scherzo1928
has wood for you
holy crap, that's hot!
8-string. ergonomic. headless. fanned fret. phase 1::design
- Thread starter helferlain
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helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
The wood has arrived, looks exactly as on the picture.
More pictures follow as soon as I start to work on this wood.
In the meantime I'm still working on the templates for the neck. I'm crating a full scale template also, not only the neck part. This allows me to set the single bridges in position very exactly without touching my precious wood. It seems that next week I have finally some time for some bigger steps on this guitar.
Since I've started preparing this build I'm thinking about a absolutly simplyfied string retaining system that looks cool yet ist easy to create.
This is what I got so far: Warning! This is only a quick and dirty test with some waste parts which I found in my shop. The real thing will look more sophisticated. But you get the idea, I think.
Two simple srews, pins or whatever you want. The string is looped around the scrwes in an 8-shape. 2 turns are enough to hold the strings. I was really impressed by the sustain during the test.
On the second picture you can see a little hole. That was drilled to hide the sharp end of a cutted string. That leaves some grip on the string to detach it and use it again.
We will see how this system wil be integrated in the build...
Stay tuned!
More pictures follow as soon as I start to work on this wood.
In the meantime I'm still working on the templates for the neck. I'm crating a full scale template also, not only the neck part. This allows me to set the single bridges in position very exactly without touching my precious wood. It seems that next week I have finally some time for some bigger steps on this guitar.
Since I've started preparing this build I'm thinking about a absolutly simplyfied string retaining system that looks cool yet ist easy to create.
This is what I got so far: Warning! This is only a quick and dirty test with some waste parts which I found in my shop. The real thing will look more sophisticated. But you get the idea, I think.
Two simple srews, pins or whatever you want. The string is looped around the scrwes in an 8-shape. 2 turns are enough to hold the strings. I was really impressed by the sustain during the test.
On the second picture you can see a little hole. That was drilled to hide the sharp end of a cutted string. That leaves some grip on the string to detach it and use it again.
We will see how this system wil be integrated in the build...
Stay tuned!
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
When I started to work on the alder body my cheap router died 
. I've ordered a new router already, this time I spend a bit more money for quality.
Without a working router I started some more silent work. The fretboard was measured, marked and the frets were cut...
Stay tuned!
. I've ordered a new router already, this time I spend a bit more money for quality.Without a working router I started some more silent work. The fretboard was measured, marked and the frets were cut...
Stay tuned!
ivancic1al
Probrem?
Looking great so far! 
Can't wait for updates. I'm loving the design.
Can't wait for updates. I'm loving the design.
capone1
ss.org-erererererer
I'm usually not a fan of headless guitars but ever since Chris Letchford's I'm kinda in love.
SOOOOOO anyway I'm excited for more pics
SOOOOOO anyway I'm excited for more pics
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
Before I start sanding the Fretboard I have some ideas:
This is how you sand a fretboard, using a sanding jig with a sanding block. Please note the centered fretboard:
What happens if one edge of the fretboard is aligned parallel to the jig like this:
And what if I use a shim:
Could this be a possibility to create some kind of "semi-compound radius"
I'd like to achieve a more even string high on the bridge. That design makes the low edge of the fretboard is a bit thinner then the high edge. Does it m ake any sense?
This is how you sand a fretboard, using a sanding jig with a sanding block. Please note the centered fretboard:
What happens if one edge of the fretboard is aligned parallel to the jig like this:
And what if I use a shim:
Could this be a possibility to create some kind of "semi-compound radius"
I'd like to achieve a more even string high on the bridge. That design makes the low edge of the fretboard is a bit thinner then the high edge. Does it m ake any sense?
scherzo1928
has wood for you
GAH, tiped a long ass answer, and I.E. crashed.
I'll make it brief this time. I don't recomend doing it like this:
Just looking at the center line, the bridge side will end up taller than the nut side. Then on the bass side, the bridge side will be lower than the nut, AND on the treble side it will all be level. This will fuck your action up really bad.
About this one:
I'm sure it's done regularly. You still end up with the same radius as the block, but you can make one side of the board taller. You could for example do it the other way around (sand more on the higher strings) which could make it quite more comfortable for your wrist.
oh, forgot to add IMO.
I'll make it brief this time. I don't recomend doing it like this:
Just looking at the center line, the bridge side will end up taller than the nut side. Then on the bass side, the bridge side will be lower than the nut, AND on the treble side it will all be level. This will fuck your action up really bad.
About this one:
I'm sure it's done regularly. You still end up with the same radius as the block, but you can make one side of the board taller. You could for example do it the other way around (sand more on the higher strings) which could make it quite more comfortable for your wrist.
oh, forgot to add IMO.
