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Neck Thickness Build Up

I need to add about 1/16" to the thickness of my planed neck to accommodate tuners correctly.

Right now 1/2" need 9/16".

Neck is maple, thinking about gluing about 2-3 sheets of the micro thin dark cedar wood lining in my Padron box. Great medium color, but not sure how it would take to gluing, sanding and clear coat.

Any thoughts or any similar challenges?

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by ILL GREEN on December 27, 2018 at 11:48am

Yes, you are right to layer thin wood to the headstock to accommodate the tuners. A layer of 1/16 inch thick veneer on the headstock gives a nice look. I have seen some not even color coordinated and it looks really good.

If 1/16 is all you need, I'd go for the headstock veneer.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 27, 2018 at 1:18pm

Try on scrap.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 27, 2018 at 2:21pm

Similar problem on my bass... I just used thicker washers.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on December 27, 2018 at 6:04pm

Shouldn’t have any problems at all if both are surfaces are level/flat, just glue & clamp evenly?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 28, 2018 at 5:56pm

Hi Brent, just be mindefull that the glue does not bleed through micro thin cedar, thats why I suggested a test run, also there might not be much room for much sanding either before breaking through the glue line.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on December 29, 2018 at 1:20pm

I tried the same thing and the cedar wrinkled a bit, I think the glue made the sheet swell or something. If I did it again I would 100% cover the surface while clamping and go easy on the glue.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 29, 2018 at 2:15pm

Hi, when I do this I make the lamination off off the peghead, then glue the overlay in one go.

I always laminate between two thick boards and also when gluing to the peghead.

See photos:

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Brent Kasl on December 29, 2018 at 2:57pm

What about drilling tuners out? My guess is this micro thin Spanish cedar will want to crack.

Whar about drilling from backside forward and have a block of wood secured to the face?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on December 29, 2018 at 5:59pm

Hi Brent I take it you haven't got your brad point drills yet, so as you suggest from the back. A brad point drill is made for wood drilling and scores a line through the wood fibres prior to actual drilling.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on January 2, 2019 at 9:34am

I've been here myself. I used a washer under the tuner washer and threaded ferrule to make the height. This works for enclosed-style tuners. Worked well for me.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Ridgeway on January 4, 2019 at 3:58pm

^What Grandpa says! ^^^^^^^

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on January 6, 2019 at 8:19am

It depends on a few things as to whether a washer will do the job or a veneer is required.

How many strings? Bass or Guitar? What type of wood are you using for the neck?

Maple is strong and a washer would probably be fine for a 3 or 4 string git. 5 or 6 string git or a Bass with more than 2 strings, I would go with the veneer for added strength.

I made a 4 string git once with a Pine neck and even though the neck had a separate fretboad glued on and a trussrod, the headstock started to ramp under string pressure. So I had to add a Oak veneer to stop the ramping. Maple is generally much harder than Pine, but some Maple is soft and can warp easily.

So you can try the washers and hope it works out or try adding the veneer and be sure.