Wow Stan, you've officially taken the leap into true luthier territory here, will be watching with keen interest (and taking notes)
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Wow Stan, you've officially taken the leap into true luthier territory here, will be watching with keen interest (and taking notes)
haha, Nigel, I think enthusiasm outweighs ability, but no going back now
You'll be fine mate!
Good on you I say, Stan. This is something I would like to try one day but not yet. I'm keen to see your progress.
Thanks Lozza, do what I did mate, jump in! Your work is nice mate, you'd have no worries.
The real thing here is to get plenty of advice, plan it well and go slowly: a small slip up can be fixed, a big one ruins the neck and possibly the guitar...
OK update time!
After an attack of bravery (or stupidity) I decided to get that truss rod neck pocket routed.
Use this with the Stewmac Baseplate addition:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/009_1.jpg
Had this measured and drawn up for a while. Was waiting until I worked out a clever jig. Couldnt think of one, so went freehand!
Turned out like this:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/010_1.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/015.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/014.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/020_1.jpg
Filled that gap with a bit of Titebond and shavings, just to be sure, not taking this apart again:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/021_1.jpg
clamped on the old fingerboard to see if it all seems well. I will be making a new blackwood one...
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/017_1.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/018_1.jpg
It seats well, but might have to make the route further towards the neck join to get the adjustment bit below the level of the top of the headstock, by sliding it back further.
Or put a plate on the headstock, or both
Well done Stan. Fabulous job putting that truss rod in. Neck building is what you've done, I am sure it is on most of our list of 'to do' but very few have.
I'm sort of looking forward to hearing this play.
Cheers PK
On The pickup side(and after my work on the Cort and Epi) I would be putting a piezo under the saddle. and poping a pre-amp jack straight out the middle of the tail block. By the size of that hole in the tail it looks like this may have had a pickup at some stage.
But yes I know you have a special pickup for her. :)
PK
thanks PK, semi neck building I think. Dunno if I could shape one from scratch yet...
under saddle piezo is not a bad idea as an addition. I don't think it had one in the past, no evidence of one at all - no control holes etc, the bridge was full floating. The hole is from a strap lug pin that was there originally.
Stan, you've just reached legendary status. Awesome job!
Cheers,
Gav.
Hi Stan, so you understand what I mean by a pre-amp jack.
It is one of these sorts of setups. quite unobtusive, except you need to velcro the battery in some how.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/For-Class...item58bd9c34ed
PK
@Gav, haha, I've reached persistent status you mean. None of these are skills I haven't seen done here on this forum
PK: yep I know exactly what you mean, I've seen passive ones as well. Thanks for the link.
Not sure how well they balance with HB type pups though. Worth a thought all the same.
It is an acoustic guitar actually, so it's sound is pretty good, could always just mic it up.
Gav, Stan is the acoustic god. that's all there is to it. LOL
PK
PK, that's stretching it a bit mate. Gav Bramley makes some very nice ones, and from scratch too.... But thanks for the kind support mate
Beautiful work Stan, I think all your extra hard work is going to add up to one sweet axe at the finish line. So you're gonna make a new fretboard from scratch?
nice work Stan, well done freehand routing the truss rod route it looks very straight !
And only 14 posts off Overlord status !
@ Wokka: used a smaller router bit, easier and more accurate to do in a few passes, and went slowly I can assure you. It's wobblier than it looks but the rod fits in snug. As long as I get no rattle then it will be fine
@Bargey, thanks mate, only get one chance at this one, so got to try and get it right. And yes, fret board from scratch
route slightly lengthened, fits better now....
Must be fingerboard time. At this I can afford to mess this up, unlike the guitar
nice one Stan, sure the fingerboard will turn out fine.
Only 3 posts for the Overlord !
Cheers Woks, I'll simply use the old one as a template and have a Stew Mac radius block
Overlord, eh: why thanks for pointing that out, here's another!
more pics, because we love them.
fretboard building time.
Piece of blackwood fretboard blank from the interweb, ALS I think.
Stewmac 12" radius sanding block and 120, 270, 400 and 800 auto quality glass paper
Blank is taper cut with a jigsaw to approx shape, and stuck with double sided tape to the top edge of my home made saw horse.
Then sand until you get a fretboard - easy!
Note the use of pencil lines across the blank, as it is sanded the edges of the lines get sanded off, leaving the section in the centre. When the line is gone, the blank is completely sanded all the way across. Also the section of line left in the centre shows of the sanding is even.
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/026.jpg
After initial sanding with 120 the blank slowly takes shape. Note the lighter section in the centre where the centre of the block is yet to touch the blank. Here you can see pencil line sections in the centre and you can make out the unsanded section:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/027_1.jpg
This is simply my take on how to do it: there might be better ways to do it by hand, like making a jig or whatever, but this works fine...
When the lines are fully gone, time to go up through the grits 270, 400 and 800
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/029.jpg
without the sandpaper, you can check the radius of the board with the block:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/030_1.jpg
nice radius:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/025_1.jpg
nice figure in the blackwood too!
with the sanding mostly done, I noticed these small voids in the timber that were partially filled with sanding dust...
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/031_1.jpg
I smeared the whole fretboard with CA (super ) glue. It mixes with the dust and locks it into the voids and acts like filler.
It also brings out the grain:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/032_1.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/033.jpg
After drying, sand again.
This has mineral turps on it to show up the figure after all the sanding is done:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/040_1.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/042_1.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...ject/041_1.jpg
lets see how it might look:
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/046.jpg
http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/j...roject/045.jpg
mmm, I like it.
Time for final shaping, fret slots and wire.... some builders slot before shaping, some after, opinion is pretty much split on this one.
Total sanding time was about an hour to 75 mins, not too bad and all by hand
Stan that grain on the fretboard looks amazing! Awesome job with the radius block!
cheers,
Gav.
Thanks Gav, yep sure lucked out on this chunk of wood, might have to do this one in Dingotone!
that tiger stripe is gorgeous.
You're batting up there with the Big boys now. ;)
PK
Id just oil it and call it a day Stan. Has a beautiful colour :) great work
Thanks PK, getting there slowly mate
Thanks Niko, I agree, that's exactly what will happen
What I need to do is frighten myself and put some calipers across it at various intervals to check for consistent thickness.
And flatten the neck side properly...
Not even in my wildest dreams would I consider a project like this Stan. It's looking great mate.
Very nice board there Stan!
very kind Robin, thanks.
thanks Callum, got to be lucky sometimes.
My next dilemma is how to trim up the sides properly...
Just PM'd my answer, Stan..
Hope it makes sense, Sunday roast, red wine.... You know how it is :)
That is a rather tasty chunk of tree, now that I have seen it I reckon it would almost be a crime to fret it :)
Fretless 57 Harmony? Sounds pretty neat if I say so myself!
Yep, away with the speed humps I say! :)