Members Runn3r Posted March 10, 2009 Members Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thanks, The truss rod route did not go exactly as planned though. The stewmac rod is 7/32" wide, I used a 1/4" router bit and I was not going to worry about the 1/64" inch gap on either side of the rod. Well, the 1st pass of the router bit in the table got me a .250" wide slot. The 2nd pass widened the slot to .261, and so on. As it turns out the Porter Cable 690 router that I use in the table does not rotate perfectly concentrically in it's base when I adjust the height, leaving me with a wider slot: .269". To correct for this I put a dado in the middle of the purpleheart strip for the truss rod to sit in. The sides of the dado ended up being ~ .003". That is pretty delicate tablesaw work that I would not care to repeat. ...thanks for this......i think i will do a pass on some scrap wood to make sure my router don't have the type of prob you describe...good way round the prob with the adaptation of the purpleheart strip ...i doubt player will eva notice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Backerhacker Posted March 10, 2009 Members Share Posted March 10, 2009 Amazing...simply amazing. You are very talented.:love::eek::love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crappymonkey Posted March 10, 2009 Members Share Posted March 10, 2009 Great looking build!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 I got a few more things done today. Installing the frets. The fretwire is jumbo stainless from LMII. I've used other stainless wires, this seems to be the most consistent. I am hammering the wire in with a 8oz brass hammer. Frets are installed, time to trim the fret ends. If the neck were profiled I would use a mill file and some sweat. On this neck I'll used the oscillating belt sander. Works great! I have to watch out for overheating the fretwire and blistering the lacquer. That happened a little bit on the 1st and 2nd frets. To start shaping the neck I use the bandsaw and cut it to thickness. I'll mostly be using 4 scary sharp spokeshaves and a scraper. To start shaping the neck I like to use a drum sander and rough in the contour at the nut and heel. That gives the spokeshaves a place to start and finish. In just a few minutes the neck is rough shaped. Time for the scraper and sandpaper. Neck is shaped to a slightly asymetrical very soft V. This feels very comfortable to me. I've sanded to 400 grit. The truss rod nut is filed flush with the heel. I'm very happy with the fit, as this is the first time I've tried this type of neck construction. I do not like lacquer on the back of a neck. I've french polished this one with garnet shellac. French polish is pretty easy to apply and builds very quickly. Time for today's work: 5 hrs. Total time so far is about 35 hours or so. edit: Oops, I got carried away again and did not install the side dot markers. I did drill the tuner holes though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 11, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 One other thing. I've decided that I do not like the strat type nut. I changed the neck to use a gibby style nut. I could not resist laying out everything all guitar shaped: Next: drill the body for neck screws, bridge, and strap buttons, then spray more lacquer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mdintx Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 Noice! Good show man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lioness Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 Beautiful guitar! You're going for natural finish? I love that with black hardware. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lioness Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 One other thing. I've decided that I do not like the strat type nut. I changed the neck to use a gibby style nut. I could not resist laying out everything all guitar shaped: Next: drill the body for neck screws, bridge, and strap buttons, then spray more lacquer. That's one of the most beautiful guitars i've ever seen! Can't wait til it's finished! You should send it to me when you're done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The_Dali Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 Wow - nice thread. The guitar looks awesome. When I read these kinds of threads they remind me why I will never build one from scratch. A lot of work here. Too much work for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members slvrsrpnt Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 me likie, thank you for the post and the guitar looks great so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GilmourD Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 How come you finished the fretboard and headstock before shaping the back of the neck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mind Riot Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 He used lacquer on the board and headstock and shellac for the back of the neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dimibetan Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 Whoa!!Good work!!Gorgeous guitar!!Nice thread!!!...Overwhelming!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tiltsta Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 INCREDIBLE. I wish I had the skills to turn a couple of blocks of wood into a beautiful guitar....but sadly, I don't. I'm excited to see the finished product. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DaveAronow Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 Whoa!! Good work!! Gorgeous guitar!! Nice thread!!! ... Overwhelming!!!! Exactly This!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lioness Posted March 11, 2009 Members Share Posted March 11, 2009 These threads are amazing! I have built a guitar before, but I had the body and neck already made... I need to learn how to make a body! What kind of saw do you use to cut the outline to begin with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bubkus_jones Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 Most shape cutting is done by a bandsaw. Most sizes of bandsaw are usable, but it's easier if you can get one that'll allow you to pass the body blank between the blade and the rest of the bandsaw housing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members atrox Posted March 12, 2009 Members Share Posted March 12, 2009 Forget the 9" Ryobi bandsaws however. i will not cut through a 1.75" piece of wood all that great... if at all... I would say 14" minimum. However a jigsaw can easily be used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 13, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Just did a little bit today. I worked on the lacquer, it is nearly leveled. I still need to spray couple more coats. Drilled for the bridge screws, string through body holes, neck screws, pickguard, and output jack plate. When I routed the cavity I did not leave enough room for the bottom tone pot. I need to chisel the cavity out a bit for clearance.I need to order black strap buttons and some black pickup adjustment and 5-way switch screws.Next: complete the finish on the body, level the frets, install nut. The finish work will take a while, lacquer cures about as fast as Rush Limbaugh runs.I did not take pictures today. It would have been pretty boring though, just lots of sanding and drilling.As it sits now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members STROOTH Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Great work Bowen. What pu's are you putting in her? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 13, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Forget the 9" Ryobi bandsaws however. i will not cut through a 1.75" piece of wood all that great... if at all... I would say 14" minimum. However a jigsaw can easily be used. I agree...I used a ryobi 9" bandsaw for a while. It is a great little tool for the price but it's just not big enough. I ended up grabbing a older used Jet 14" bandsaw for $100 from CL. If you make CL your friend you can set up a complete shop of machine tools for less than the cost os a MIA strat. Hand tools are another thing though, I've probably spent 3x on hand tools than machine tools. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 13, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Great work Bowen. What pu's are you putting in her? Thanks, I'm leaning toward a JB and a couple of medium hot singles from a Focus 6000. Mostly because I can pick them up cheaply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lowbrow Posted March 13, 2009 Members Share Posted March 13, 2009 Gah....that is gorgeous..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bowen Posted March 16, 2009 Author Members Share Posted March 16, 2009 Except for a couple of knobs, I'm going to call this one done. Whew..HNSBD happy new strat build day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Backerhacker Posted March 16, 2009 Members Share Posted March 16, 2009 Stunning! Very well done sir! :love::eek::love: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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