Steve’s Guitar Making – Part 2 – Neck Session 3 of 4
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Making the neck – part 3 of 4
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25 Responses to “Steve’s Guitar Making – Part 2 – Neck Session 3 of 4”
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good question. planing with the grain can cause tearout so planing diagonally seems to work better.
When planing, do you always go forward with the plane at an angle as you are at 1:34? If so, is this always good practice and why?
I am curious as to how much the material cost to make this guitar? Thank you sir for taking the time to make these videos, I am going through them and I am getting ready to begin my first guitar. Any advice or warnings appreciated.
thank you for the videos. Im just about ready to to start on my very first guitar and these were exactly the type of instructions I need very informative.
When I build my first guitar using the instructions in the book, I built the truss rod from the instructions. Once was enough of that and have since purchased double action truss rods from either StewMac or LMI at whatever length they recommend for steel string guitars.
Hi Steve,
Great videos! I was just wondering what was the length of the truss rod you used in this acoustic guitar? I am working out of the same book, but I can’t find a truss rod the length it suggests.
First of all thank you for putting these vids on found them very helpfull. Just have a quick question for you should the trus rod go flat side to the fret board or flat side facing away from fret board. Thank you.
In the one I built in the video, the heal is 1 1/8 inch long and 7/8 wide, however, it doesn’t really matter. A trip into an instrument store will show that the dimensions are all over the place.
great video, Im using it as a guideline to build my first, so I may ask a question or two. First, how wide is the bittom of the heel? It looks about 1/4 of an inch from the 3/4 inch tennon, but how wide exactly?
Doesn’t really matter. It’sjust decoration so you can make them as thick as you want. I’ve never actually measured mine but I would think they’re around 1/16″
how thick are the venirs supposed to be?
yeah that’s right it’s more fun to do by hand.
the only thing is that cnc is mutch faster
but it will be less fun
but cnc is more exact
well, they cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars, and most normal people cant afford it. plus that would ruin the whole experience of building a guitar. let the big companys tend to the cnc’s. ill stick with hand tools and have fun. plus its an art-form. robotic machines are for mass production. us luthiers actually like to make the guitars, not watch a machine do it for us.
what about cnc milling machines??
Correct. To open an acoustic you normally have to cut off the top and then re-attach it later. Very tricky thing to do well. However, most repairs can be done through the soundhole without “opening” the guitar.
heyy i have a stupid but i need to know question..:S like you cant “open up” an acoustic guitar like an electric right?? because its all glued together right??
i agree, i love using hand tools. i can be a LOT slower but you have so much more control and its more precise. i actually used strictly hand tools to build my last bass, i even chiseled the truss rod channel and control cavitys.when i say everything i mean everthing,fretboard and all. i even used an auger for drilling. thats how they did it long long ago, it keeps you in touch with your luthier roots. gives a nice classic look too.by the way, your videos are great, thanks
i wonder if he’s canadian
ah yes, I see what you mean. I’ve also heard of people using angle grinders with a wood attachment. I kind of like the feel of carving the wood by hand, but if time is critical then power tools can certainly speed things up. Thanks for the comment.
when u shape the heal (sorry for my enlish)
then you use some hand tools, i did the same to my first guitar, but it war easier and faster with the dremel, i think you are the first i’ve seen that does it so much by hand
I have a dremel and I agree it’s a great tool. I use it for cutting the rosette channel and for binding. What use were you thinking of?
ever thought of buying a dremel tool? you will sawe ALOTT of time. awsome tool
Well, my personal opinion, such as it is, is that the angle of the neck is not particularly critical. In theory, the steeper the angle, the more pressure on the nut and the better the sustain. In practice, I don’t know how much effect it has.
Hi steve
great videos,im busy rebuilding an ovation, academy copy,and yes its all neck work,how critical is 15degree cut,meaning could it be less ?
i wonder if its gonna be full sized