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Let's try a bolt on

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swepri
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So far, I have only made set neck guitars. Time to try something else - a jazzmaster inspired build. I got some great advice from @Boo on making the neck, so

I started out. I bought some maple last summer and milled it to 21 mm thickness and made two neck blanks.

 

I have no idea how to get the photos in the correct order, it seems to be completely random every time.

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20231017 182102
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20231019 171322
20231026 150157

 

 

 

 


   
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swepri
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Today I pressed the frets in with my brand new fret press. It is a bit fiddly to use the press, but the end result is more consistent than using a hammer, in my opinion.

Filed the sharp fret ends down and called it a day. Now off to play at a blues jam tonight. 😎 

20231104 122935
20231104 121256

   
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Boo
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Posted by: @swepri

So far, I have only made set neck guitars. Time to try something else - a jazzmaster inspired build. I got some great advice from @Boo on making the neck, so

I started out. I bought some maple last summer and milled it to 21 mm thickness and made two neck blanks.

 

I have no idea how to get the photos in the correct order, it seems to be completely random every time.

-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --

 

-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
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Fantastic, looks like you’ve done a great job of that. Good shooting with the truss rod access hole and great transition curve from the headstock to the nut area. 

The issue with the images loading into your post happens to everyone, it’s completely random and a little annoying. I think it just loads them in the order that they have finished uploading, some images have more data and are bigger files. That’s my take on it but there could be another reason. 

Keep up the good work and keep us up to date. 👍

 

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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Boo
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@swepri Love the fret press, I must must must get one.

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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Russ
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Nice work @swepri. Do you get better results with the fret press and is it easier than hammering them in? 

🙂🎸🎶🙏

🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️


   
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swepri
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@russ By the looks of it, the result is very consistent. I had no problems with fret ends springing up and they all seems to be seated properly. I have not checked or leveled the frets yet, but I expect it to be less work with that than after my usual hammering.

I would say that it definitely is easier for me to use the press than a hammer. For this, I used a tiny nylon hammer to tap the fret ends in (just lightly) to keep the fret in the right place. Then comes the only tricky part, to align the press caul and the fret properly. You don't want the fret to tilt and want the pressure centered. Then just press it. As always, it is important to have firm support under the neck.

I added a few drops of thin superglue to the fret ends after each one.

 


   
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Russ
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Cheers @swepri. All good stuff to know. I might even invest in one.

🙂🎶🙏🎸

🗝️ "Life's what you make it"🗝️


   
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Dan Hawkes
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Posted by: @swepri

So far, I have only made set neck guitars. Time to try something else - a jazzmaster inspired build. I got some great advice from @Boo on making the neck, so

I started out. I bought some maple last summer and milled it to 21 mm thickness and made two neck blanks.

 

I have no idea how to get the photos in the correct order, it seems to be completely random every time.

-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --

 

-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --
-- attachment is not available --

 

 

 @swepri nice work! I gotta ask, how did you drill the truss rod access hole? Can't be ready getting that accurate!?

Cheers!

 


   
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swepri
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@liebe I followed the great step-by-step process from @boo that he posted in this thread: https://guitarmaking.co.uk/community/design-your-own-guitar/bolt-on-necks-and-trussrods/#post-25367

I admit, drilling the access hole was not the easiest step. I also prepared a bit more than in the pictures and made a shallow starting dent (or ditch) with a gouge towards "the step" before drilling, to make more room for the drill to start right.

20231019 171242

 


   
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Boo
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@swepri Fantastic! Hey, I like your hold down clamping bench, I may have to make one of those. I’m just in the middle of making a proper workbench, it’s absolutely solid. I’m going to order a big face vice for it.

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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swepri
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Posted by: @boo

Fantastic! Hey, I like your hold down clamping bench, I may have to make one of those. I’m just in the middle of making a proper workbench, it’s absolutely solid. I’m going to order a big face vice for it.

It is the MicroJig system with dovetail grooves. The clamps costs an arm and a leg, but it is worth every swedish krona.

 


   
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Dan Hawkes
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@swepri thanks buddy!


   
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