Hi there, it was a big day for me today. After watching the online videos design your guitar and build your own electric guitar it was time for the real job.
End of last year I ordered the electric guitar kit. Took some time to make the needed templates and jigs and of course the working drawing.
Today I took a day off from my job to have all day to work on the neck. My goal was to complete with the fretboard glued on.
Everything went fine until I profiled the neck with the neck taper template. Unfortunately I did not pay enough attention to the ball bearing resulting in a small dimple on one side. Luckily I had some extra space as a failsafe. And I hope that after carving this won’t be visible anymore.
Trussrod installation and planing the filet went fine.
The fretboard had a slight twist but I assume that this will not give future issues once it is glued to the neck.
After dry clamping I felt comfortable to start the glueing. Spread the glue and put the fretboard on. Tap the nails in, put the caul on and clamp it all together.
There is an easy fix - this sort of thing used to happen all the time at 'the factory that shall remain nameless in this context' so don't feel too bad!
Use a piece of veneer to fill the gap.
I would try to put some both sides if possible to keep the neck on line - or choose one side and use the veneer to help pull it to one side if necc.
If the veneer is too fat as seems likely here then you can make it thinner by sanding. To stop it sliding around you can put it on top of a sanding block and use another block on top.
You don't need much - it doesn't have to cover the whole side if the tenon - a 12-20mm wide strip is all you need about at least 50mm long.
Place the veneer into the neck socket and then carefully ease the neck into place - make sure that the veneer does not go underneath the neck. The veneer should stick out above the top of the guitar (we'll snap it off later after gluing)
Practice dry first, adjust as needed, and if it goes well repeat with plenty of glue - make sure to get glue both sides of the veneer.
Snap off the excess veneer whenever you feel like it...
If you don't have any veneer you can make some with your bandsaw
If the gap is too thin for a veneer then don't worry about it! Try damping the gluing surfaces with water and letting them dry - this will expand the grain and may be enough.
I had a piece of veneer that is perfect for this job. With this extra space I am able to lift the guitar when I grab the neck. The neck is suited nice in the pocket. Also checked the aligning and it is centered spot on. Happy ?
Before I start glueing I need to do the final sanding first. Hope to glue the neck this weekend.
I had a piece of veneer that is perfect for this job. With this extra space I am able to lift the guitar when I grab the neck. The neck is suited nice in the pocket. Also checked the aligning and it is centered spot on. Happy ?
Before I start glueing I need to do the final sanding first. Hope to glue the neck this weekend.
Excellent Work. You could trim the excess with a scalpel before the glue dries for easier cleanup. Nice one!
