Droste

Would you guys suggest to shape the neck without the fretboard or with the fretboard glued on?

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My first ever guitar build (explorer) in progress.

Explorerbuilder

ALWAYS shape the neck after it is glued on and fretted.

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Some of my guitars (photobucket)

Most of my newer guitars * also photobucket, click the albums on the right*

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Droste

Oh I would've never thought of that actually. I thought you had to shape after the fretboard is on. Without frets.

Thanks man! Is there a specific advantage to doing it like that?


I'm thinking about using a wood rasp to get the rough shape and use sandpaper to finish it.

__________________
My first ever guitar build (explorer) in progress.

whoomit

I've fretted after shaping the neck, and it is awkward and stupid so I'd agree.

Why shape after fitting it though?

Explorerbuilder

Because it maeks it that much more difficult to glue a flat piece to a piece that is rounded on one side.

I have found the most fool proof and easiest way is to:
Cut headstock, truss rod channel, and neck taper first (not in that order)
Glue fretboard on
Radius, fret
Then carve the back of the neck.

__________________
Some of my guitars (photobucket)

Most of my newer guitars * also photobucket, click the albums on the right*

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Gu...142725369133117

whoomit

OH.

Shape after the fretboard is glued on, gotcha.

Thought you meant shape after fitting the neck onto the body, whoops.

Droste

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!

New parts are ordered and should hopefully arrive this week.
Till then I will be figuring out how to route the channel for the fibers and pups in the body.
Also I want to do the same layout as explorerbuilder for the control knobs. If I am correct that is the 84 Gibson/ESP layout. I have the body of a 76 explorer.
I dig the ESP shape more, also the layout for the controls but I have never found a template for that.

__________________
My first ever guitar build (explorer) in progress.

Explorerbuilder

You dont really need a layout for the controls. Just take a straight edge and line it up with what the picture looks like, and draw a line on the body where they are. Control layouts are the easiest by far.

__________________
Some of my guitars (photobucket)

Most of my newer guitars * also photobucket, click the albums on the right*

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Gu...142725369133117