Dans Skatocaster

[DanMade]

Update. I've got a second base coat on and the few spots I was worried about have blended in a lot more now and is looking a treat.

On another note I've had a look at levelling the frets. The neck has a fair bit of back bow with no truss rod tension. How much is normal and how much should I expect it to change once it has string tension. I will be using .010 gauge strings. I'm a bit worried that the string tension won't create enough relief and I won't have any truss rod adjustment. It has almost 2/16" back bow from the nut to the 10th fret.

At the moment I have it clamped to the bench with "straight" edge to try and bring it back some.

[DanMade]

A photo of how I am trying to straighten out the neck. Please stop me if I'm wrong.

And a pic of the second coat in direct sunlight.

[Gavin1393]

So it's bowing the wrong way?

[DanMade]

Yes it is bowed the wrong way to my thinking.

Here is an exaggerated picture

[dingobass]

The truss rod is a two way beastie, just wind the adjustment back anti clockwise now whilst you have the neck clamped. This should take up the back bow sufficiently.

[DanMade]

Thanks DB.
I noticed it was 2 way, but wasn't sure on how it worked exactly.

I've never had to set up a fresh neck before. How much back bow or relief should It have before applying string tension? I'd guess you would want it pretty dead straight before fitting the strings for the first time. Then allow the string tension to create some relief and dial it in with the truss rod . Or should it have just a slight bit of relief before strings?

Cool, now I can start levelling. I've already found about 4 or 5 high frets, but generally they aren't to bad from the factory.

[Gavin1393]

Make sure your neck is straight before starting to level the frets otherwise your fret job will account for nought! Nothing wrong with a little relief. Fret the string at the first fret and at the 13th fret and then sight down the "e" string. If there is a little gap at the seventh fret then you have ideal relief. If it is touching at the seventh fret you need to check that the neck is not bowing the wrong way if the neck isnt dead level.

[DanMade]

Thanks Gav. I know how to set the relief like yo say. I was wondering if there was a trade secret of how much relief to set before fitting strings so that you end up with correct relief once you add strings. I suppose it varies from neck to neck though.

As for having it straight when levelling the frets. That's why I was worried about the backbow. Before DB told me about the two way truss rod, I didn't know how I was going to get it straight for levelling.

I'm glad you guy's are here.

[DanMade]

Got the neck all sorted out. I had to take a fair bit off the frets when levelling. There was two frets that were quite low. But that is good because I was able to get the fret profile more to my liking.
Also got the final base cot on.

[DanMade]

Update. Got the headstock shaped, frets levelled and dressed, and sanded the neck ready for finishing.
Also working on a pickgaurd design.