First build of a guitar and a slight problem

I just got my first raw guitar from Pitbull. I have run into a problem as I see it, hopefully some of you experienced builders can help me.

I tried to see how the neck fits into the body and as you can see from the Photo the neck is not even cut. I have no idea if that would cause a problem, but if I fit it into the body, some wood Sticks out to the right seing from the front and there is a gap down to the left. It is slimmer to the left, both the bottom wood and the top. Do I need to sand it even? Or can I get it to fit as is? Please help!

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Sincere,

Johnny

Hi Johnny,
welcome to the forum. Looks like a set neck from a SG model ?

can you please post a couple of photos of how it fits in the body ? Also see if the neck pickup fits, usually the pickup with the yellow wire and the thinner pickup surround.

I'd say if there is a gap in the pocket you may have to glue some small veneer on one side so the neck heel makes full contact in the pocket

Hi Johnny, can you post some pics of the neck in the guitar please?

Hey Johnny,

Can you fit the neck and take some more pics please?
Quite often what appears to be a drama is more aesthetic than it is problematic :)

Snap Pabs and Woks :)

I'm at work right now. I will post Pictures of the neck in the guitar later today and post it.

no worries Johnny, I see you are from Denmark so a good few hours behind Australia.
Someone will answer your query tonight or I'll see it tomorrow morning

Here are some new photos... had to use my Iphone since it was too difficult to handle the guitar at the same time with my pro camera. I made the pics black and white so it's easier to see what I mean... and drew a line on two of the pictures.

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Here are some pictures in colour

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Alrighty then.

First step is to check that the fretboard is level with the bridge.
Simply sit the bridge on the body, and place a long straight edge on the nut to bridge then measure the distance between straight edge and fretboard at the end of the board at treble and Bass sides.
If the gap is even, all is good.

Next, check that the neck pocket rout is nice and flat. If not, carefully sand with a block until it is.

Then you can very carefully sand the bottom of the neck heel, checking often, until you get it flat.

Do I have to tighten the bridge first with the screws?

Hi Johnny, have you got a clamp ? clamp the neck in place. Just place the bridge flat on the body for this test that DB has outlined. It's just to get an idea if the fingerboard is level with the body or not

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

Hi Johnny, have you got a clamp ? clamp the neck in place. Just place the bridge flat on the body for this test that DB has outlined. It's just to get an idea if the fingerboard is level with the body or not

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I dont have a clamp, but will buy one later today.

no worries Johnny, you will find that clamps come in very handy. It will make sure the neck is properly seated in the pocket for the height test. Place the clamp so you have enough space to rest the straight edge on each side of the fingerboard. Note the straight edge will have to be at least 630mm long

Problem solved! I sanded very carefuly and the gap now is soooo small it's hard to see, I meassured like you said, the two outer strings to the bridge and that seems to be perfect.

I sanded the top of the body down to 600 grains then gave it the first treat of red tone which I received from England today. Most of it got as I wanted it, but I think I'll sand down the sides a little more since it seems darker there. Maybe I didn't get the sides as fine sanded as the top of the body. So sand sand and then sand again tomorrow. I like the red colour though :cool:

Picture just before the first coat of guitar toner:

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Here the top of the body got one coat of red guitar toner:

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Plan after coating is to give it a french polish with several coatings of shell laques.

That colour looks great! Good work so far :)

Hi Johnny, the sides will go darker due to the end grain which soaks up more of the stain.

love the colour Johnny, well done

glad you sorted the neck heel/pocket issues/

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dingobass

Hi Johnny, the sides will go darker due to the end grain which soaks up more of the stain.

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I figured that out dingo. I have given the top and bottom two more coatings so it looks more simmilar. I can't wail til I can give it french polishing to make it shiiiiiiineeeeee.

I think I will paint the neck head piano glossy black and maybe the back of the neck just french polish... What do you think guys?

And by the way, which kind of oil do you use for the fret?

Hey Johnny, black headstock should look great with natural neck colour.
Fretboard use Dingowax or some natural oil like lemon/orange oil or Dr Ducks axe wax

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

Hey Johnny, black headstock should look great with natural neck colour.
Fretboard use Dingowax or some natural oil like lemon/orange oil or Dr Ducks axe wax

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Problem is that I can't get my hands on those Australian products!

First polish... but I think I'll do a sunburst on it with black edges.

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3 coatings now and a new problem... please look at the last picture and tell me if this is right???

I like the colour but I think I'll paint the back and the sides glossy black.... no sunburst anyway I think.

Here's newest pictures:

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Please look at picture two... shouldn't that plastic protection or what it's called fit inbetween the two humbuckers???? It's doesn't fit at all... am I doing anything wrong?

If there is nothing but finish under that scratch plate? i would throw that piece of plastic away, and yes it does look like its a no fit.

You mught have to modify that scratchplate to fit, however, I'm with Tony....I wouldn't cover up that beautiful flame

Hey Johnny, colour looks great !
if you want to fit the pickguard, and cover all that beautiful flame maple, wait till the pickups are screwed in place, then you can cut the piece that fits between the pups to size. Then sand the edges smooth

Oh look, a frisbee! :p

Seriously though, sling that thing at your least favourite neighbours roof.
Why hide that beautiful flame under a chunk of plastic?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by dingobass

Oh look, a frisbee! :p

Seriously though, sling that thing at your least favourite neighbours roof.
Why hide that beautiful flame under a chunk of plastic?

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Well... I won't through it away, because underneath it the colour isn't perfect, since I probably sanded too much... but then I thought... hell... the plastick goes there anyway. But at that time I hadn't tried it with the humbuckers on... yikes. Well... how do I cut it to fit... which kind of Tool is good to do that?

Hi Johnny, mark up the pickguard what you have to cut and clamp it close to the cutting edge and a small saw or hacksaw should do the trick. Try and support the other side not clamped as they break pretty easy. Sand the edge.
Check the offsets of the PG to the edge of the guitar when you mark it up and place the pickups in a position you think will be final, allowing enough space for the neck heel and surround

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

Hi Johnny, mark up the pickguard what you have to cut and clamp it close to the cutting edge and a small saw or hacksaw should do the trick. Try and support the other side not clamped as they break pretty easy. Sand the edge.
Check the offsets of the PG to the edge of the guitar when you mark it up and place the pickups in a position you think will be final, allowing enough space for the neck heel and surround

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Isn't a hand scroll saw like this with a very thin blade the most precise to use?

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hey Johnny the scroll saw will be fine to cut the pickguard to size

I actually use a bandsaw with care to cut the pickguard or a scroll saw !

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wokkaboy

hey Johnny the scroll saw will be fine to cut the pickguard to size

I actually use a bandsaw with care to cut the pickguard or a scroll saw !

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I got an idea from a guitar builder... he uses thin Wood or veneer to make a plate like the one I have in plastic. That should be easier to cut than plastic and probably look better.

Decided to paint the back and edges of the guitar glossy black.... so I put so far 4 layers of primer on the back of the guitar!

Next step... sanding and sanding... and probably more primer... and then get ready to the glossy black!

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nice one Johnny the contrast of the deep red and glossy black back/sides should look cool.
I still think you should drop the pickguard idea unless you match the pickguard with a nice piece of flame maple

Two coats of glossy black... some more sanding and polishing ahead... and probably numerous layers of black paint!

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Looking great. The cherry face looks really nice with the flame popped, and the gloss black is really going to compliment it. Great job!

cheers,
Gav.