I'll probably end up machining it on Friday!

🤣🤣🤣🤣 @darrenking Thanks Darren, whatever the dimensions of the neck pocket template is for in the Bandsman template set, tapering out to the nut. You will obviously have the pocket template dimensions so if the neck taper template follows that shape exactly, it will eventually meet the correct width for the nut. It would be good if the taper extended a bit further after the nut so the router still has support.

I appreciate your help very much.  

Hi Boo,

So is there no difference in the taper of the neck section for different scale lengths or is the difference so small that it doesn't matter?

Darren

The neck taper jig is just a long thing with a two straight but not quite parallel edges - you can use it for any scale length and different nut widths.........

Think the idea is that the neck pocket should have the same rate of taper as the neck taper template and the neck should only just not fit into the neck pocket so that with a little sand it is a good but not over tight fit.......

Hi Bill,

I get that, but if the the taper is constant for the full length of the neck, and the neck pocket end is the same for all guitars, then this will mean that the nut width is automatically reduced for the longer scale lengths and increased for shorter ones.

The taper on the Bailey neck pocket jig goes from 57mm to a nut width of 42mm over 506mm (635mm scale length). Does this sound about right?

Hi Boo,

No problem. Just email me a dimensioned sketch of what you need and I'll machine it over Christmas

That was what I was thinking of too @darrenking - when I asked about a neck template to match the neck pocket template that you made for the Bandsman set ...

You just need to know the distance from the end of the neck pocket to the position of the nut.  At the nut, the neck should be 43mm wide.  I’ll check my Bandsman plan later and let you know that distance (unless Boo does it first!).

Fortunately, it's not a very large kitchen!!

Does that mean that I should hold off on booking any exotic foreign holidays on the back of it?  

I think you’ll probably be able to book all the holidays you want ... but actually getting to make the trips might be a few vaccination jabs away!

 I’ll check my Bandsman plan later and let you know that distance (unless Boo does it first!).

I've emailed you 🙂

@darrenking I’ve emailed you a video link but I’ll put it here too. 

No problem. Just email me a dimensioned sketch of what you need and I'll machine it

@darrenking

I’ve recently received my Bailey order and I’m very happy with the quality of the Bandsman templates, cheers!

So this seems like a good time to ask about some custom templates, I guess that’s something that you’re willing to do? (I hope)

Thanks!
Matt

@darrenking Darren the width at the nut is 43mm and the last fret is 56mm.

best thing to do is make a mark on a centre line 43mm wide, then measure down the line 480mm and make another mark 56mm wide. That is the fretboard length for a Bandsman. It’s better to extend the length of the taper beyond where these two marks are so the router still has support and if I/we want to move the taper to make a fatter or thinner neck. 

Here is Mark’s lesson on making a neck taper pattern (template). 
https://guitarmaking.co.uk/lesson/neck-taper/

Here is another garbled mess of a video from me. 

Hi Matt, Yes I am more than willing to have a go at this type of thing for you. The cost will very much depend on how you are able to present the information. If you can provide .dxf, .dwg, Adobe Illustrator or Graphic (Mac Only) files then there is usually very little that I have to do before I cut the templates. The best idea is to me send me a sample file and then I can give you an idea of any changes that you might need to make to keep the process as time efficient for me and, therefore, as cost efficient for you.

Cheers

Darren

@darrenking

Awesome! Thanks a lot for the positive reply, 😉. I’ll have to get to work on putting some files together so I’ll be in touch with that hopefully in early January, cheers!

@Boo

I am just about to make a neck taper jig, watching the course I cannot get how the Fret board is 480mm for a 22 fret 25 inch scale.

I have a nut of 42mm and a width of 55.5 ish at the 22nd fret but only a length of 457mm (it should be 456.811) so about right - nowhere near 480mm!

If you are using 480 mm between the two measurements on the neck taper jig then this could be why your neck pocket and neck have some slack in them.

I think the measurements Mark uses on the course are wrong! (I am willing to be proved wrong on this of course).

I think the measurements Mark uses on the course are wrong! (I am willing to be proved wrong on this of course).

@peebee Well........ that’s a statement alright. 😆

”You have reached Boo but Boo isn’t in right now to answer your query. I refer you to our master and overlord (“The Great One”) (“There can be only one”) @markbailey I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as the dust has settled (errr.... I mean as soon as possible). 🤣

No seriously, I don’t know but I need to figure I all out soon as it’s driving me mad. Thanks for showing your working-out, I shall ruminate over a cup of coffee. 👍

@boo, looking into it further, 480mm works, well close, for a 24fret fretboard, but for 22 frets then the distance between the to width measurements drop to 457mm.

If you have a 22 fret fretboard but use 480mm then it will make the neck slightly thinner than it should be!

So apologies to Mark, 480mm is fine for a 24 fret fretboard. 

I have again revisited the course re the neck taper. My confusion comes from the fact that Mark says he measures the width of the last fret, 56mm, and then the length from this to the nut at 480mm. 

If you ignore the 'last fret' statement but just do 43mm at the nut and 480mm later do a width of 56 / 57mm then that'll work.

I got confused because I was trying to incorporate the 'last fret' measurement, mine is 457mm as its a 22 fret board and could not see where 480mm came from. Now I used my drawing and measured the 22 fret to be 55mm so did a taper from the nut at 43mm to 55mm at the 457mm length and it worked (I overlayed Marks fret board over the top and it fits a treat).

When it comes to the neck pocket I will make one to fit the neck rather than buy a ready made one, it should work then - we'll see.