Our guru @markbailey reminded me recently to make a drawing for a project Iβm planning. For the last few builds I have developed a habit of just making guitars without doing the drawings first. It has worked for me but itβs always good practice to have a drawing to reference to double check measurements etc.Β
Before I start any more projects, I am going to make two S-Type necks for these two bodies. So I decided to make a 1:1 scale drawing of an S-Type. Iβm using some nice woods for these necks so I want to be able to constantly check Iβve got all my measurements correct.Β
Iβm using panga panga (neck) and pale moon ebony (fretboard) for the purple and gold one, and then maple (neck) and a fretboard blank I canβt remember the name of, it looks great though (fretboard), for the red and gold one. **Update** I changed my mind and chose a piece of cherry for the neck instead of maple. 👍
I want to get these two guitars built before my big move up to Scotland and before I take on any more projects.
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@russ I made one for this T-type a while ago, same principle to do an S-type at the headstock end. I may have some more photos, I'll have a look.Β
https://guitarmaking.co.uk/community/showcase-electric/spalted-telecaster-bolt-on-neck/#post-38
Make guitars, not war πβοΈπΈ
@russ I havenβt got any photos of when I drilled the truss rod access hole in the headstock. Once I had routed the truss rod slot, all I did was eyeball the hole it with a long drill bit.Β
There is another way of doing it but itβs not as tricky. I made a T-type neck (which is almost the same as a Strat neck) and just routed all the way through the nut area to give access with an alan key for the truss rod. I think I might use this method again this time. You basically have a larger access hole, rather than a more small and precise one. The fretboard and nut go over the big access hole. It looks a bit different than a normal Strat/Tele headstock but I quite like it. Obviously if you were making one for a customer who wanted the traditional kind, then you would have to make the effort to drill the smaller hole.Β
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@russ this particular neck is a hybrid nut construction because at the time I only had a fretboard without a Fender style nut slot. This fretboard was cut for a Gibson/Bandsman style with an angled headstock but because I was making a parallel headstock, I had to compromise and make the two work together. You will see what I mean with more pictures. Even if you use a fretboard with the Fender style nut slot, it would cover the slot in the same way.Β
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Once marked out, I set my router up for routing the truss rod slot. The adjustment end of the truss rod is slightly wider than the rest of it so I have to route the slot slightly wider there too.Β
Make guitars, not war πβοΈπΈ
I have a routing pattern/template for a Strat neck and instead of using it for routing these necks, Iβve made another template from it. Iβll keep the original as a master to make more when I inevitably damage this one.Β
Make guitars, not war πβοΈπΈ
I have two router tear outs and both of them are on the back side of the headstock. I was thinking about repairing them but Iβm just going to sand and blend them into the shape instead. If I was building this for someone else, I would repair it but Iβm just making these for fun, so Iβm not. 😝
Make guitars, not war πβοΈπΈ