demonx

Mine (stewmac box) was the out dated model, you can't buy it anymore. The brass blocks were worn out! I think they were only $99 when I bought it. The saw was two models ago, they don't sell anymore, it was blunt as a butter knife. Sacrificing it really wasn't a big issue. Besides, it's only hex bolts. I can put it back together if I wanted. Can't see that happening though.

The laser ones are the best and most accurate but expensive. The one I use is the prong type. Not 100% accurate, but accurate enough for our needs as in, we want it to be well under 10% content, everything I test reads 3-5% so even if it's a couple percent out it's safe. I tested it on some fresh timber and it read 40% so I know it has variable and not just reading the same all the time. It was only 20 bucks including postage off eBay. You won't get it into a ebony board though. You need to fully shove the two prongs into the wood for a proper reading.

Great work so far... You and I seem to be in the same position, desperately needing a drum sander. One day... As far as my slotting rig, works great AS LONG as I don't put pressure on the saw when I pull it through. I need to just pull it smooth. As it's a cheapo saw it's not as rigid as my larger makita which is solid, but cost five times the amount. Re the comment about hacking into a $200 saw, you can prob buy similar in the USA for $50... everything is more expensive over here. Besides, everything I did us reversible except for drilling the holes, but that is minor.

So it's still brand new then!

Building guitars naked is no joking matter! It was so damn hot in my workshop a few weeks ago that I was in there working in just shorts and shoes and sweat was still pouring out of me, (sorry, no pics of this!) Now the weathers done a flip and I'm rugged up wearing a jumper!

Tuner holes drilled: Now that I have them I kind of wish I ewnt with grover tuners rather than the schallers. I just don't like these, but the money is spent and it's only for me, not a customer guitar. When I was getting it ready for the side dots, I was moving the body out the way and my jumper caught the edge of the neck, it spun off the bench and landed tip first: After a few seconds on the linisher (curved part) you'd ever know if I hadn't told you: The fretting process is delayed as I'm waiting on a fret bender I ordered which is taking forever. I want to try it out rather than bending manually with pliers like I usually do. Should save me a time in the fretting process.

I have been busy working on the body. Sorting out the routes and drilling wiring holes etc. I usually don't use timber with knots etc, but for this guitar they act as a feature, so I've taped off around them and filled the holes with epoxy so they'll be smooth after sanding and help with the paint stage which I'm working towards.

If you've never used a jointer, here is my advice: Set up the fence and table with a set square. Set the table so it's taking half a bees dick of wood each pass. Not a milimeter, but less than that. Push slow. Very slow. The slower you move, the cleaner the pass will result. Eye protection. You'll get the occasional missile. Make sure to dust the table before passes as the smallest woodchip can lift your timber and make it a angled pass Dust extractor is a must or it'll all build up under your blade Push handles. Push handles. Push handles. When passing the timber you'll find that one direction will pass smoother than the other, so turn the timber around if it seems to be tearing. Don't force the timber. Just pass slow and let the blade do the work, not you pushing. Just keep smooth even pressure

I knew when posted my guitar up for vote your's was going to win that month, didnt matter who went up against it, it'd won before the comp even started.. Its hands down the sort of thing the guys on this forum go for and to add to that it was executed to perfection. It's probably why there wasnt many submissions last month! Intimidation! Congrats on the win - well desreved.

Awesome score! You won't know yourself adding those to the collection. Just don't put your fingers in the bits that spin fast. Get some of the push handles with the rubber grip underneath for doing passes on the jointer. I'm glad I use them as one of mine has the rubber chunked up. Better that than a mince meat finger. I know a few people who have lost fingers on jointers and table routers. Makes you safety conscious.

Of these two, I'd choose #1 The thing that annoys me about this type of beam is to get good results you have to glue & clamp flat the paper to make it straight and then the paper doesn't last very long and you have to scrape it all off and replace. I'm using a different type of diamond fret leveling file these days, but I much preferred my own hand made one similar to the #1 you posted. It's just a hassle to maintain to you build lots of guitars.

If we're talking amps now, my tattslotto setup is a four Fortin Natas stacks lined up next to each other

JCM2000 DSL and a 1960 cab. It was turned down pretty quiet otherwise all you can hear with the mobile phone recording is static!

A quick mobile phone video featuring a mate of mine messing around with the Black V: http://youtu.be/uFDCEf3cKmU http://youtu.be/uFDCEf3cKmU

Duck for cover - the clamp police will be here any minute!

That zebra is going to carve up real nice - wish I had some of that laying around!

The Camo Rhoads I built for myself, its the one with the QLD Maple, if you meant the black V, it's all Mahogany and is customers guitar. Not paid off yet so it's still hanging behind me. Tasmanian Tonewoods has some great looking stuff on their site from time to time, I've never bought from them before though. Most of my guitars get painted so theres no point in me spending bid bucks on their timber! One day though. One day.

Great video! Thanks for posting. Theres nothing in the video that I'll take and try mimic myself, but it's certainly entertaining to watch skilled guys using other methods with world class result.

Thats how it's most often done... Many other people, myself included that want even more guaranteed stability will cut into 3 pieces and turn the middle one around.

I started out doing NON scarf necks, then I evolved to the scarf method. It saves so much wsate and opens up doors for creativity. When you mention non scarf and I look at that chunk of timber, all I see how much is going to get thrown out/burned/wasted at the end, when if you sliced and diced (as in make 3 piece necks) and scarf jointed you could cut several bolt on necks out of it or one good neckthru blank. I've only made maybe half a dozen necks from QLD maple and the body of the Rhoads I built around xmas time was QLD maple. I wish the stuff was a bit easier to get in my town without having to order/get posted here which then makes it cost as much as imported timber.

Looks big enough to slice and dice into a neckthru blank I like working with QLD maple. Great timber.

I've never worked with the stuff - it doesnt look that grainy though, can't it pass through a thicknesser?

For the record, always glue and hammer my frets. I have the stewmac cauls and I HAD a press but it only got used once and I went back to hammering. I still use the cauls as radius guages I just thought I'd mention this over slotting technique as it seemed way different than the norm.

Yeah, color contrast. I thought it would look great at the end of lighter wood. Turns out it does. Also, I stumbled across this piece a year ago that I bought specifically for headstocks. Its not really available around here and there was one piece for sale. I could have made one neckthru from it or a heap of headstocks. I went with headstocks. It's nearly all gone so my sasafras days are over

Scott French - Everying about this guitar is executed to perfection. It looks top shelf and 100% professional. I really like the look of the rear of the neck, timber selection works really well I also like the timber the body is made from, looks superb. You've set a level of perfection we should all aim to achieve. The actual styling of the guitar is so far from my tastes that it is not something I'd own personally or even pickup to play if I ws walking through a guitar shop, however I'm sure that many out there would kill for it. NotYou - Pretty much everything about this guitar is the opposite of my tastes. It does seem from your build thread that many love it, so congrats. Crow - Nice looking guitar, executed very well. The color of the finish seems a bit "dull", not sure if that was intended. A lot of stained finishes just seem lifeless to me. Otherwise it looks like a fabulous guitar. Campylobacter - The first thing that stood out to me was the pickups, then I checked the specs and said "I knew it, Bareknuckles!!!" How damn good are they! If this is your first build I'm sure you'll have plenty of successful builds in your future. Maybe order a few more screws next time though!