Neck making complete

     I completed neck making. I have been using the traditional neck shaping technique Japanese guitar makers have been using. The first step is making a square shape for the desired neck thickkness. At this moment, neck this ness is the final profile. Second step is tapering the squared neck shape. The center line on the tapered section represents the top of the half section of the rounded neck top. Then, the final step is round the neck for the final shape. When rounding the neck shape, I have never touch the centerlines at the neck center and the center of the tapered sections. This technique enables to duplicate the neck shape precisely. Also, this technique enables to make accurate straight lines. I learned this technique from Taku. Taku learned this technique from his working experience in a Japanese guitar maker. 

     The last steps are the bridge making and the final sanding.

Neck making part-3

I have been working on the neck making. This week, I completed the head plate veneer install for both front side and back side. The front side veneer is African BW with white (maple) and black (dyed maple) laminate. Back side veneer is the 0.7mm thickness Catalog. The total Neck head thickness is 14.5mm. Taku told me that the neck head thickness must be 14.5mm, and this thickness makes the most beautiful neck head. I also completed the drilling work for the machine head. I will use the schertler machine head. This machine has ebony knobs that matche the African BW head plate overlay. I also completed the fingerboard radiusing. I have been using the 20' fingerboard radius for my steel string models. This neck has a premium grade Brazilian RW finger board.

Next week, I will complete neck shaping and the fret wire install. So, wood working for this MD project will be completed.

Neck making part 2

     It been out of my work shop for two weeks. I had broken bone in my right leg. I got three locations of bone fracture. It was my Windsurfing accident.

Luckyly, operation for the broken bone is completed, and I am back to my work shop. My walking ability is limited, and the guitar making activity is slow now.

     I completed the neck joint fitting work. I also, completed the screw install to the neck. Neck joint requires a precise alignment for the neck angle for the strings action and the neck angle for the guitar center line. The ideal guitar neck joint for the center line is not straight. An extended neck center line is approximately 2.5mm off to the treble side. The other technique is to move the bridge location approximately 2.5mm to the bass-E side. Both techniques are for preventing the high-E string falling issue. 

     This design project has an elevated neck design. This neck is approximately 11mm elevated at the neck joint. Also, the fingerboard extension from the neck joint is isolated from the sound board. To make the solid fingerboard extension, I installed two 5x7.5mm carbon fiber reenforcement rods. Then, I installed the fingerboard. I have been using epoxy for the fingerboard install. Franklin Wood glue makes good bond for the fingerboard install. However, the wood glue makes neck reverse bend (anty bow) due to the moisture. For the precise neck bend controll, Epoxy glue is the best for the fingerboard install.