Red Special Build - PT09 Neck and fingerboard
Part 01 - Blockboard Sandwich - • Red Special build - PT01 - Blockboard sand...
Part 02 - CNC Body - • Red Special build - PT02 - CNC Body Cuts
Part 03 - CNC Neck - • Red Special build - PT03 - CNC Neck
Part 04 - Body Glue Up - • Red Special Build - PT04 - Body Glue Up
Part 05 - Router Bearing Repair - • Red Special Build - PT05 Repairs - Router ...
Part 06 - Applying Veneers - • Red Special Build - PT06 - Applying Veneers
Part 07 - Binding and Staining - • Red Special Build - PT07 - Binding and Stain
Part 08 - Veneer Sand Through Repair - • Red Special Build - PT08 Repair - Veneer S...
Part 09 - Neck and Fingerboard - • Red Special Build - PT09 Neck and fingerboard
Part 10 - Neck finishing - • Red Special Build - PT10 Neck Finishing
Part 11 - Frets - • Red Special Build - PT11 Frets
Part 12 - Assembly - • Red Special Build - PT12 Assembly
Part 13 - Demo - • Red Special Build - PT13 Demo
: : : Neck and Fingerboard : : :
After staring at my neck for months and months while I worked on the body, I decided to recut a new neck from a nicer piece of wood than the one seen in Part 03. It paid off. After the neck was cut, sanded and slightly modified, I installed the truss rod, glued in the fillet strip to cover it, and got to applying my fingerboard. (Which was cut, rough radiused and slotted with CNC but not filmed)
My method for the glue up was to install two small indexing pins into the neck to locate/center the fret board and also stop it from sliding around. Then, I applied a light to slightly-more-than-light slathering of Titebond glue to the surface and used hand clamps and large rubber bands to apply as much even pressure as I could manage.
The result was pretty decent. It was slightly better on my tester neck, but nothing I can't work around. A few small bubbles/gaps in the glue line and I nicked the mahogany once or twice while I was scraping it flush. All in all, a result.. after months of inactivity.
Also, while poring over photos of the original, I spied another chance to add a little flourish and possibly some extra authenticity to the neck build... just for some needless, extra complication.
Big thanks to Doug Short for our seemingly unending collaboration on this build. Check out his build and lots more info here: dsgb.net
Music: "Commercial 1.0" by Smokescreen. (My old band)