm just getting some info, so I can work out why something would be wrong with the measurements.. Thanks all in advance for your help!

Hello everyone, Another book I've found is by Jim Donahue, who owns NoahJames Guitars (a supporter of this site) I downloaded and printed his book yesterday - it is great...I found it by accident and not through amazon or stew-mac or anything like that...So I thought I'd better give it a plug. Here is his webpage and books Martin Koch's CD is great, with heaps of short videos showing the whole process. It has his book on it in non-printable PDF. search guitar building on Amazon.com and keep searching though the "people who bought this also bought these" and "other related books" section. Stew-mac also sells all the more well known guitar building books here

Hello everyone, I was just wondering if it was possible to make your own timber binding? Instead of buying it from Stew-Mac (for example). Basically, I don't want to use any of the timbers they have available, and don't want to stain or tint it.. Can you make your own? How would you make it? What tools would you need to make it? And, I guess, what sorts of timbers are ok? Especially if you have to bend it lots?! Anything else you think is relevant. Since I'm asking.. Are there any particular requirements for inlay materials? Can I use all sorts of different shells and alike that are cut up properly?? Just wondering.. Thanks all for your help, much appreciated as usual.

Thank you all very much!!!! I must say, after about 5 - 6 hours total of planing and sanding (mostly by hand) I am very happy with the results, even though I have to radius sand it anyway. My uncle is a carpented and is getting it milled to the right size for me at work. black bean is his favourite timber and he stroked it for half an hour - that's enough proof for me He was amazed at the results.... Looks like i'm on a winner, so far...For any other Aussies looking for native timber...I got both of these for $23, enough to make at least 6, maybe 10 fingerboards...Beautiful grain...Lazerides at Banyo in Brisbane...Highly recommended... I've also hear that Gidgee would be ok. Thanks all again, I'll post some pictures and let you know how it goes after I get them back and radius it all perfectly...

Hi, Yeah, I know that I have to radius them, just wanted to see what they'd come out like...too impatient Other than asking around the local shops, is there anyway I can find out if my wood is oily enough to leave un-laquered, or would it be best to just laquer it a bit in case? or put some lemon oil on it? What do you all recommend?

Hello all, I have some really basic questions about finishing a fretboard... What do you finish it with? I have three guitars, two strat copies, one with a maple fretboard, the other with rosewood, and a Yamaha Acoustic, rosewood. The maple seems to have a thin clear coat on it, but both the rosewoods seem to be unfinished..?? Is this right? What should I do to finish the fretboard? I'm presuming you don't laquer it or anything? I've got two pieces of timber that I'm currently working on for the fretboard: Both native Australian, so USA people, you mightn't know what they are: Cooktown Ironwood and Blackbean. I've planed both of them down so they are flat, and I've sanded them up to 2000grit, and wet sanded them. They are shiny so that you can see a good reflection in them. NICE Is this ok? is it too much? does it need to be oiled/polished/laquered??? Thanks very much for your help!

[quote]ive always wanted to live in australia, cuz when was the last time afganistan decided to bomb australia? [/quote] Afghanistan (or some extreme religious people) decides not to bomb Australia because we don't interfere with issues that are of no concern to us...And if they do, then it will probably be because John Howard kissed Bush's behind all the way to Iraq, where we have no business...You reap what you sew....We'll deserve it if and when it comes... This is no place for a political discussion however... Anyway, from Australia

Australians all let us rejoice, For we are young and free; We've golden soil and wealth for toil, Our home is girt by sea; Our land abounds in Nature's gifts Of beauty rich and rare; In history's page, let every stage Advance Australia fair! In joyful strains then let us sing, "Advance Australia fair!" Beneath our radiant southern Cross, We'll toil with hearts and hands; To make this Commonwealth of ours Renowned of all the lands; For those who've come across the seas We've boundless plains to share; With courage let us all combine To advance Australia fair. In joyful strains then let us sing "Advance Australia fair!" Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi THE BEST place there could ever possibly be to live! Although getting any guitar parts are very expensive!

Hi, I haven't routed anything yet, but I didn't know that, so thanks... Don't know if you looked at my TERRIBLE picture, but is that all right? does anyone know?? Would it just be easier for me to buy the Hot Rod...As I obviously don't know anything about this Another quick question... Is there any specific size for a head stock, or do you basically just have to be able to fit all the tuners on it..?

Thanks everyone for your help! It's not the Hot Rod, It's the traditional truss rod...Truss Rod Basically do I need anything else to add to it? It is just a rod at the moment and all the other one's i see in tutorial are rectangular - do I need to put a casing around it??????? Where do I cut it off? Where it enters the body (16th Fret) or at the end of the neck and do I anchor it with this? Which came with it???? I'll draw a picture - I find that works easier.. It won't let me put it on, so you can see it here...truss rod picture.. Durian (the fruit) I've never heard of it - this timber is a light grey/pinkish sort of colour, medium hard - hardwod, straight grained..nice to work with...My uncle said it's Durian, but I may be spelling it wrong Yes, Australia is Metric

Ok, so presuming the timber is big enough and is ok to use... I have a couple of other questions.. Should I buy the timber for the fretboard before I do anything for the neck? If I do a binding around the fretboard, is that extra on the width of the fretboard, or does the fretboard get reduced to accomodate the width of the binding?? Anyone know about that truss rod I mentioned earlier?? Stewmac truss rod Thank you very much!!!

