Wokkas scratch tasmanian blackwood build

[wokkaboy]

Hi all,
was lucky enough to go and see Dingobass ran me through building a neck from scratch on Friday, I learnt so much and know now what tools and materials I need (thanks heaps DB by the way). Wish I took some photos of the neck building process. I've had a body blank of tasmanian blackwood for a few months and have been waiting for a neck. I didn't know what body shape I was going to cut so left the headstock a paddle shape.
The photos are after I've roughly shaped the back of the neck and drilled paua shell fret dot markers. The body shown is a spare strat body

[wokkaboy]

I chose an Ibanez body shape as I've never built an axe of this shape, so modelled it on the shape of an Ibanez S series axe I have. First routed the neck pocket while there is meat on the blank for the template to rest on.
Then traced the body shape and in true 4D style made the horns longer.
This neck has the truss rod at the heel end so had to route out a small pocket for this to fit south of the neck pocket.
Then cut the shape on the bandsaw. After seeing DB's bandsaw on Friday I realised we have had our upper bearing guide for the blade way too high causing the blade to wander cutting harder woods. We lowered it and its cutting heaps better now, could cut curves with a thick blade

[wokkaboy]

I wasn't sure whether to cut a 3+3 headstock or 6 a side but decided to keep it a similar shape so went a fatter style Ibanez shape. Next to it is the S series I modelled the shape on

[pablopepper]

The deep cutaways remind me of a Mayones Setius. This is shaping up as your prettiest scratch build yet. Love it.

[wokkaboy]

cheers Pablo, I never heard of a Mayones Setius, just google imaged it and came up with an idea how it could look.
I was thinking of gold hardware but this picture has almost made the decision for me, think black hardware is the go. Still not sure whether I'll fit a floyd rose or cheat with a strat style tremelo. Bit nervous about setting up a floyd and the cost of them !

[jarrod]

Looking like its shaping up well wokks

[pablopepper]

What about a Wilkinson Trem like this one

Has some of the same advantages as a floyd (2 point pivot, floating, lockable arm) without all the fiddly locking junk and extra routing. Also, they have a budget model which looks great and is (relatively) stupid cheap
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wilkinson...item2a37484263

[wokkaboy]

@ Jarrod --> cheers mate
@ Pablo --> cool I might look into this wilkinson tremelo looks much simpler than a Floyd setup

[stan]

nice work wokka, body looks great - definitely an Ibanez on 'roids

[wokkaboy]

cheers Stan, I recommend these Pit Bull body blanks, I'll be trying another type next, the grain is awesome and the shavings are such a rich chocolate colour I don't think I'll be staining the body much