It's at that stage where it's not too late to think "lefty".


Randy

Thanks Rain. I hope when I post that there's some enjoyment and maybe something of interest about how they make these things.
 
Mike there are so many steps and each one has to be right but this is, to me, where it starts. Without the neck wood right there is just no reason to get carried away. At least now I know if I want a Mahogany neck guitar I can get started with the planning.
When I get a project going I'll try to get detailed about how I carve them.
 
Randy I just don't know what to say....but it was funny :)

I'm just kidding you........for now.

SteveStrummerUK
 
I'm drooling already 
 
 

Me to

This is not my picture but it is a shot of the type of truss-rod that I have but haven't used in a build.
With every build I do something I haven't done before. Using this rod will be at least one new thing.
 
Before anything else is done with the neck block it's a very good idea for one to know and prepare the exact placement. One can imagine that for a neck-through this would look much different.
 
Using old style "single action" truss-rods IMO is just silly. There is no good reason to take the chance of not being able to make adjustments that may be needed. "Double action" will take that neck in either direction. Also IMO the single action truss rod that was adjusted at the heel (think old Fender) and the neck had to be removed to adjust...the worst style I can imagine...and I have guitars with them.
 
If all goes well it may turn out to be my favorite type rod. It will make for a very clean head and still be easy to adjust, in either direction.
 

 Thanks for the info Spacey. I know the Steinway pianos  at work need to have I think High 30s to 40% minimal humidity. Just big string instruments even though nothing like the ones you build. I'm glad you got the shop all together and are making good use of it. I remembered your mentioning applying the foam in another post awhile back.Glad it works well for you.
 
 I'm standing on the cliff looking down and in my mind it's like a 100 ft. drop. In reality though it's probably more like a 10 ft. drop. I know I'm going to take the leap eventually and attempt to build my own guitar. Not because someone else did or to prove anything e. I think it would be educational and a lot of fun and rewarding. It might take me a few tries to get it right.I don't really plan on building anything to sell.
 
 Do you have any advice for a newbie  who has experience with the most common wood tools? I have used routers but not on anything as intensive as a guitar build. In my case I'll be using my garage so I guess I would need to move the wood somewhere else in between. Humidity here today is probably on the low 30s outside and even less inside. Warmer days higher humidity.
 
  Do you recommend any books on building? I really wanted to build a neck through but that might be too much for a newbie to bite off. Goofing up a neck through in the last stages would be devastating. At least with a bolt on I could salvage a body on a guitar with a neck I cut wrong.Most of the prints I have seen are one page deals. 
 
 Don't mean to derail your post. Nice job so far.I don't think I could live without a truss rod on a guitar but I guess there have been a few made without.

You're not derailing anything Star.
 
The reason your questions are hard to answer is because there are so many ways to do each little step.

What I did was gather any and all the information I could for a half year or more. I mean I was not messing around about either. I knew I had to have my head together with the best attempt I could make
because I knew if I did it I would be investing at or over $20,000.00 dollars.
When I could build the guitar in my head I invested enough to build one on my patio. It fortunately turned out better than any Strat I own...and I own a lot of them. So I took the plunge and it wasn't to make money...it was to do something I wanted to do and hopeful be able to enjoy doing it for as long as I care to.
I also had to clean the slate for all other hobbies because I knew it would take ALL my free time.
Lucky in a way that the X series hit and wouldn't work for me...cleared that time anyway.
 
When I found a process that made sense to me for each step I studied about the tools needed to perform it. A technique that "felt" like one I could manage. Those are things that another can't answer for you.
 
So if you dive off that cliff...maybe best if it's all your doing. That method worked alright with me.

Starise
Do you have any advice for a newbie who has experience with the most common wood tools?

Try to keep your fingers away from the sharp, moving parts?

craigb

Starise
Do you have any advice for a newbie who has experience with the most common wood tools?

Try to keep your fingers away from the sharp, moving parts?

That's good advice Craig.
With that thought I think we should include;
Avoid riding motorcycles - don't put yourself inside moving vehicles on or off highways - ....just watch that show (if it still airs) 1001 ways to die for your list. LOL.
 
Get a computer and one of these and watch all the things you may have interests in...and a phone so you can have your meals delivered and live safely ever after. :)  ...and hope the food and air supply is....well Star, I'm not sure there is good advice to be found because if we're not getting out of this alive and can't take anything with us...what's it all about or worth anyway? LOL
 
 
 

spacey

craigb

Starise
Do you have any advice for a newbie who has experience with the most common wood tools?

Try to keep your fingers away from the sharp, moving parts?

That's good advice Craig.
With that thought I think we should include;
Avoid riding motorcycles - don't put yourself inside moving vehicles on or off highways - ....just watch that show (if it still airs) 1001 ways to die for your list. LOL.
 
Get a computer and one of these and watch all the things you may have interests in...and a phone so you can have your meals delivered and live safely ever after. :)  ...and hope the food and air supply is....well Star, I'm not sure there is good advice to be found because if we're not getting out of this alive and can't take anything with us...what's it all about or worth anyway? LOL
 
 
 

In other words--don't get out of bed.  
 
That won't work either, because you'll get blood clots and die from a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or a stroke.  Eventually, something's going to get you no matter what you do.