Learning how to build an electric guitar

[lumberjim]

Why not. Some guitars have F holes

[xoxoxoBruce]

Jim's lift & separate line.

[lumberjim]

Fret board radiusing jig. It's for putting the rounded surface on the fret board. With LC001, I cheated and bought a pre radiused and slotted fret board. I have one like it still, but I want to be able to do it myself. I saw this jig on a luthier bookface group. There are other ways to skin this cat, but I liked this one because it's logical, and it can be used to make a compound radius. I made a couple improvements, too.



There are (will soon be) holes at 9.5", 10", 12", 14", 16" and 18" from the red line. That red line represents where the tip of the router bit needs to be aligned. At top center, it should just touch a 1/4" thick fret board. As the board rocks side to side, the bit will cut into the board, creating that curve.

The rocker board has aluminum strips on the sides with corresponding holes (allowing for the 1/4" thickness of the fret board). If I want a compound radius, I just put the pin in different holes. Like 9.5" at the nut and 16" at the heel. That will cause the arc to flatten out as the router works its way down. I'll attach the fret board with superglue and masking tape.

With the exception of the plywood rocker board, I used that slippery white plastic Azec 'wood' to build this. I like working with that stuff. It's straight and even and you can shape it.... makes good jigs because it won't warp in weather or rot.

You can see how I mounted the router. I centered it, then traced around it on the sled. then I cut two blocks and traced the same arc on them, cut them with the band saw and mounted them to the sled to keep the router in the right place. the pin keeps it from lifting up. This arrangement makes it super quick mounting the router to the sled. The sled has wheels on both sides to keep it moving along the rails evenly.

i also installed leveling feet so I know the work will be flat. I've got a couple little plastic levels that I'll mount once I get to using it and can identify a place where they won't be in the way.

[lumberjim]

Improvements :

Handles on the rocker board



The aluminum edges make the holes more precise


Leveling feet

[glatt]

Looks like you are tooling up for a big production run.

[xoxoxoBruce]

I guess you've given up on your jackknife and a steady hand.
So you move the router less than the diameter of the cutter then rock the board, or rock the board a little and move the router the length of the neck?
Kind of like rubbing your belly while you pat your head.
You're counting on the weight of the router/assembly, plus light cuts, to keep it from lifting up?
Looks like a good setup for reliable repetition.

[lumberjim]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

I guess you've given up on your jackknife and a steady hand.
So you move the router less than the diameter of the cutter then rock the board, or rock the board a little and move the router the length of the neck?
Kind of like rubbing your belly while you pat your head.
You're counting on the weight of the router/assembly, plus light cuts, to keep it from lifting up?
Looks like a good setup for reliable repetition.

the first thing you said.


here's where I got the idea.


You start at one end, advance the router 1/4" (less than half of the router bit) and zip...nudge it forward, zap, nudge, zip, nudge zap.
back and forth down the board. Guy says it takes 2-3 minutes to do a board.

[Gravdigr]

...and Bob's yer uncle.

[xoxoxoBruce]

You could do the same thing with a CNC mill....





... for half a million bucks.
Bery cleber dees Amelicuns.

[lumberjim]

I think they've come down a bit. Pete has a couple. He's offered to do stuff like this and neck profiles for me, and I may take him up some day, but I want to be able to do all the things. And do them well.

There is a divide between luthiers, and the cnc machine is the most common symbol of that dichotomy. The cnc represents the impersonal but perfect result, and the chisel represents the imperfect, but unique result.

I suppose I lean toward the latter. But I'm not staunch by any means. I think you can find artistic expression using a cnc, and I think you can achieve a perfect result with hand tools and time.

[xoxoxoBruce]

For industry, or even businesses, a CNC will turn out usable parts quickly with minimum waste, however it's far from hand crafting.
Only the guy who programs the machine has a clue, and only the designer understands the whys.
The title is "Learning how to build an electric guitar" and that's what you've done and continue doing.
You're also learning how to do it faster, and how to more quickly get exactly what you want from the different materials.
So unless you cut a deal supplying a new guitar with each new Nissan, you're doing great the way you're going.
Rock on!

[Griff]

I think you found the right camp Jim.

[lumberjim]

It would be cool to have a cnc and to know the magic. There are a few things I would be able to make for myself instead of buying. Like pick guards, or inlay dots, or knobs.... But I'm not intending to mass produce guitars.

I do need to get my ass moving on the next two though. I've been dicking around with this and that while I think about them, and it's past time to make some sawdust.

[xoxoxoBruce]

Stand back folks, please don't crowd for your own safety, he's got the fever.

[Gravdigr]

Count your fingers before and after the tour.