Explorer #2 build thread

[failsafe]

I started this build late last year (2018), but it just got too cold in the garage, so I put the project on hold until this weekend. I got as far as cutting out the body, and routing out the pickup, neck mortise, and control cavity before hanging up the project for the winter.

The body and neck are sapele. The fretboard is ebony. I’ll also be doing th headstock veneer and control cavity cover in ebony as well.

 

[failsafe]

This weekend, I started working on the neck. First thing I did was to make a jig to cut the headstock angle. Also, the neck blank I chose was not thick enough to do a one piece neck, so I had to do a scarf joint.


Today, I made a rough cutout on the neck profile. I’ll let it sit for a few days to relieve any tension before I true it up again and get it closer to final size.

 

[LiveOVErdrive]

Beautiful clean work. God I love Explorer builds

 

[Randy]

Tablesaw scarf jig is best scarf jig

 

[Dumple Stilzkin]

Can I ask why you used sapele? No objections here, just curious as it's not too common. Looks nice and surgical so far.

 

[TedEH]

I see explorers, I click like.

 

[Defyantly]

Love the explorer body shape! Do you plan on using the same veneer on the body as you do on the headstock?

 

[failsafe]

Can I ask why you used sapele? No objections here, just curious as it's not too common. Looks nice and surgical so far.

I was originally going for mahogany, but I found this nice big plank of 8/4 quarter sawn sapele and said “THATS what I want!” Used the same piece for body and neck. It’s gonna be heavy as hell though.

Love the explorer body shape! Do you plan on using the same veneer on the body as you do on the headstock?

I’m just doing a natural finish on the body and neck.

 

[failsafe]

I made a little bit of progress this weekend. I made a cross cut sled to use with my new Stewmac fret table saw blade.

I also thickness planed my ebony fretboard blank closer to my final thickess of .20”. I like the thinner fretboard of my PRS, which is .20” on the center of the board. I believe most Gibson’s have 1/4” boards.

 

[failsafe]

I got the truss rod installed this weekend. I used a 2-way rod from LMII. I recessed the truss rod 1/16” to one for a maple filler strip.

 

[Defyantly]

Clean work man! Did you plane that filler strip all the way down? That's alot of shavings.

 

[electriceye]

What’s the thought process behind doing the truss that way? Just curious.

 

[dmlinger]

Looks awesome! Also curious about the truss rod. My fear would be that the 1/16 maple would come unglued once you put a turn on the truss rod.

 

[failsafe]

Clean work man! Did you plane that filler strip all the way down? That's alot of shavings.

Haha no, I cut most of that away with the bandsaw. I just finished the last 1/8” or so with the plane.

What’s the thought process behind doing the truss that way? Just curious.

It’s to keep some tension on the square rod, to keep it from potentially rattling. I didn’t use a strip on my first build, and for a week or two, until the neck sort of settled into a position where I could put some tension on the truss rod, it rattled.

 

[LiveOVErdrive]

The fillet will be sandwiched between the truss rod and the fretboard, so it isn't going anywhere.

A lot of builders do this. I'm not sure what the advantage is though. Maybe it comes out cleaner?

EDIT: that explains it. Very cool.

 

[electriceye]

The fillet will be sandwiched between the truss rod and the fretboard, so it isn't going anywhere.

A lot of builders do this. I'm not sure what the advantage is though. Maybe it comes out cleaner?

EDIT: that explains it. Very cool.

It makes sense when used with a single-action rod, like the old Gibsons and such used, where you had a slightly curved channel and you HAVE to use a filet. But for this, if the channel is the proper depth, there is enough pressure from the fretboard to keep it solidly in place. If there’s a rattle, then it’s loose.

But, hey, if it works, it works!

 

[M3CHK1LLA]

your doing great work man...keep it up

 

[eddiewarlock]

Sapele is a kick ass wood, but it's HEAVY!! i have in my plans to build a explorer, but i will use spanish cedar, much lighter

 

[failsafe]

Sapele is a kick ass wood, but it's HEAVY!! i have in my plans to build a explorer, but i will use spanish cedar, much lighter

Yeah, I worry that my back will regret doing the whole guitar is solid sapele.

 

[jwade]

Nah! Just get a nice 4” wide strap for it, you’ll be fine.