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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on July 31, 2017 at 5:30am

you don't need to cut, however then you are left with using a threaded rod for the nut and then using screws to combo guide the strings and hold them down. The cut can be done with a little 8 dollar pull saw. Just clamp it to your kitchen table or something. I build all mine in my kitchen so some modicum volume control is required for me also. The pic is one I cut a little more off then i had intended but I always glue a piece of 1/4 x 2 on the back side to fancy it up a bit anyway so it was fine.

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Permalink Reply by 3qt17g550yh6r on July 31, 2017 at 6:16am

There is a really good video of Glen and Farley cutting a neck with a pull saw. I purchased the very same one at Lowes for 9.00. It is also the perfect size for fretting. Very easy and yes you can cut it in an apt.

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on July 31, 2017 at 9:01am

Peg length is probably too short as well if you don't make the headstock thinner. You won't have any room to wind the strings around the post.

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on July 31, 2017 at 10:26am

There are two ways to make a headstock, but require thinning, which can be done with hand tools...

1- scarf joint... a 15 degree cut then the headstock is angled back... works great, but is a lot more work and not completely necessary.

2- thinned headstock- this is what I use for my kits that I sell, and they work just fine. Hand tools are no problem, a chisel helps...

There are multiple variations, but what you want to build is a basic thinned headstock. You want to take your 3/4" thick neck and remove about 3/16" from the thickness. With hand tools, you can do this one nof two ways:

1 cut slots every 1/4", use a chisel to remove the pieces... a sharp chisel can help you get a good flat surface... (this is how I built my first 10-15 guitars)

2- use a saw to cut 3/16" off the headstock... this is harder than it sounds, unless you are good with a saw.

Either way, a thinned headstock will need some device to pull the strings down against the nut. I use #6 sheet metal screws...
If you look carefully, the screws serve two purposes... they hold spthe string down to the "nut", and they position the string.

Hope this helps...

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