I recently made my first attempt at doing a custom body with a Jackson neck. Learned a lot from that experience and taking the next step to build a complete custom guitar. I've got most of the materials I need, and a rough outline of the process. I'm creating a template based off one of my existing 8 string guitars which is also multi-scale. The goal is to make my custom 7 play and sound as good as the 8.
I'm debating between set neck and a bolt on using tee nuts recessed under the fretboard. I'm leaning towards the glue in set neck since most of my guitars are of that type.
Specs:
7 string multi-scale (27"-25.5") - perpendicular fret will be around the 6th fret (.3 on FF2D)
Either bolt on or set neck
Body: Black Limba
Top: Buckeye Burl
Fretboard: Birdseye Maple (really debating between this or ebony)
Neck: Birdseye Maple
Bridge: Hipshot solo
Tuners: Hipshot open
Pickups: EMG 81-8x/85-8x or 81-8x/60-8x
Finish: combination of Tru-oil (neck) and wipe on poly for everything else
Here is the wood I've collected so far. I still need to order the hardware.
Couple questions:
Here is my rough outline of steps to try and get the order correct. I still have a few jigs I need to build so those are listed as well. I've found a lot of good info here on the forums on how to build these.
Body:
Finish top jig
Build jig for neck pocket
Build jig for top body carve
Rough cut top and body to similar shape
Attach body template
Determine electronic routing and route into body
Glue top to body
Rough cut on band saw to template
Use jig to route to exact shape
route out for pickups
Cut out electronic access on back - figure out how close to the top taper it will sit
Carve tummy cut
Taper top using jig/routing bits/files?
Line up neck template and route neck pocket
Drill for bridge pieces - center on center for correct intonation with nut - I've seen a few schools of thought on this, but planning to follow strings over the template center lines from nut to bridge.
Don't clear coat yet
Neck:
Build template to fit into body template
Build scarf joint template
Determine neck length by scale length from nut and to how close neck sits to neck pickup
Measure cut for scarf joint and cut 10 deg on radial saw? Test piece first
Glue scarf joint
Route for truss rod/reinforcement bars - truss rod nut faces down - silicone to prevent vibration
measure string alignment for tuning holes
Cut headstock on band saw to rough shape
If doing bolt on: recess tee nuts under fret board around the truss rod at correct points on the body
Glue on fret board
Slot the fretboard with extra width
Cut neck to exact width
Drill side inlays
Drill tuning holes
Cut/radius neck profile on back
Finish sanding neck and headstock
Radius the fret board
Press in frets/finish fret ends/polish
Wipe on Poly for headstock
Wait for oil or poly on the neck until finish blend sanding during assembly
Cut nut and attach
Assembly:
Mock up pieces above to make sure alignment is correct and correct action/tuning/intonation/neck angle
Blend the seam between neck heel and body by sanding
If set neck, glue in place
Seal the body, clear coat with wipe on poly over entire body/neck - either as 1 piece or separately if bolt on
![Headbang :hbang: :hbang:](http://www.sevenstring.org/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/hbang2.gif)
I'm debating between set neck and a bolt on using tee nuts recessed under the fretboard. I'm leaning towards the glue in set neck since most of my guitars are of that type.
Specs:
7 string multi-scale (27"-25.5") - perpendicular fret will be around the 6th fret (.3 on FF2D)
Either bolt on or set neck
Body: Black Limba
Top: Buckeye Burl
Fretboard: Birdseye Maple (really debating between this or ebony)
Neck: Birdseye Maple
Bridge: Hipshot solo
Tuners: Hipshot open
Pickups: EMG 81-8x/85-8x or 81-8x/60-8x
Finish: combination of Tru-oil (neck) and wipe on poly for everything else
Here is the wood I've collected so far. I still need to order the hardware.
![IMG_3961.jpg](http://www.kylerice.com/pictures/Guitar/IMG_3961.jpg)
Couple questions:
- Planning to build the body first, then neck, then on to assembly. Any particular order work better?
- For the top, I want to carve it down along the edges down to the base wood for a taper. I believe there are router bits at a 45 deg angle, or is just using a file the best way to achieve this?
- I'm still working on perfecting my finishing technique, for the neck I'm going to use Tru-oil, but for everything else I've decided on the clear gloss wipe-on poly. What would be best to use for a wood sealer underneath that?
- What is the preferred truss rod for a build like this? My plan is to use a spoke wheel in front of the neck pickup. The only parts I can seem to find are the Stew Mac hot rod which I'm worried will require too deep of a route to keep a thin neck.
Here is my rough outline of steps to try and get the order correct. I still have a few jigs I need to build so those are listed as well. I've found a lot of good info here on the forums on how to build these.
Body:
Finish top jig
Build jig for neck pocket
Build jig for top body carve
Rough cut top and body to similar shape
Attach body template
Determine electronic routing and route into body
Glue top to body
Rough cut on band saw to template
Use jig to route to exact shape
route out for pickups
Cut out electronic access on back - figure out how close to the top taper it will sit
Carve tummy cut
Taper top using jig/routing bits/files?
Line up neck template and route neck pocket
Drill for bridge pieces - center on center for correct intonation with nut - I've seen a few schools of thought on this, but planning to follow strings over the template center lines from nut to bridge.
Don't clear coat yet
Neck:
Build template to fit into body template
Build scarf joint template
Determine neck length by scale length from nut and to how close neck sits to neck pickup
Measure cut for scarf joint and cut 10 deg on radial saw? Test piece first
Glue scarf joint
Route for truss rod/reinforcement bars - truss rod nut faces down - silicone to prevent vibration
measure string alignment for tuning holes
Cut headstock on band saw to rough shape
If doing bolt on: recess tee nuts under fret board around the truss rod at correct points on the body
Glue on fret board
Slot the fretboard with extra width
Cut neck to exact width
Drill side inlays
Drill tuning holes
Cut/radius neck profile on back
Finish sanding neck and headstock
Radius the fret board
Press in frets/finish fret ends/polish
Wipe on Poly for headstock
Wait for oil or poly on the neck until finish blend sanding during assembly
Cut nut and attach
Assembly:
Mock up pieces above to make sure alignment is correct and correct action/tuning/intonation/neck angle
Blend the seam between neck heel and body by sanding
If set neck, glue in place
Seal the body, clear coat with wipe on poly over entire body/neck - either as 1 piece or separately if bolt on
![Headbang :hbang: :hbang:](http://www.sevenstring.org/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/hbang2.gif)