Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on May 4, 2018 at 2:27am

Not sure if I am interpreting your question right so will take a couple of angles on this. I usually thin the headstock after glueing up the scarf joint and have confirmed where I want the nut and tuners located. I take the material off the top face of the headstock. Based on the design, I may do it with the table saw, but have used a sander or rasp also, just takes longer. If you're asking how to decide if it needs to be thinned, that's primarily driven by the type of tuners you're using, need to get the strings in the right spot for down pressure in the nut slots, and better to have the string load lower on the tuning peg, closer to the gear. Hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by Doug "Nomad" Farish on May 4, 2018 at 2:35am

Thank yiu for the reply. I think I understand what you are saying. Make the cut for the scarf joint, glue the wings, cut the head stock pattern, layout the tuner pegs and glue the head stock to the neck then add the fret board.

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on May 4, 2018 at 3:45pm

Doug, since you're adding a fretboard at the end, you could probably get away with thinning the headstock before gluing it to the neck, if that makes the job easier. I've just fretted the neck on most of mine so far, and was always worried about making sure my nut could be appropriately placed after gluing the scarf joint, then would decide where to place tuners and then decide how to thin down the headstock. Probably not the best or fastest way but works for me.

Permalink Reply by Doug "Nomad" Farish on May 5, 2018 at 12:26am

Thanks. I will take your advice. How do you thin your headstocks?

Permalink Reply by Doug "Nomad" Farish on May 5, 2018 at 2:37am

Wow! With all of the things that I need to do it will take me a long time to get my build done. With all the tools needed I will have to get them once a month when my SSD check comes in.

I want to do frets but I am afraid to try to cut them without the proper fret cutting tools. My biggest fear is cutting the slots to deep and really messing up my fret board. I  have the the basic tools and I do have a scroll saw. so I can get a lot done with the neck and box.

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on June 4, 2018 at 5:47am

There is no too deep unless you cut your fretboard in half...;-) my first attempts had a lot of variabilitity in the depth, but it’s not a big deal.   Too shallow is a bigger problem, just from having to rework it.

as far as thinning the headstock, I do it right after making the scarf joint.   I use my table saw to cut 1/8” off.   You can also use a belt sander (takes forever on maple) or a jointer (best!).  Some use a block plane, but I love maple, and it is hard as heck...

Permalink Reply by T-Gripped on May 14, 2018 at 2:29am

No rules. I typically glue on the wings flush with the bottom side of the headstock, so minimal sanding is needed on the hard-to-access side. When the glue is dry I plane down the wings on the top side until I reach the thickness of the headstock, and then the entire 'headstock-with-wings' until I get the thickness I need.

Permalink Reply by Doug "Nomad" Farish on May 14, 2018 at 2:42am

That answered My question about the wings.I will plan on hat on my next build.

Permalink Reply by 3qt17g550yh6r on May 14, 2018 at 9:09am

Oh wow I am usually  just scarf a thinner piece of wood that is wide enough to make my headstock without wings. Then again if you drink a red bull......

Permalink Reply by Doug "Nomad" Farish on May 14, 2018 at 9:17am

I would love to do just but I do not have the proper tools to do that. I messed up a great price of popler trying to.