Printable View
Tuner holes plugged. I took a long hack saw blade to cut the plugs almost flush to the headstock then attacked with some 80 grit.
Looks a bit fuggly but there will be a veneer on the front and tuners should cover the back.....
Now to figure out where the new holes need to go!
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...23524dae9c.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...e5832c7769.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...080a6fdf50.jpg
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
Nice. And the headstock came pre-shaped like that? It wouldn't take much more than a small V-shaped file to slightly increase the size of the central indent and it would be a dead ringer for a Gibson shape.
Yep it came like this! Makes life a bit easier
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
nice fix Ponch. Don't the Kluson style tuners line up with the kit holes ?
Cheers Woks. No the Kluson 3 on a plate are way off the standard kit holes. They also require vintage sized holes of 8.75mm
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
no worries Ponch, well it's worth the effort the 3 plate Klusons will suit this axe nicely. What sort of veneer you got for the headstock face ?
Loving the Ponch avatar mate, every time I see it I have to keep thinking am I in trouble with CHiPs hahah
Haha yes. Step away from the big Green shed! For the veneer I have some Rosewood but it's a bit dark so on the search for something a bit lighter (brown)
Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk
So after a mamouth round of home maintenance back to the build...
I obtained a 50's style G headstock template to use as a basis for the new machine head holes and a small amount of reshaping. The machine head holes should now have the required 35mm between posts. Drilling next on the agenda... I'll drill slightly smaller than the required 8.75mm hole and ream to the correct size
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...5c072a2d86.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...58b5fd78c7.jpg
Sent from Android Nougat
That is some nice dowel work ponch. You may have said this before, but which veneer are you using....
Cheers Andy. Not 100% sure yet on the veneer. It will be a light brown colour though whatever it turns out to be. I had some rosewood veneer laying around but it was too similar to the fretboard
Sent from Android Nougat
You could always stain the veneer if you like the grain.
Nice fix dude!
cheers,
Gav.
My oh my, long time between updates on this one... So whats been happening. Well, I completely stuffed up the machine head hole re-drill (using hand drill with jigs) to the extent that I had to put this project to one side and take some deep breaths. Anyhoo - since scored a cheap drill press so re-plugged the holes again yesterday, sanded flush today & re-drilled the holes. Soooo much easier with the drill press and happy with the result. I used a small drill bit to make pilot holes then a 11/32 drill bit for final hole. The vintage sized bushings push in nice and snugly. Not 100% perfect but close enough for me and a good learning experience.
In this picture only the top left bushing is pushed fully in hence others look a bit wonky. I've also roughed out some reshaping to be done tomorrow night.
Attachment 19744
And a small change in plan - I've acquired some Kluson vintage tuners (individual). They all sit nicely in the new holes. The original 3-on-a-plate will be used on an upcoming LP Junior project (single cut)......
Luckily the re-drilling is almost invisible on the back of the headstock. For the front a veneer is in order (dark brown maybe)
Attachment 19745
So glad to be moving again on this axe....
Nice! Sometimes you just got to pop it back in the box and walk away for a while eh?
The Klusons look cool, though they aren't really my thing. What sort of drill press did you plump for, if you don't mind me asking?
Cheers FW. The drill press is a green shed special $139
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-35...press_p6290173
nice fix Ponch, man I wish the factory would either drill properly or not bother....
Nice, I had a fiddle with one at the BGSFOS. They seem solid enough for the price however I am lusting after one of these bad boys for the FrankenLab:Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewdosborne
https://www.carbatec.com.au/drilling...-code-dp-4132f
top work , top save on the machine head holes....
I am really enjoying this build and cant wait to see how it goes
also, where can one get veneer from??
cheers guys
OS
Cheers Stan. Yes agree, even my imperfect result was better that some of the factory efforts!Quote:
Originally Posted by stan
Oh now your talking FW, that would be a very worthy investment! I'm sure it would come in handy for other jobs around the house ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankenWashie
headstock looks good Ponch. We got the same drill press, for the price its great. Only problem it's not big enough to drill string through holes or bridge posts.
Cheers OS. Build should progress a bit faster now! I source veneer from flea-bay, for exampleQuote:
Originally Posted by OliSam
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3pcs-Mapl...MAAOSwmLlX2Rew
but I'm sure there are local suppliers (maybe guitaraust?)
