Comment

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 12, 2017 at 8:05am

Best of fortunes with the shop, Gary! That would be exciting. Hopefully people would get behind it with you and there will be a market for it where you live. Thanks again for the comments. I've been enjoying chatting with you like this. Have a great rest of the day. :)

Comment by Gary W aka Rev. Bluejeans on March 12, 2017 at 7:38am

Dani&Bear, I do like using hand tools, too.  All my first builds were done by hand, including the same sort of headstock thinning you show here.  I did use a power drill (hand drill) for holes for tuners, etc.; a 1" belt sander for neck shaping (along with hand rasps), and occasionally a little scroll saw for some sound-hole work.  But I also used a jeweler's type fret saw for some of the sound holes, too.  Just easier.  I did add a spokeshave to my toolbox for shaping the backs of the necks, and I love it!  I think it's the perfect tool for the job.  A shop  opened up near my office, offering access to power tools and space for a very reasonable monthly charge.  I took advantage of it, and used their planer, bandsaw, table saw, drill press, routers, etc.  Kind of spoiled me, but alas it was too good of a deal to last, and they had to shut down.  I'm looking at the possibility of my own shop, for hobby stuff like CBG's.  That may be a few months down the road.  In the meantime, any work will go back to being done by hand! 

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 11, 2017 at 11:20am

That looks fantastic though, Gary. I've never built a solid body and wouldn't know where to start getting the electrics in but you've obviously nailed it. With the scarf joint I'm sure I could learn how but all I can ever think is that, surely, by cutting it in half to stick it back on is always going to be weaker than one piece isn't it? I don't understand how it works or see that it should work because of ...... so I'm happy with the method I'm using for now.

Love your skinnying up the neck idea. I do most of my work with hand saws and only use an electric drill for power tools. Not because I think it's better or anything but I get noise sensitive with power tools and, truth be told, they scare me half to death lol. I did have a bandsaw but sold it soon after buying it. Thankfully I bought second hand and didn't loose anything on it. Made me decide it's hand tools from here on for me.

Thanks again for the comment. I enjoyed seeing your skinnying method too. Have a good evening. :)

Comment by Gary W aka Rev. Bluejeans on March 11, 2017 at 11:07am

Many of mine have used this same technique.  Works well!   I have made a few with the slanted headstock using a scarf joint.  I think it's best done with power tools, but it's not an absolute necessity.  One of my favorite ways now uses a 2x2 (1.5" x 1.5") that I taper cut to skinny up the neck near the headstock, and also angle the headstock down from the neck.  Again, best with a band saw or equivalent.  I think that method is also better suited to solid bodies than true CBG's, as the neck gets pretty thick (1.5") where it goes thru the body.  Like this:

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 11, 2017 at 8:26am

Thanks, Gary. I've never done a slanted headstock with a sloping joint (not even sure what they're called) so this method serves me well.

Comment by Gary W aka Rev. Bluejeans on March 11, 2017 at 8:22am

I'm familiar with this technique, as well!  Good job!

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 11, 2017 at 2:56am

Ready for chiselling. Really enjoying working with this sapele.