Next we need to cut out the wood blank keeping a 16th of an inch from the pencil mark we made in stage 3 using the plastic template. I use a bandsaw to perform this task. Try and make four or five relief cuts so you do not have to cut a lot of curvature at one time around the headstock and the heel of the neck blank.
Tomahawk Guitars using neck by JCSMI
The first thing we need to do in the actual building process is to select a premium grade of wood for the neck blank. Next we need to bring the board down to the desired thickness using a drum sander or a shop planer. My total stack up for the neck thickness equals 1 inch. Next I trace out the neck profile using a pencil and the plastic neck profile template. Check out my Amazon store from time to time for some suggested products you may be lacking. The store makes for a good checklist of items to help you get the job done.
WATCH SAMPLE HERE!
Nut Making
Watch as a nut is processed and shaped from a bone blank to a semi-gloss nut.
WATCH SAMPLE HERE!
Fretting Necks: LEARN THE TECHNIQUES INVOLVED in FRET BENDING, CUTTING, INSTALLING, SHAPING, BRINGING FINISHED FRETS TO A HIGH LUSTER AND MORE AT JCS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.
WATCH SAMPLE HERE!
Inlay work at jcsmi.com
Learn the techniques involved in FRET & SIDE MARKER INLAY & more
Plastic template.
Wooden template used at jcsmi.
I use a sheet of plastic to make my templates from. The plastic template has a variety of uses. First and foremost, it is used to layout the patters on larger pieces of wood stock. Trace out the pattern in the best way to minimize your waste. The wooden one is made out of maple, I find this wood to be stable. It is .750″ thick. The wooden one is used to fasten the actual neck blank to. I use the wooden template as a guide while creating the profile. If you have any questions, please email me at jcsmusicalinstruments@yahoo.com and I will see if I can help with your issues or simply just ask in the comments section.
Thanks,
Jim at jcsmi@me.com
The neck is designed to react to its physical surrounding in the way that you engineer it too. If designed and built correctly, and with a little luck in your selection of materials, truss rod, glued or non-glued fret wire, finishing and type of tuners, your neck should respond properly for years to come. All contribute to the tone, accuracy and stability of the neck.
Photo courtesy of Rick at
Venus Guitars. Neck by JCSMI
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