Just used my Bagpress fret slotting jig for the first time and it's amazing! Today has been a good day; I managed to conquer the witchcraft that is using hand planes to get a square and flat* fretboard blank, which then got slotted in minutes. I've done fret slots manually a couple of times but with very mixed results**, which is why I've bought pre-slotted boards from Mark for my last few projects but I wanted to try a different wood to what's available pre-slotted.
Mark often says that pre-slotted boards are one of his biggest sellers - selling a jig this good might just do him out of some money. If you haven't already got one and you have some unwanted cash or a birthday coming up then you know what to do 🙂
* - long as you promise not to measure too closely.
** - the second attempt was worse than the first and couldn't even be used for jazz.
Guitar making is the art and science of turning expensive wood into sawdust.
Anything can be used for jazz, you just have to declare yourself "experimental" and/or "free".
It takes commitment though, you have to repeat the motif (no matter how painful) until somebody in the audience (ideally wearing a poloneck) nods knowingly.
Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk
I'm trying to get my first build off of the ground it's getting in to my budget a little more than I expected. I went on line to buy enough cam clamps to get started and got sticker shock, $30 US each for the small one, so I came up with this. In the US we have a cheap tool store called Harbor Freight. The 12" ratchet clamp was $4.00 US, I got the 1/4 20 handle on Amazon for $.85 each, I used a T nut to thread it and the wood was left over scrap oak from a previous project. Besides misc. sheetrock screws, I have a less than $5.00 in each clamp. I built 4- 6", 4- 8" & 4- 12" clamps for a grand total of $60 US, Hope that this helps someone, Buck
If you haven't already got one and you have some unwanted cash or a birthday coming up then you know what to do
That Bagpress fretting jig is indeed a very useful thing. Have you seen the neck heel/pocket cutting jig??
Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk