Yet another new guy, first.half build

[Brian Moum]

Been lurking here for a few days, thought I'd actually introduce myself - and say that you guys are much better builders than I am....

I built this FrankenStrat waaay back when in high school (mid 80s) with a used neck I found. Body is birch, DiMarzio humbuckers with a Kahler trem. I've reworked the bridge and electronics a few times over the years.

After finishing some other woodworking projects, got a bug to build another guitar - then did some research reading and redirected. The original neck on this was (I believe) an old Fender - 21 fret, 7.5" radius. After playing for a few years, I wanted a 24 fret. So my December project: build a new neck.

The blank was a piece of curly maple I had, bought fret wire and a slotted board from StewMac. The combined sequence below is the original guitar, old neck as a template, rough shaping, truss rod in, a leap to done with inlay and fretwork (got carried away and didn't shoot anything in progress), finish going on, reinstalled. Neck finish is Tru-oil, the body is ancient polyurethane.

Played it for a while and since pulled it again to do more shaping on the back as it felt a bit thick. May end up pulling some frets to sand more relief into it, still tweaking the action. Then finally have to reinstall the string lock.

It has been an interesting learning experience, and I still have more to glean about fretwork and fingerboard prep. Then decide what is next....perhaps a manolin since I already have four guitars....

Apologize for photo size. Need to figure out how to force height/width in BBCode.

[Pete Halliday]

Welcome and congratulations on your neck build. But I do want to correct something in your post. "I already have four guitars" should read "I only have four guitars!"

[Markku Nyytäjä]

You're right. Pete. One cannot build or have too many guitars. You may have an apartment too small for all the guitars, but there are never too many of them.

Brian, that neck looks just fine. I love making necks, it's actually my favourite part of making instruments.

[Brian Moum]

One cannot build or have too many guitars.

You guys are absolutely no help. Especially since I like the laminated look that Eric Baack did on his second one...and I've got some piles of contrasting hardwood under the bench....

[Eric Baack]

Taking flatsawn pieces and laminating them like that makes for a STRONG neck

[Mike Koss]

You're right. Pete. One cannot build or have too many guitars. You may have an apartment too small for all the guitars, but there are never too many of them.

Brian, that neck looks just fine. I love making necks, it's actually my favourite part of making instruments.

I find that string swings allow the addition of many many guitars... enough to make any apartment look like a miniature guitar center Nice work