Cheers Woks, yes good value drill press. I've got this mod lined up..... should helpQuote:
Originally Posted by wokkaboy
http://www.routerforums.com/tools-wo...ification.html
wow great idea Ponch, might look at doing that mod to our drill press. There are metal fabricators at work could help me mod the stand and the resting plate.
NOw that's some clever vyving, GLAYVEN!Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewdosborne
Worth looking at mobs like this:Quote:
Originally Posted by OliSam
http://www.topveneer.com.au/
They also do a mixed box that will give you a heap of bits of veneer that are big enough for headstocks and similar jobs
http://www.topveneer.com.au/marquetry-mix-07kg-long-cut
Started on the headstock shaping tonight. Rough cut using a rasp - looks a bit wonky but will fine tune when sanded.
And also found a piece of rosewood veneer stashed away in my workshop.Could be useful dyed with some japan black....
Brains trust - is it simply a case of gluing this to the headstock and cutting to shape or visa-versa? I'm thinking less chance of splitting it if I glue onto the headstock face first (but harder to work with)?
And my-oh-my, I must have been on some fermented beverage looking at the old wonky holes again..........
Attachment 19786
Attachment 19787
Attachment 19788
Oooh that last picture is naughty! That will look sick with the inward curve of the headstock shape and the outward curve of the grain in the veneer.
Everything I've seen, is either rough shape and adhere or no shape and adhere. Give the grain pattern, i'd think you might want to concentrate on getting that centerline dead on and worry about the shaping later? i mean how thick is the veneer?
Scribe with a marking knife first, then a fine saw blade? rough out with a scroll saw or small coping saw and then sand to final profile?
Theres a range of options.
So what could possibly go wrong in putting a veneer on the headstock?
1. Attempt number 1. I discovered veneer is very brittle...the hard way...and it split length ways in the wrong place.
2. Attempt number 2. I discovered that once veneer is placed on headstock it moves around ALOT. Unclamping the next day revealed this characteristic
3. Attempt number 3. All good, not perfect but considering the steep learning curve ok. And the botched holes are covered....Nut in place to help position the veneer. Picked up some extra small clamps (you need loads of them). Tomorrow evening the nut is to be removed, the truss rod access hole dremelled out and machine head holes drilled.
Clamps on
Attachment 19891
And its in position
Attachment 19892
I then shaped the veneer to the headstock with some files, finishing off with 80 grit sanding. Once machine head and truss rod holes are drilled I'll take a bit of then veneer off depth wise (1/2mm or so) then stain with some diluted FW Brown Japan. So tempted now to try my hand @ inlay.....
And, I now have great respect for the luthiery skill of veneering, It's a toughy
Attachment 19893
Attachment 19894
Attachment 19895
That looks great Andrew. Nice veneer
I love the way it is looking, well done Andrew! Go for the inlay, you can do it! ;)
Man that is gonna look sweet.. I want to try a hollow body bass build went I have these three kits under my belt. Too nice to mess up and not as forgiving.. your doing great.. can't wait to see it done.
great work Ponch, I've done the split headstock veneer thing too
Nice work. I see you failed to add your own glue spots on the veneer. Now you've just got to drill through it for the holes and truss rod slots. Small drill bits and then filing to avoid tearing the veneer?
I have a Ryobi drill press of similar size that I have been using for various jobs over the past 20 or more years....And there have not many times that I've wanted or needed anything much bigger...Quote:
Originally Posted by andrewdosborne
Thanks guys. So, machine head holes & truss rod hole are drilled. To stop the veneer splitting out I simply drilled holes from back of headstock (with drill press) with the front of the headstock laying on a small piece of pine cut-off. The truss rod hole was created with 2x closely drilled holes filed to shape.
Next job removing some of the veneer thickness (but not too much), then getting on with the rest of the neck finishing.
For the body the sides and top need a few more very thin coats of TO. Unfortunately I have a business trip coming up so no guitar building for next week (I'll need to make the most of this weekend). I also need to source a new tailpiece (I don't like the twirly decorated kit one) and possibly a Benson dog-ear P90.
Attachment 19944
Hi Ponch, that looks great.
Wow, that grain is nicely following the contour of that headstock. I love it :)
So something went right today. Some more tru oil applied to the body. One more coat required then time to clean up the binding
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...718a867bdb.jpg
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk