Members Freeman Keller Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Ever play (or own) a guitar that you really like except that the neck just isn't right? Too fat, too skinny, too much vee, not enough vee - just something wrong with it? Well, a couple of years ago I built a ladder braced 12 string roughly based on some pictures and hand written plans of an old Stella. They gave the width of the neck at the nut and the depth, and I had always heard that things things had necks "like a baseball bat". So what I ended up with looked like the pictures and could have knocked it over the fence (if I took enough steroids...) but I just didn't like it. The shape was pretty much a big fat D - most of my other guitars are more what I call a modified Vee, so after fighting this thing for a couple of years I decided it was time to fix it. Two things made this reasonable, I had a small amount of left over lacquer that I knew would go bad if I saved it and the neck was a bolt on so I could easily remove it (Stellas would have been dovetail back in the 30's) So off it came, the tuners too. First problem, the headstock was too thick. That was pretty easy I didn't like the way the neck didn't blend into the headstock, so I changed that to a little more modern design and then went to work on the girth The template that fit the 12th fret of the Lester seemed about right for the nut of the 12 string I thought I would try a little experiment here - KTM-9 has become my finish of choice, but I've always sprayed it. I had heard that it was a good brushing lacquer so I thought I'd try. Since this guitar is supposed to have some 30's mojo a deep gloss wet look finish isn't what I wanted, but I still want some gloss and depth. This is a special brush recommended - it apparently won't absorb water Three coats a day for a week, with light sanding in between Sanded to 1500, then micro mesh to 12000 and finally StewMac fine compound with a simple foam pad in a drill motor By the way, that is a scarf jointed headstock - it is cut from a separate piece of wood and glued on - the grain is at an angle and makes it much stronger (as well as saving a great deal of scrap wood) I'm much happier with this Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Opa John Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 That's beautiful, Freeman. You DO do nice work. :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Nice! There's nothing better than a good neck. I saw this pic... ... and I thought "oh no, he hit the truss rod!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Michael Martin Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Wow. Great story, and with pics! Beautiful work, as always with your projects. My Yammie jumbo has a too-fat and too-wide neck, even though I love everything else about it. I've always wished its neck was more like my Hummingbird's. But it has binding, which I guess complicates things somewhat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gitnoob Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 I've never tried shaping a neck with a bound fretboard, but it is done.... The luthier shaping the neck above said he's able to make a smoother transition that way rather than a squared-off transition when you get to the fretboard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members irishstu Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 ... Fantastic job, Freeman. What an improvement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knockwood Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Beautiful work, FK! May I ask where you got the brush? Now that I've seen the results of someone actually brushing on KTM-9 (no way I can spray here), I may have to give it a try on git #3 (#2 is currently getting a FP finish). FP is beautiful and easy, but I'd really like to start using something more durable. I'm not too crazy about the way the neck ended up on git #1 (too chunky). Not sure I have your guts, but maybe I'll take another whack at it some day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 I adjust my hand to the neck, makes me play different which I like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members s1120 Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Looks great!! I realy like the new neck/headstock transition you made. Looks much more finished. I was thinking of cutting the neck on my cheapy beater Epi accustic... I hate the thing!! WAY to thick for me, almost twice as thick as my lessPaul.and eaven thicker then my resonator. And I got it for free so if I mess it up, its no great loss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 It is always a pleasure to see your pictorials. I always wondered if this could be done when I had my old Yamaha FG-140 - beautiful tone with a neck so thick it was impossible to do reach around F chords. I wish I had held onto it now. Oh well, sic transit gloria mundi. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rjoxyz Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Wow--beautiful work, as usual! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted February 13, 2012 Author Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 May I ask where you got the brush? Now that I've seen the results of someone actually brushing on KTM-9 (no way I can spray here), I may have to give it a try on git #3 (#2 is currently getting a FP finish). FP is beautiful and easy, but I'd really like to start using something more durable. The brush is the one recommended in this article http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/BRUSHINGKTM-9.htm it is a 2 inch Wooster brand "Shortcut" that I bought at Home Depot for about 5 bucks. I would have liked a smaller one - say one inch, tbut this is all they had. After sanding (400 grit) I wiped the neck with a little bit of denatured alcohol which makes the old finish slightly tacky, then brushed on a very thin coat. It takes very little finish when brused on - I would just dip the very tip of the angled part of the brush in the finish and flow it on. I did get a few runs, they sanded out easily. Cleans up with soapy water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knockwood Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 The brush is the one recommended in this article http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/BRUSHINGKTM-9.htm it is a 2 inch Wooster brand "Shortcut" that I bought at Home Depot for about 5 bucks. I would have liked a smaller one - say one inch, tbut this is all they had. After sanding (400 grit) I wiped the neck with a little bit of denatured alcohol which makes the old finish slightly tacky, then brushed on a very thin coat. It takes very little finish when brused on - I would just dip the very tip of the angled part of the brush in the finish and flow it on. I did get a few runs, they sanded out easily. Cleans up with soapy water. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted February 13, 2012 Members Share Posted February 13, 2012 Great job but I'd be terrified to try it on any guitar of mine. Fortunately, I like the necks on all my guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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