Does anyone have a link for a fret calculator.. I have it on my Martin Koch CD, but I'm not at home . BTW, I just realised that the USA (I'm presuming that's what time the clock is on here) is 15 hours behind...I'm just having breakfast

Yeah, I thought of that too, but I don't know if any of you know bout Australian timber, but Jarrah is used to build guitars down here, and Durian will be ok too (so my uncle tells me) so I figured why not get it cheap, instead of paying for new stuff, when the stuff I bought is straight and the right size....If i stuff it up, it doesn't matter then... Besides, postage to Australia plus our EXTRA CRAPPY dollar would mean a neck would cost around $100 - $250 to get imported.. Then there's customs...they are pretty careful with timber, so if there's any sign of rot or anything, it will be burnt.. I can't really risk it..I'm a student too

Um, well that's the problem, I don't really know.. I THINK one of them is Jarrah, one may be Durian and the other is bright red... I think they're probably all native (Australia) but I have no idea, I'm going to find out though, my uncle is a carpenter. This is the truss rod at Stew-Mac's...Traditional Truss Rod It says to cut it to the right length to fit your instrument...I dunno What do you recommend for a scale length? i think a strat is about 25" or something like that isn't it??? I think my timber will be JUST long enough..not sure.. if not, could I make a head stock out of something different if it's not long enough??Just wondering, never really heard of anyone doing that! This is what came with the truss rod, that's not shown in the link above I'm presuming this sits at the other end (where the neck enters the body) at right angles, and sitting flush... It didn't come with any instructions and I think that maybe I'm a bit slow

Ok, I have been doing reasearch for about 6 months now and I have just bought some timber for a neck (only cause I found it cheap in a recycling place - I got enough timber for 3-4 necks for $10!!! YEAY! ). I have a truss rod and all the tools necessary to start the neck, but I am kind of stumped on a few things, which I KNOW are really simple, but I just can't get my head around it. BTW, I have Martin Koch's book - which covers everything but I just want some clarification. And he seems to have a shorter scale than most, so I just wanted to clarify some size details too. The necks will be bolt on or glued in - not neck through. I bought the traditional truss rod from Stew-Mac. I don't understand how I'm supposed to put it in, as all pictures I see show the truss rod as square, and I just have a rod with what I think in an anchor for one end and the nut and washer at the other. I think I have to cut it to length and thread that end. So... I'm presuming I cut the truss rod so that it will end where the neck will enter the body.?? The three different necks I have are the following sizes - I don't know what scale I want, so if someone could recommend something fairly generic, that would be great also. 85cm long x 6.7cm wide x 3.1cm thick 72cm x7.5 cm x4.7 cm 74cm x 8cm x 4.5 cm These are all straight grained, old hardwood, which are quatersawn and seem (to me) to be fairly straight I know how to make the head stock (its going to be angled) but I guess, am more wanting to know what scale would be best, and if this timber is big enough. If any isn't wide enough, I can always laminate it I guess, so that's not really a problem. ANYWAY...if anyone could just tell me what to do, in a bit of detail, it would be much appreciated, because I can see three nice bits of timber being destroyed soon. THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH!!!

Hi I can't photoshop it for you sorry, but I wish I could, because that sounds HOT!!!! If anyone can do it, please post a picture on the forum for us to see!

For those who are interested, I read Brian's tutorial on making the wire bender (mentioned a couple of replys up) and made it up. I am really happy with it. It takes me less than 30 seconds to bend 2 ft of wire, it ends up the right radius, but more importantly it only cost me AU50c, so that's even less for those Americans out there, and a couple of hours of my timetime (I know nothing about wood working, so the going was a bit slower than just about anyone! ). If I was building guitars for a living, I'd buy the wire bender, but since I can't claim it on tax, I'm going the cheap option. Just letting the poorer of us know that the cheaper option still works great!

Hello all, I was just wondering your opinion on the Dremel Tool. Basically, I'm trying to keep tools to a minimum, due to the cost, and was thinking that the Dremel might be handy to do all the little fiddly jobs, like binding, inlays, small drilling, etc. However I've read a few comments on the net saying it's not that great and since I live in Australia, the tool will be really expensive, so I'm wondering if it's not worth it. In regards to tools, I currently have, or have access to the following: Smallish Router Jigsaw Heaps of planes Electric sander orbital sander rasps cordless and impact drills soldering iron small engraver Grinder Hand saws and hatchets, etc Heaps of drill bits Hammer Variety of other basic tools - caliper, wood glues, sandpaper, scraper...etc. etc So do you think that this is enough? What other essential tools do you think I would need? I'm not looking for the world's best tool shop, and I don't care if things take ages to do with these tools, Just as long as I can get to the finished product eventually, I'll be happy. I hope that this thread can be helpful for other beginners like myself. Thank you in advance for you replys

I have two, 5.25cm & 7.5cm from the nut to the screw in the middle of the t. It's a el-cheapo strat rip-off.