#121
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1.5/2 degrees usually work. You can get it right on the money using your fingerboard and measuring where your bridge is located. shoot for 1/2 inch string height.
Use a piece of scrap lumber for a mock up before you cut your neck blank.
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Andersonville Tennessee Clinch River Instruments, White Oak O, 13 fret Nick Lucas, 1937 spec D-18 Martin 000-28 EC Gibson Les Paul Gibson 335 Dot Bunch of Strats Fender B-Bender Tele |
#122
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I have no fingerboard yet, but it's in the LMI shopping cart. I'm debating about going with a preslotted fingerboard or just work from a blank and have decided to cross that bridge when I come to it.
As for the bridge mockup, how high should I go for? I made a template out of plexiglass that fits beneath the straight edge. IIRC it's 3/32" high.
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#123
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I have the older stew mac (the new ones are real cool!) Fret cutting rig. Pre slotted will save you time and maybe a hunk of wood.
But, slotting isn't that hard. |
#124
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Note to self: here are a couple of things to do differently next time:
1: use a well-sharpened scraper to level the sides before cutting the binding channels. 2: after step 1 move on to setting up the neck angle geometry. 3: Wait to do the binding until after the neck is set. Why? It should be obvious to the experienced members here. What I didn't mention so far is that my sides are cupped as well, so that I have a lot of scraping to do. Thankfully it's not an issue around the neck joint area.
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#125
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I got the nerve to drill in the holes through the neck block last night. It's amazing how resonant the ENTIRE assembly is - though the tap tone becomes significantly muted when you put the back up against your body. When holding the neck by just two fingers and tapping on the top above the bridge plate I can feel/hear the vibrations all the up at the headstock. Pretty cool.
See my handy-dandy IKEA tool? It takes a little practice to get it situated after every half turn but Mr. Kitchen is right: it's a PITA if done repetitively! I measured twice, then marked once, then measure again and found that my mark was STILL off - but I think I got it right! The traced counter of my Larrivee's neck is ready to carve with a chisel. Note the alignment of the bolts. The only thing holding me back is how I want to approach this grain with a chisel to reduce blowout. I traced the heel cap directly from my Larrivee:
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#126
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Hey man, looks like the bottom hole is off center. Give it some slop with a ******* file (round file, not angry file!).
Scraping before binding is a no no in my book. Cup or not. You don't want unplanned sound ports popping up |
#127
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Quote:
Anyway, I had a little therapy today: Yeah, I know it doesn't fit yet but you have to start somewhere:
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#128
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I think I've got the heel close enough to where I can move on to sanding for the neck angle. The shape is coming along nicely. First, I carved/sanded the sides to follow the contour then I sanded again in a 45 degree angle with a file. Then I sort of smoothed things out. The irregularity of the cut of my lamination outlines has made things difficult - but I think if there's a next time I'll laminate first, then cut - but I'm hoping that that works itself out once I start doing the neck profile at the 10th and 1st frets using my template.
I also went and chiseled into the end of the neck so that the sanding area is greatly reduced: Once I figure out how to get around the 14th fret hump on the body I'll start sanding in earnest. For now I'm switching my focus toward the headstock. The shape is nothing original but one I find pleasing to the eye: The trick for me though is actually cutting out the outline given that I'm going to try a volute - yeah I know I've shot myself in the foot many times! I thought it through and given that my top surface is flat then that's the surface that should be against the bandsaw table. That means that I have to have a visual reference on the back. How to line it up though? Well, I started by drawing a line across two symmetrical points on the design: ...then using a T-square make a perpendicular line on the side of the headstock blank and flipping the neck over: From there I drew another line across the back of the headstock and laid my paper template in what I hope is the correct relative position: This doesn't take into account the headstock face plate veneer - or the potential use of a veneer on the back plate - but it at least frees me up to thinking about what I need to do with regards to gluing the top face veneer on. It may be in my interest to make a plexiglass template of the headstock. Sorry so boring - and probably obvious to some of you - but as they say, measure twice (at least) and cut once!
__________________
(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#129
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The night before last I glued on the rosewood veneer and the next afternoon I cut the outline of the headstock. It's well proud of the line with some saw marks so I'll have to carefully sand it on the spindle sander. The headstock's also quite thick so that will also need to be whittled down. Does anyone know of a good jig design to keep things even?
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(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#130
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Thanks. Not quite yet though. I haven't addressed the bridge yet, but soon. For now This build is at the point where it's both the most trying and most rewarding. The neck angle is a PITA but carving the neck is even more fun that chiseling the braces IMO.
I used a spindle on a hand drill to take off most of the "meat" but for the finer work I used this little file/rasp combo. I hand-drew an arc at the base of the volute and am shaping it by eye. I took the opportunity to fine-tune the lines on the The nut width is still a touch proud but it and the neck profile at the first fret are getting there. The headstock is still thicker than it needs to be though but I'm confident it'll all work out. Not bad for less than an hours' work. Mahogany sands so easily!
__________________
(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#131
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YOU have been working hard this past week. It's lookin' great!
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#132
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It's looking kinda funky though. Hopefully it's just my eyes playing tricks on me.
__________________
(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#133
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This work is amazing.
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#134
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Thanks. It's a lot of fun when I can get to it, but this is 2 years' worth of work - so far. I know people who've gotten this far on their first in a week under the close tutelage of an experienced luthier.
__________________
(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |
#135
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I showed off my progress to Kitchen Guitars at his shop last night and he shared his trick for whittling down the neck:
It's makes things turns out more symmetrical too: In any event, I whittled away a little too much at the nut so this one's likely to have a 1-11/16" nut width.
__________________
(2006) Larrivee OM-03R, (2009) Martin D-16GT, (1998) Fender Am Std Ash Stratocaster, (2013) McKnight McUke, (1989) Kramer Striker ST600, a couple of DIY builds (2013, 2023) |