Wednesday

9 Jul 2008

Wednesday 9th July '08

back on track and into full production mode... this stage of the build process is as close to the mass production of guitars as I get!! .. each neck blank is run over the planer/thicknesser to create a good square profile..

each proto-neck is marked for the end customer and then the spec sheets checked and the final dimensions of each neck marked out..

this multi-laminate maple neck is destined to become one with an Ibanez style superstrat.. the seperate headstock joint is marked out

cut and planed perfectly flat..

and then glued and clamped.. this one has a nice and gentle 10 degree headstock break-angle..

the router is set up to cut the truss-rod chanels.. the bit has to be perfectly centered on the guide bush!!

the boys all find this rather boring though..

the ten truss rod chanels are routed..

and by then the Ibanez neck is dry.. the headstock joint is planed flat

and then the rough dimensions of each neck is cut on the bandsaw.. (by the way.. if you look carefully at the length of the exposed blade in this picture you'll see that I was being very very stupid.. it should be only just big enough to let the timber through!! .. naughty me!)

here we go... as you can see most instruments built here are through neck or deep set neck tenon designs..

... fun fun fun..

eventually the final dimensions of each neck are planed out, by machine..

and then by hand.. (this multi-lam Yew neck is destined for our Conspiracy model.. the first in out slightly cheaper range of instruments..)

and here she is..

each two-way adjustable low-profile truss rod is installed and the access cavities routed..

and then it's time to cut the fingerboards out.. English Walnut.. locally sourced eco-friendly supplies..

before glueing the fingerboards in the surfaces are both planed by hand to give a perfect surface..

the Ibanez has her neck fitted..

and then, over the next couple of days, each neck recieves her fretboard..

the excess fingerboard material is ripped off on the bandsaw

and then it is tidied up with a very sharp plane..

the English walnut fretboard on the Conspiracy guitar has the radius planed in..

the the fret positions are marked out.. carefully..

cut..

the offset dot inlays are drilled in

and then she is fretted.. with each fret both hammered and glued in..

on to Fabio's 7 string model.. I love the way ebony works.. (by the way the shavings from the workshop all end up as Mulch or compost for my veg patches.. bit's of the rainforest in a somerset garden!!)