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First hello and a first build messup!!!!!

Hello ya'll,
First let me thank all of yall for all the great information you hand out on this site! Props to all of ya!!!

Now for the messup part, lol
I got my box and decided to use some old oak I got from an old couch.
started reading on here and said I can do it!
so I started by cutting my box, I messed up there a lil to by making my neck recess the size of the box all the way across. but I can live with that one!
Now this is where yall will star laughin !
I sanded my neck down nice and smooth, then I layed out my fret marks, Then I drilled 1/4" holes at my position marks and inlaid some 1/4' dowels for my markers then I got on cbg nation and seen sumthin bout a scarf joint, started watching videos by jimfrets on the how tos and got plans for a table saw jig from dulceattic.
Now I am all fired up bout doing this scaf joint...
Build a jig did sum test cuts and all was well, they fit pretty good... I like it . this thing gonna look like a real neck... emm yeah sumthin goto go wrong...well it did!
Bring back into your minds that neck I so lovingly sanded on till it was straight.
And put it in the scarf joint jig and I think I will be plaing this thing on Sunday....make that scarf cut oh yeah I likes it!!!!!
Bam , hit in the fore head by a brick of discouragement, It's backwards, the dang angle is backwards!!!!!
well from now on I will scarf my neck blank befor I do any thing else!!!

(Insert important question here.)
But do yall think I could glue me sum oak back into the box top cut out then redo that cut on the oposit side and still make this thing howell the blues?

Thanx for all the input and tips!
Jimbo in BAMA

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Permalink Reply by Mortimer Snerd on September 13, 2009 at 6:31am

Reminds me of all the drywall board I cut wrong once.
Everything,,, is fixable. But if your going for looks and quality, do over. But we are not talking flawless quality here, so go to work fixing your mistakes, thats what glue and clamps are for. We all have done some bloopers on builds. Keep plenty of shim stock handy.

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Permalink Reply by Tres Seaver on September 13, 2009 at 6:55am

You are making it for yourself, right? I'd say fix it: It might end up with a unique look or sound that you really appreciate.

I just added a new fretboard to the neck I screwed up for a friend's birthday gift: after trying to fix it twice, I ended up shredding the (poplar) fingerboard, and redoing it in oak (I fretted it *before* gluing to the neck this time!).

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on September 13, 2009 at 7:54am

I've done that! But it was only after I had cut the notches for the box lid clearance - no fingerboard yet. I re-monkeyed the notch and put on a nice, sturdy heel piece that ran the full length of the box.

Fix 'er up and string 'er up, it will be great! Won't the owie be under the box lid anyway?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 13, 2009 at 9:47am

Go fer it. first builds are for that. I completely screwed up my first scarfed headstock so I feel your pain.

Measure twice. If in doubt, prototype with something else. Try a prototype with a piece of furring strip or old 2x4.

Good luck and better luck next time.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 13, 2009 at 10:04am

You did not do anything that many of the rest of have done. I get ahead of myself all the time, then pay the price for it. Do whatever you have to and see how it turns out. Ugly guitars can play just fine too!! I have a frankenstein CBG that I do all my testing on. It has had quite a few modifications on it. Ugly as sin, but plays OK.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Becker on September 13, 2009 at 1:19pm

I'd say go ahead and try to fix it. I goofed up my one build and it ended up coming out better than I had planned. Sometimes the mistakes create happy accidents. Besides, what have you got to lose?

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on September 13, 2009 at 1:38pm

Heck, sounds like R&D to me. Shame for all that sanding to go to waste. Maybe you can just cut the whole head off at an angle and flip it over, maybe WAy over , like a lute?
Bruce

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Permalink Reply by BT Cohosh on September 14, 2009 at 2:21am

Fix it. On my first build I drilled my hole for the pickup plug at the wrong end of the box; filled the hole with wood putty and laughed at myself every time I saw it.

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Permalink Reply by L.J. on September 14, 2009 at 3:03am

I always say,stay away from fretts and scarf joints on the early builds. But if youre gonna do it anyways. have at it. Make it work another way. This aint got to be a calibrated perfect effort. esspecially youre first time.Im looking forward to the photos when youre done.