How to Make a Thru Neck Electric Guitar

(I'm working on a video on this subject - thanks Herb for the suggestion!)

While you are waiting for the edit - here is the nub of it...

Making a thru neck guitar is not very different to a set neck - the main thing is you will obviously need a longer piece for your Thru Neck Blank.

If you have completed your working drawing then you should know exactly how long you blank needs to be.

Note that also the depth of you neck blank is vital as it must be enough to include the neck angle - see Herbs original Q here...

There are a couple of changes to the order of events - and 'gotchas' you want to avoid:

• Drill the side dots BEFORE gluing the fretboard on
• Make the Pick Link Slots BEFORE gluing the Body Wings

The Tricky Bit

All styles of construction have at least one 'tricky bit' - with a through neck it is 'Make the Neck Angle'.
The good news is that up to that point and beyond everything is just the same as making a Set Neck. So after you 'Make the Neck Angle' you can finish making the neck as normal and then glue on the body wings to make the body.

Thru Neck with a Cap?

If you are intending to have a Cap that goes right across the front of the body then there is an extra step - I will follow up with another post about adding caps to thru neck guitars later...

How to Make a Thru Neck

Make the FretBoard

• Install the Side Dots (do this now! Sometimes it is impossible to drill these after gluing the fretboard on!)

Make the Neck - Part 1

• Start on the neck - get the hard bits out of the way first
• Route the Truss Rod Slot
• Cut the Headstock Angle
• Cut Out the Neck
• Thickness the Headstock
• Drill the Tuner Holes
• Profile the Neck (Optional)

Make the Neck Angle (video in progress)

Make the Neck - Part 2

• It is easier (but not essential) to do these steps before gluing the body wings
• Install the Truss Rod
• Glue the Fretboard
• Carve the Neck
• Radius the Fretboard
• Install the Front Dots
• Prepare for Fretting
• Install the Frets
• Clean Up Sides

Extra Jobs!

(I will include a section about this in the video)

• Route a Slot for the Pickup Wires - With this style of construction it is very difficult to drill 'pickup link holes' as the neck gets in the way - much easier to make a slot first before gluing on the body wings!
• Make the Body Wings - You need them to be the correct thickness
• Glue the Body Wings - We do this upside down so the front is as flat as possible
• Trim the Excess - Clean up after gluing - there is always a small step at the back of the neck stick that needs planing/sanding/scaping flush

Now you can continue with the rest of the build as normal
You may have some extra carving to do around the heel area where the neck meets the body.

Have FUN!
Let me know if you have any Q's...