Making
the neck is one of the more demanding parts of work on the guitar before
assembly. Once the blank of wood is trued up the pattern of the neck is
drawn on the wood. The rough shape is cut out on a bandsaw. At that point
I use the metal working machine shown here to create very straight and accurate
flat surfaces. In this photo the back of the headstock is being machined
flat and parallel.
Now
the back of the neck is machined. The top surface was completed in the blank
stage of the process. The neck is only cut close to the final thickness.
The final thickness and shape is completed after the guitar is assembled
and the fretboard is in place. All of that work is done completely by hand.
Once
the key surfaces are flat and true the layout of the tapers and curves
can take place. Here you can see the templet for the headstock and the
graphite rod that will be inlayed into the neck. The rod provides strength
and sonic qualities to the neck. The tap tone of the neck is increased
by one full octave with the rod thus improving the treble response, sustain
and the over all sound transmission of the neck. The rod is used in in
guitar models.
The
tool is changed to cut the slot for the graphite rod. The slot is cut
down the center line of the neck and just deep enough for the rod to fit
flush with the top surface of the neck. Any model of guitar can have an
additional piece of rosewood inlayed to show on the back of the neck.
This is a more traditional look but is mostly aesthetics with the carbon
fiber rod providing the strength..
Back
to the milling tool to cut the bevels on the heal that will end up inside
the guitar body. You can see the slot cut for the graphite rod. The rest
of the work on the heal is all done by hand.
Drilling
the holes for the tuning machines is done with a very accurate fixture to
ensure the proper fit and smooth function of the machines. In this photo
you can see the outside shape of the headstock has been cut out and the
marking for the string slots is on tape. The edges of the neck have also
been completed on the milling machine. The fixture for boring the tuning
machine holes is resting on the neck.