Neck stuff

Posted by D.C. Mansfield on November 2, 2011 at 3:18pm

Hi all,

    I'm starting my new build any day now, and was looking for a couple of tips for building the neck.

I'm doing my first fretted neck and I'm hoping to have an angled headstock.  I'm guessing I do the frets first then put the headstock on last, can anyone recomend the easiest and or strongest way to attach an angled head? Also, is there anything else I should bear in mind?

  Lastly, I'm using Oak that's quite pale, but want to treat it to bring out the grain and then put a gloss finish on it.  Any recommendations?  

Thanks everyone,

Duncan.

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Replies

  • Ian MC Donald November 10, 2011 at 6:26pm
    Hi the easiest way to round off your neck in one pass is with a router bit with a guide bush you can purchase most bit with a 1/4 inch shank it saves time if you are wanting to build a few and requires virtually no sanding, I am assuming you have a router but again if not you can get a reasonable one on eBay or screw fix the router has many uses and great for guitar builds, Let me know if you need any more info Regards Ian


    Slowpaw Steve T said:

    I tried doing an angled headstock once, it worked out really well though found no obvious benefits compared to a straight one, apart from the satisfaction of the achievement! 

    "The Captain" headstock.

     

    A neck with a scarfed headstock i ordered from Big Daddy Mojo is excellent and in constant use, i glued on a Rosewood fretboard and fretted it up myself, though it has a wide headstock, would like to build a similar one myself but would take a lot of work, but i have time!

    don pepin2

     

    An angled headstock is something i would undertake with the experience of a few builds behind me and not on my first build, but if you want to try it good luck!  There are excellent instructions on CBN's downloadable book by Josh Gayou.

    http://joshuagayou.com/downloads/AdvancedCigarBoxGuitarConstruction...

     

    Another tip about Oak - any Oak is good, English, American, Light, Dark, but only use an oil based Polyurethane on it, it will bring out the grain in brilliant detail - any water based varnish will really "bring out" the grain in a very (to me) unpleasant way!

    Use a nicely sharpened Spokeshave to round off the underside of the neck, it is the easiest and most pleasant way to do the job. (-:  

    .

  • Michael Fred Johnson November 10, 2011 at 1:31pm

    The easiest way to a good finish I have found is to brush on a couple of coats of sanding sealer ( lightly sand between coats) then use Halfords spray lacquer for the final finish (see my photos)

    The sealer is available from model shops

  • Ian MC Donald November 10, 2011 at 12:08pm
    Hi Duncan,
    I have been able to make a simple jig for making scarf joints using a chop or mitre saw if you have one I can post a picture of mine it then makes a very tidy joint,
    As far as wood suppliers Brooks brothers in Maldon in Essex supply all sorts of hardwoods give them a ring,
    I use recycled kitchen doors for my builds as I'm in the kitchen business check out any of your local sheds b and q wickes etc I'm sure they have loads of surplus damaged doors,
    I could supply you but postage might be an issue with the weight,
    I use omega kitchens in Doncaster for our kitchens they might have damaged doors google them just a possibility,
    Let me know if you want any further help ,
    I will add you as a friend,
    Regards
    Ian
  • D.C. Mansfield November 9, 2011 at 12:55pm

      Thanks Slowpaw,

       You mentioned using an oil based polyurethane, can you recomend any brands in particular?

    P.S - Anyone in England, can you recommend a stockist for Walnut or Mahogony, for the fretboard? They don't stock it at Arnold Laver, suprisingly!

  • Slowpaw Steve T November 5, 2011 at 8:13am

    I tried doing an angled headstock once, it worked out really well though found no obvious benefits compared to a straight one, apart from the satisfaction of the achievement! 

    "The Captain" headstock.

     

    A neck with a scarfed headstock i ordered from Big Daddy Mojo is excellent and in constant use, i glued on a Rosewood fretboard and fretted it up myself, though it has a wide headstock, would like to build a similar one myself but would take a lot of work, but i have time!

    don pepin2

     

    An angled headstock is something i would undertake with the experience of a few builds behind me and not on my first build, but if you want to try it good luck!  There are excellent instructions on CBN's downloadable book by Josh Gayou.

    http://joshuagayou.com/downloads/AdvancedCigarBoxGuitarConstruction...

     

    Another tip about Oak - any Oak is good, English, American, Light, Dark, but only use an oil based Polyurethane on it, it will bring out the grain in brilliant detail - any water based varnish will really "bring out" the grain in a very (to me) unpleasant way!

    Use a nicely sharpened Spokeshave to round off the underside of the neck, it is the easiest and most pleasant way to do the job. (-:  

    .

  • Hayden A Butler November 5, 2011 at 7:17am
    I have done things a little differently with scarf heads by gluing the head bit under/begind the neck rather than on top of this.  Does this in any way weaken the joint or affect the guitar in any way?  I had done it this way as you can then easily know your scale length and nut position from early on in the build.
  • D.C. Mansfield November 5, 2011 at 5:56am

    Cheers everyone,

      That all looks really good, and now I feel a little less intimidated!

      I've just found out a co worker makes furniture in his spare time, so I now have access to a workshop full of tools, so I'm really excited about getting started!

    Thanks for your time and knowledge, I'll let you know how it goes!

    Duncan.

  • ChickenboneJohn November 4, 2011 at 3:15am

    Bandsaw and bench sander make it easy, but a handsaw will do the job just as good (if not better...I must have done well over 150 that way before I got my bandsaw)..the bench sander is a great tool if you are making loads of stuff, but by no means essential.

     

    I put the scarf under the fretboard, but that's just because I started doing it that way and didn't want to see a joint on the headstock and couldn't be bothered to cover it with a headstock veneer. Also, the fretboard hides the joint and strengthens it.

     

    I like to glue the fretboard on then fret it, other people put the frets in first and then glue the 'board on. If you are doing an angled headstock, it's usual to have a separate fretboard rather than fret direct into the neck...I've not seen a scarf-jointed headstock done with frets set directly in and no fretboard..but anything is possible.

     

    If the wood you are using is thick enough to do a one piece neck with frets set directly in it, then it's thick enough to do a "Fender style" headstock and do away with the hassle of the angled head and separate 'board.

     

    Finish - I like gunstock oil, as you just rub it on with a rag and let it dry.  The more coats you put on the shinier it gets, but I prefer just a few coats and then knock it back with 0000 wirewool to get a satin finish. Otherwise, quick, easy and shiney - a few coats of rattlecan clear acrylic from my local DIY shop at £2.75 for a big can. Oak can have a very deep open grain, so you might still end up with a very "open' finish rather than mirror smooth, even if you try filling the grain.

     

     

  • Michael Fred Johnson November 3, 2011 at 11:44am
    305750655?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024You can add a facing to the headstock to hide the joint
  • Alan Hodges November 2, 2011 at 6:51pm

    Hi duncan, Try this you tube link. This guy runs through things at a nice easy pace and whilst his video series is about making an acoustic, the basics will point you in the right direction for making a neck from scratch. Also check out my pictures from my latest 4 string build. I have also used an oak neck and I finished it with water borne acrylic lacquer ( no stain) and for my first time with lacquer, I'm really pleased with the results.

    Alan

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECmsQWsFtiY

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