Build Thread- My Archtop Number 2

[aussiegazza]

Routed the binding channel with my 'special' jig (see my other archtop post):



Will get the binding done tomorrow.

Garry

[aussiegazza]

Scrape binding and neck on tomorrow...

Garry

[aussiegazza]

Scraped back the binding and attached the neck:

[aussiegazza]

Even though I checked the clearance above the bridge when I attached the neck, I ended up with too much clearance. Given that I clamped the neck on, it must have increased the angle slightly.

I have cut the neck off, saved the fretboard (overcut into the neck and barrel sanded) and truss rod (cut the neck up), and done a test neck after slightly adjusting my jig:



I have also gone to the Benedetto laminated neck approach as I do not think that the method that I use for guitars such as Martin OMs is strong enough at the Archtop's dovetail, which is thinner and has less wood 'area' in the heel. I did a test neck out of rock maple to prove the laminated approach and to adjust my neck jig. I will probably use it sometime, as it is very nice (but plain) wood.

Now waiting on some new neck wood.

Garry

[aussiegazza]

Still waiting on wood for new neck, so did some upgrades on my equipment.

Redid the base of my router and inserted T channels into melamine. Problem is that I do not have much clearance for the vacuum fixture if I am going to get all the depth etc I need for the surface profiling.

My solution is to make my own clamps out of 2" square tube. Still a bit of adjustment to do, but it will work...



Garry

[aussiegazza]

Wood turned up and I can get 2 necks out of 3 pieces...

One of the planks was darker then the other 2, so I made it the central lamination. New neck will be AWESOME:



Garry

[aussiegazza]

Doing multiple necks etc at one time is certainly faster!

Set up the tools once and run as many pieces as you can through...

My two necks out of three StewMac standard sized neck lengths:



Garry

[Randall]

Please keep posting. Wonderfully work.
Randall

[aussiegazza]

Originally Posted by Randall Please keep posting. Wonderfully work. Randall

My pleasure Randall. I enjoy guitar making, CNC and feedback...

Garry

[aussiegazza]

I leave the neck extension slightly high and use a jointer to plane it level with the rest of the neck. I will do this tomorrow as I want glue to be as strong as possible.

I then need to make the neck extension match the top plate's shape. You can also see why I leave the heel oversize (ie wide). Any chips caused by the hand planing of the end grain (I used a Veritas Medium Shoulder Plane) will be removed:



Garry

[aussiegazza]

Pic of my new clamping arrangement on the CNC:



I used to use a 'safety planer' attached to a drill press, but this is so much better! You hopefully can see the 1/8" shim that gives the head its taper.

I also machined the back of the neck level, using the same approach with the shim etc.

Then I manually shaped the neck. You can see my two small templates that I use to get the shape at the 1st and 12th frets with a rasp. Then I use a spokeshave to join the two 'curves':



Glued the fretboard and headplate on so I can finish all the shaping and blending of the curves:



Garry

[aussiegazza]

Very disheartened as my router dropped its height adjustment (I have found that it is broken) when I was routing around the fretboard. Result is I am starting my THIRD neck for this archtop.