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
Hi,
phase 2 :: woodworking has started after finishing the templates. Wasn't there a way to edit my thread title...?
The body is cut out roughly. I left some material that makes it easy to fix the routing template for the neck pocket. Forgot to take some pix...
For the neck I used the template to drill two small holes. Using some small wooden pins I can attach the fretboard to the neck in a fixed position an remove it.
Then I set the position for the string retainig pins / screws on the fretboard.
All the marking is done with a razor blade knive. Using some chalk it becomes visible.
After the drilling I can now align the trussrods between the holes on the head end of the neck
Routing the trussrod canal took me a while but ist done now with some small but (at the end) invisible mistakes. The trussrods are installe with a bit of silicone. Hope that prevents it from flapping inside the neck in the future.
Thats all for today.
Next steps:
- fretboard inlays / sidedots of aluminium
- glueing the fretboard
- sanding the fretboard radius (going the standatd way, dropping my previous idea)
- fretting the frets
- installing the guitar bridges, testing the mulstiscale of correct intonation
later:
- shaping, finishing
- pickups, electrics,...
phase 2 :: woodworking has started after finishing the templates. Wasn't there a way to edit my thread title...?
The body is cut out roughly. I left some material that makes it easy to fix the routing template for the neck pocket. Forgot to take some pix...
For the neck I used the template to drill two small holes. Using some small wooden pins I can attach the fretboard to the neck in a fixed position an remove it.
Then I set the position for the string retainig pins / screws on the fretboard.
All the marking is done with a razor blade knive. Using some chalk it becomes visible.
After the drilling I can now align the trussrods between the holes on the head end of the neck
Routing the trussrod canal took me a while but ist done now with some small but (at the end) invisible mistakes. The trussrods are installe with a bit of silicone. Hope that prevents it from flapping inside the neck in the future.
Thats all for today.
Next steps:
- fretboard inlays / sidedots of aluminium
- glueing the fretboard
- sanding the fretboard radius (going the standatd way, dropping my previous idea)
- fretting the frets
- installing the guitar bridges, testing the mulstiscale of correct intonation
later:
- shaping, finishing
- pickups, electrics,...
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
progress :: aluminium inlays are glued, fretboard radius is sanded
Khaine88
SS.org's Welsh Guy>
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Holy Christ this build is incredible! cant wait to see more :O
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
Neck and fretboard are glued. Neck shaping is done so far. Now it's time to say goodbye: rest in pieces!
Using a single bridge tuner from the old guitar I've done a quick intonation test. Successs!
The simple string retainer works fine:
No damage on the string after removing. This is a .074 string tuned to low E on a 80cm / 31,5" scale. Sounds promising!
Just a quick shot in the sun. Front and backside:
Some light metal work out of massive aluminium:
( d s = my initials )
Integrated:
Weight of the body and the neck in this stage: 3,4 Kg.
Stay tuned
Using a single bridge tuner from the old guitar I've done a quick intonation test. Successs!
The simple string retainer works fine:
No damage on the string after removing. This is a .074 string tuned to low E on a 80cm / 31,5" scale. Sounds promising!
Just a quick shot in the sun. Front and backside:
Some light metal work out of massive aluminium:
( d s = my initials )
Integrated:
Weight of the body and the neck in this stage: 3,4 Kg.
Stay tuned
scherzo1928
has wood for you
Love the way the flames on the board go against the frets!
Great job man!
Great job man!
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
Just a quick idea of the 3 pieces pickguard:
The position of the controls is only a sketch.
I realy like the part of shaping the body. But i hate the sanding...
The position of the controls is only a sketch.
I realy like the part of shaping the body. But i hate the sanding...
Hell. Yes. This looks awesome.
asher
So Did We
Just a quick idea of the 3 pieces pickguard:
The position of the controls is only a sketch.
I realy like the part of shaping the body. But i hate the sanding...
That looks sick. Make it so!
helferlain
D.I.Y. autodidact
I had the chance to chrome-plate my d.i.y. string retainers. They are made out of normal M3 screws.
some filing:
after chrome-plating:
The neck is fretted now and the string retainers are mounted. I had some issues with the splintering ebony but most of it is fixed now with CA and ebony sanding dust. No pics of that mess...
At the moment the neck and the body got the first layer of primer. Looks like painting at the weekend....
some filing:
after chrome-plating:
The neck is fretted now and the string retainers are mounted. I had some issues with the splintering ebony but most of it is fixed now with CA and ebony sanding dust. No pics of that mess...
At the moment the neck and the body got the first layer of primer. Looks like painting at the weekend....
scherzo1928
has wood for you
This is moving pretty fast!
sage
twerk twerk thall
Was it difficult seating the frets against the radius with the fan? I had heard that it could be problematic and I'm interested to hear your experience with it.
Thanks.
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