Doeringer

Yep, noticed that, I should have said to revisit the entire process instead of dancing around...

Amwar, you won't get much help around here with that attitude. He was helping you out. Many top manufacturers use the dye to make rosewood dark and even colored, but it is still fake ebony. He was not putting you down, just calling it what it is.

Sounds like you are about to drop a chunk of change on this and I would suggest a few things. For the first few necks... Buy pre slotted fretboards and drop the fret saw, box and templates. you can use a hard rubber or urethane hammer and drop the drill press accessories (although I do think that is a better way of seating frets) If you have the ability to laminate your neck blank with several pieces, you can make your center piece the width of the truss rod 1/4, and cut the channel on the band saw before glueing the neck lams together. No rout needed. Table saw for truss channel - not a good idea unles you have a CNC or a laser engraver, most inlay is freehand. Hard to get templates that small, ya'know. and don't forget the drill bits for the tuner holes too. I also didn't see nut files and clamps on your list, do you have something else you will use? Another option (because I am not familiar with your abilities) is buy the book only, and go from there.

yes, sounds like your board is not level, have you tried to adjust the truss rod? Have you done much neck work before?

Lots, but before we get into a long discussion of how too's and especially why's - could you give us a little insight on your guitar refinishing experience? This way we can answer your question better.

This does not answer the question but may give some insight. I have not tried it in a neck. BIGLEAF MAPLE acer macrophyllum The Bigleaf Maple is also known as Broadleaf Maple, Oregon Maple The Bigleaf Maple is well named as its leaves are enormous with stems often as long as the leaf UNIQUE FEATURES: The Bigleaf Maple is the largest and fastest growing maple in Canada The Bigleaf Maple has a narrow crown supported by a branch-free stem for half its length when grown in the forest. When grown in the open, a few large, spreading branches support a broad crown Seeds are food for small mammals and birds Twigs of the Bigleaf Maple are food for elk and deer Often draped in mosses LOCATION: The Bigleaf Maple is found in the southwest corner of British Columbia Low to mid elevations Coarse, gravelly, moist soils such as found near river, lake and stream edges WOOD CHARACTERISTICS: Close grain, moderate hardness USES: Modern - furniture, interior finishing, musical instruments, flowers can be used in salads (YUM) Traditional - wood: dishes, pipes, clothing hooks, paddles; inner bark: baskets, rope and whisks; young shoots: eaten; sap: type of maple syrup

So for this to work, the fretboard would have to be flat (no radius) right? or am I missing something. I didn't get to dig too deep into the site. To me this would knock out most of their potential buyers, patent or not.

Welcome Snuggles... That is where the top edge of the fretboard is slightly (just the very edge) rounded (rolled) or scraped for a more comfortable feel.

All sound advice (above), but I always say to consider a kit as a first build too (but not as a replacement for the books, reading on-line and practicing). It will answer many of the why's and where too's that will help you design adn build yours better from the start. As stated on a previous thread, Carvin makes a good one, so does WD.

Good work, and I like that it is similar but not bookmatched

I know, I'm liking them!

JohnnyC, when I read your first post, I thought, Ok, this guy is new, he didn't think it through, didn't realize... and we all were giving you feedback. Now after your last post I find that you are just plain wrong and you are trying to defend with incorrect statements. Wrong, It is fraud either way. There is no debate. You seem to have a good handle on building a guitar, Perry and the other people here are the people that can help you get to the next level... and they do it for free. When someone gives you sound advise, even if it is not what you want to hear, don't act so defensively.

AUSSIE, AUSSIE, AUSSIE, HEY! Sorry, I'm just a wanna be... Welcome!

No Perry, you are certainly not the only one, but maybe one of the few that speak up. I make custom waterslide labels for the ebay world, and my ads clearly state that I will not make other companies labels. I get at least one email daily from some clown that wants to argue the point or says something like, "what if we change it just a little bit?" JohnnyC your guitar looks great especially for a first build. Take the extra time, scrap the headstock and put your name on it. Be Proud Man!

For those of you who can't read Klingon, let me translate. It says, "We hire illegal alliens...Cheap!" As always, nice work Doug.

Asian companies also are not familiar with the same history that we are. what is common or expected in our culture is not in theirs. Might have to chalk it up to "lesson learned" and move forward if you can't return them.

+1 Pull the frets, then do the inlay, level, re-fret

What I like to do when I design a new body, is once I get the drawing to my liking, I cut a template out of cardboard and put it in the kitchen, or the office, or the shop… and keep looking at it. This way, I see it when I’m not thinking about it, I see it when I’m stressed or relaxed. Sometimes I’ll walk by it a hundred times, then something will catch my eye and I’ll make some changes. It stays there until I’m happy with it.

I don't think it is possible with a bit, not if you are looking for authenticity. But if you are looking for a different look...maybe

Got some, where is the valley of the lost...US? mine is not 10yr old, but was kiln dried and I've had it for a few months

To me it doesn't matter too much which guitar we decide to make or if we open it up. I see plusses and minuses to both. I would like to see it vary from the GOTM as much as possible, and if we could talk Melvyn into being a judge, that would be an extra feather in the cap to the winner.

lookin good! I agreed, this is a design improvement!

Is that my Vox sitting next to it? Really nice work!

They are spot on!

I'm in too! 1 explorer sounds cool 2 LP single 3 Tele 4 hell, i'm up for any How bout some pots, caps, electrosocket, jack, truss rod and a wiring kit... Setch, Perry, Doug, so many other would be good too.