S906 prototype progress

Hello Mr. Tree. Nice to meet you... Have you met Mr. Bandsaw? This is a nice piece of flamed spalted Oregon big leaf maple that I got reasonable. If I saw it right I get 2 tops. So lets saw it right. The main trick is to setup the bandsaw right. I almost had it but the blade cupped a little and I lost 1/16" of the set. Still ended with 2 sets but one is only a 1/4" drop top instead of a 3/8" top I was shooting for. Oh well I will buy a better bandsaw one day until then the dumpster 14" will have to do. Oh yes the 14" Central Machines was saved from a dumpster... I ordered a new deck brace, riser, crank tensioner and it has done great things since being abandoned as scrap.



And this is what we ended up with. This is really only 2 sets I was just testing for the best configuration.



While the sapele body is waiting for its spalted top. I broke out the hand plane for this set because of the spongy spalt. I was afraid the jointer would destroy the soft stuff. Plus I recently read that Rick Toone has been using his hand planes for joints and has been enjoying the increased precision. Then I stick the top in the pipe clamps with a large aluminum plate to keep everything flat.



Top glued up and the set. I wanted to get a look at all the pieces together before moving on.



Top glued on.

You are a six string now... deal with it.

And a little later the headstock is shaped.



Shaped out the headstock. Originally there was no plan for a headstock plate but I think I might try one...




Always have to get a peak at the set.




Headstock plate picked out.


I guess the template fit. I am in the process of getting some laser templates cut but for now I have to do it the old fashion way.


Neck pocket routed. I really wanted to get the neck humbucker routed and set the neck but I started getting tired and that is when mistakes happen.




A few pictures of the top wet and the back. The back is very red.



Still have a lot to do but I like to finish the day with something in clamps... this is the headstock plate.

Still 7

Neck blank... neck blank profiled. It was wide enough to build an 8 string out of. Probably should have converted it but I planned on (meaning parts are ordered) a 7 so it stays a 7.


Shot of the scarf. And repairing a crack in the ziricote. Ziricote is very brittle and prone to cracking. I am used to it though...remember the SG.


The neck monster doing its job. This saves me so much work when shaping out the necks. Also makes it much easier to maintain a consistant thickness all the way down the neck. I don't taper my necks much anymore as I like them to be thin all the way to the heal.


Fretboard repaired and ready for gluing. A shot of the lonely body awaiting the neck. And every clamp in the shop.

Fire in the hole

Disaster on blank #1. Jointer got me. I was close and didn't feel like hand sanding so I tried one last pass... and BAM! --- tear-out. All is not lost... I will end up using it for something. I think I will test laminated fretboards and practice my binding skills on it.






On blank #2 I noticed a slight (1/32) irregularity (a twist) in the face of the neck blank. Probably occured when I cut the piece from the back as the wood released a bit. Anyway I do not have a really nice belt sander (on the list) so I had to true up the blanks. Stuck 80 grit to the face of the router table and trued up by hand. Only took a second.



Going with this fretboard because it matches the stripes in the neck better.


Tried these...but just didn't like any of them for this neck. They look better on the padauk and sapele necks.



Miscelaneous templates and blanks.


Trussrods siliconed in.


What a mess.