Friday 18th July '08

we're reaching the end of the multi-neck production line bordom.. excess timber is removed from each headstock..

the headstock shape and string alignment are carefully marked out.. this is Fabio's 7-stringer..

bandsaw... ..

.. it's at this stage that you realise that bi-focals might just be a good idea:)

the bobbin sander is used to create the final headstock shape..

the 'Conspiracy' model.. I love Yew, but some bits need filling with dust and superglue..

back to the Ibanez replacement neck.. the bone nut is cut, shaped and fitted..

and here she is with the recessed trem cover.. I think that this is a way that I will be doing it from now on.. very very slick!

the tuner holes are drilled.. leaving mult-coloured shavings all over..

guitar photographer of the year awards anyone??

they love each other really..

the back of the neck is carved and fine sanded.. here you see the dissapearing pinstripes.. this way the joint between the headstock timbers is not as obvious from the top of the headstock..

the back of the headstock will be veneered..since ebony is very brittle.. and hard to get this thin I'm staining this maple black..

..pretty wood, with the glue on it looks like it will with lacquer..

the veneer is clamped to the headstock between two blocks and bubbly plastic.. the air is compressed out and helps keep the veneer pressed to the curved shape of the volute..

while that is drying the Conspriracy body is fine sanded all the way through the grits..

and has her first coats of wax finish..

.. the result.. looks a bit suspicious..

but it is trimmed with a very sharp knife..

.. I told you they loved each other!

and here is the final result.. I always think that veneers on the back of a headstock just impart a feeling of sheer class!! 

the final job on thisd neck is to level the frets.. with an unfinished maple fretboard everything has to be carefully masked..

and the end result is 24 highly polished Jumbo's..

back to Fred's Rf Slimline/hollow composite..

after trimming excess timber off the back of the neck the edes are squared up

the side dots installed..

and, after marking out the deep set neck tenon joint, the waste is drilled out..

and routed to size..

the side dots are scraped clean..

and after carefully working out the break angles etc the back of the joint is planed flat and square

the excess from the top removed

  and the neck is glued in place.. she is finally a proto-guitar ..

Have a great weekend!!

Ben..

Crimson Custom Guitars UK