@keondb

If you need to make a curved slot try making a curved scraper to match a curved bottom nut then scrape it front to back.

I hate to say "stewm*c", but they have nut seating files.

I bought one way back when (when £1=$2).

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/tools-by-job/tools-for-nuts-and-saddles/nut-seating-files.html

Use that carefully and the bottom of the nut slot should be flat, and perpendicular to the end of the fretboard.

Do you check the nut to see if it’s flat, a lot of new ones are not.

After your comment , I did check and the nut is flat ( Graphtec nubone nut )

Use that carefully and the bottom of the nut slot should be flat

ordered the 1/8" one straight away! thanks @tv101

 In the meantime, I have drilled the tuner holes ( vintage style so smaller holes ), routed the headstock to the correct thickness and now glued the fretboard on..

Coming along very nicely @koendb. 

🙏🎶🙂🎸

So I took away too much material from the headstock to make a nice transition between headstock and neck.
That will be a very steep curve. The trussrod is super easy to get access to on the other hand, so that is a nice 'explanation' for the steep curve 🙂
I also managed to have a bit of tear out on the neck just where neck and fretboard join the headstock.
Oh well. That wont happen next time!

The dot inlays where surprisingly easy to do and look great.
Left to do: Side dots, carving and find a nice solution for the transition at the headstock.

I am also thinking about staining the neck and headstock, to make it look older ( brown/orange/yellow-ish).
Something like this:

Yeah that is steep @koendb but it probably won’t be a problem. But if it is then that’s one of the benefits of a bolt on neck, you could easily replace it! Otherwise all looks great!

@koendb It’s certainly steep alright and it’s definitely different but if it works, why not? I like things that are different and not normal, it makes things interesting. Keep going man, it’s great. 👍

If that bothers you @koendb, glue a piece of offcut into that corner, and then carve/sand the offcut to create a more gradual transition (or create the transition before you glue it in place).  Just make sure that the two faces (ie end of neck/fretboard, and base of headstock) are flat, and at proper 90deg to each other, and gluing a piece of neck offcut in should be OK.

I'd use some masking tape on the top of the fretboard and face of the headstock, beyond where the offcut will be glued and before you glue it in place, to mark the position of the truss rod, so you can re-drill the access slot once it's glued in place.

If that bothers you @koendb, glue a piece of offcut into that corner, and then carve/sand the offcut to create a more gradual transition (or create the transition before you glue it in place).

I'll probably make another neck if it bothers me 🙂

You’ll probably make another one anyway.

And anotherother one.

And anotherotherother one.

😉

You’ll probably make another one anyway.

And anotherother one.

And anotherotherother one.

Exactly! 😀

Finally found courage to start carving and I just couldn't stop.
I used a shinto rasp for the majority of the work, a halfround rasp/file for the transitions and lots of sanding blocks.

first facet done

Then I got carried away and forgot taking pictures in between
So before I knew it, I had both side facets done and the top one too.

I had Marks video about carving a bolt on neck going alongside and before moving on to the next stage, I watched a bit more, to be sure I got this. Of course, after a while I completely forgot and just followed my intuition and what felt right.

So thats what I ended up with after 3 hours of work

Looks Great @koendb. Very Smooth. 

🙏🎸🙂🎶

Some more pictures. I still have to fix some spots and try to eliminate high spots using scrapers. but that will be for another day.

Some rough spots around the transitions that I need to sort out

I am pretty happy with the result so far, but what do you guys ( and girls) think?

Of course, after a while I completely forgot and just followed my intuition and what felt right.

@koendb Boom! Nice work my friend. I love neck carving. 👍🎸

I am pretty happy with the result so far, but what do you guys ( and girls) think?

@koendb Yeah, I think it’s looking great. The heal transition and the volute areas need a little more work to get them a tiny bit neater but all in all it’s looking good. 

The heal transition and the volute areas need a little more work to get them a tiny bit neater

Yes I agree @boo

Looks great @koendb the volute and heal are gonna be great after final sanding..