Best way to measure/draw neck profile for a luthier?

[JSDenvir]

Originally Posted by printer2

Plaster cast.

But not near so much fun, I’m thinking.

I’m also thinking we’re dating ourselves :-)

Steve

[justonwo]

I usually cut a cross section from the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets and send them to the builder. Once they’re returned I just glue the neck back together. The scale length on that guitar keeps getting shorter though.

[Tony Done]

Originally Posted by printer2

Plaster cast.

That's exactly what I was thinking. I reckon I could figure out a safe, reasonably easy way to do it

[yukonkornelius]

Originally Posted by justonwo

I usually cut a cross section from the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets and send them to the builder. Once they’re returned I just glue the neck back together. The scale length on that guitar keeps getting shorter though.

LOL ...

[printer2]

Originally Posted by justonwo

I usually cut a cross section from the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets and send them to the builder. Once they’re returned I just glue the neck back together. The scale length on that guitar keeps getting shorter though.

Thick superglue.

[LouieAtienza]

I think it won't be long till someone can utilize one of the 3D scan apps on the smartphone....

[Ken Franklin]

The hardware store profile gauges do a decent job with the shape of the bottom of the neck profile but not so well on the shoulders of the neck profile. They tend to bend sideways. And they're bumpy. I use Bruce's method of getting good measurements and I also like a more exact method for getting the shape off a known guitar neck at the first and tenth frets.

Tape off the neck where I want a profile.
Make an oversized thick, stiff cardboard profile.
Mix some two part epoxy putty.
Put a rope-shaped piece in the oversized cardboard profile.
Press it into the neck.
Let it harden and remove it.
Sand it level.

Another useful thing is to search on the computer for images of guitar neck profiles. Then at least the client knows how profile descriptors are commonly used.

[alohachris]

Aloha Friends,

Most guys use a contour gauge to copy neck shapes.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/General-Too...SABEgKwe_D_BwE

However, what they never tell you is to use masking tape on the neck where you're going to use the gauge - to avoid marking the neck finish.

I also had long-distance players/customers send me outlines of their hands.

And, in the final stages, I'd even overnight the whole neck to a player & have him mark the areas that still needed some final adjustments.

That way, they "own" the finished neck.

A Hui Hou!
alohachris

[Montesdad]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Neck shape is vastly more subtle than most people realize. Tiny dimensional differences can be deal breakers for some people . . . . . . . combination with profile and shoulder descriptions to be more useful than any attempt at tracing a template.

How important this surely is - I've sold a couple guitars that just didn't feel right even after playing for long periods even tho the physical numbers were right.
The shoulders just didn't work for me and my hand's movement up and down the neck.

Originally Posted by justonwo

I usually cut a cross section from the 1st, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets and send them to the builder. Once they’re returned I just glue the neck back together. The scale length on that guitar keeps getting shorter though.

I like that, but I have simplified the process. I just cut one section and let the luthier work from both ends. This way I only have two glue joints and the scale length doesn't get shortened as much. Of course I label the piece so that I know which guitar it goes with. I have four or five cut up any point in time.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Beautiful!!!

[LouieAtienza]

Good of you to initial the ends for future reference...