Pain in the custom neck

[fleabag]

Before @Andyjr1515 has a chance to slither out of his rocking chair spilling Werthers Originals all over his lino and start this thread, i thought  i'd jump the gun a smidge and save the ol' fella some time.  He can even guzzle his  Ovaltine in peace.

 

The doddery woodcrafter extraordinaire is going to build me a custom neck. Starting with some type of Maple , a Richlite diamond fingerboard, Ebony headstock plate,  22 EVO gold frets, 34" scale , zero fret, Tusq nut, etc.

 

The  wizard will be along shortly.  No offence Andrew.      We're pretty much a similar age, and i already drink Ovaltine

 

Watch this space at your peril.

Edited March 17, 2022 by fleabag

[fleabag]

Oh and the Northwest Gits  Jazz body ( gloss black, poly varnished ) will be re-routed to fit these bad boys.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[AndyTravis]

If “Mec” is actually on the covers I’ll be so happy

[fleabag]

They are the covers, so yes MEC is on there

 

 

[Richard R]

So, the $64,000 question:

Do you get swifts if you only have the neck made? I mean, it won't be a full @Andyjr1515 guitar, so the swifts would be misleading. Maybe you get one? Or a couple of pigeons?

 

Anyway, the neck will be fab and the pickups are very shiny, so this should be good. 👍 

[fleabag]

No swifts, because i'm having the same Andy  ( AJR ) decal for the headstock that Andy arranged for me when he built my single cut Nemesis

 

The logo/decal is looking a bit tatty now, as i'm not exactly  pristine with my basses. It will look even more at home on a  black headstock

 

And yes, it will be just as awesome.  Andy is not spraying the neck, so the logo wont appear on the neck in this thread

 

 

 

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by fleabag

[Richard R]

Very cool!

[Andyjr1515]

Hmm...what?   Who?   Gosh it's early.   

 

And what are you all doing in my bathroom? 

 

What time?  8:46??  Gosh it's late.  Must be time for a nap...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Andyjr1515]

OK - 20 minutes before the next nap.

 

So...yes.  Maple neck with a Richlite fretboard.  First time I've used this material so should be (is already) interesting.

 

The project started with a bag of bits from @fleabag, including the Richlite blank, truss rod, nut blank and a set of EVO gold frets.

 

First job, after clarifying the spec (which we repeat a few times a day on account of my age - "Have you switched the kettle off? Have you switched the kettle off??  I SAID HAVE YOU SWITCHED THE KETTLE OFF!!!???" - was to be radiusing the board to the requested 20" (I checked a few times).

 

And here was the first challenge.  I use an industrial-quality double-sided tape when I'm routing to hold the blank to the jig.  This stuff would hold insulation tiles onto the Space Shuttle very happily...but not Richlite...

 

I then tried the old trick of two sides of masking tape held with CA glue...nah!

 

In the end - I had to SCREW it to the jig!  Hmmm...this is going to be fun 

 

 

 

I use the excellent G&W jig. 

 

 

The Richlite routed, well...just like ebony.  10 minutes or so of final sanding with a radius block to remove the router lines.  It sands like, well...just like ebony :

 

And it was done.  And it looks, well...just like ebony.  Except, of course, you can no longer get jet-black ebony due to sustainability measures :

 

Next job, still ongoing, was cutting the fret slots.  But I see it's already Horlicks time. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Andyjr1515

[fleabag]

Nice work Andy. 

 

Andy ?   Andy !

 

Dear cliff, he's already asleep

[Richard R]

Never heard of Richlite. If nothing sticks to it, does that mean it's also incredibly smooth? I'm imaging playing with a fingerboard like teflon would be "interesting".

[fleabag]

It's not like teflon, but feels like smooth ebony, so it has a texture as such.  It's incredibly uniform in finish. The jet black diamond is lovely

 

 

Some info.. these are resellers

 

https://shop.surfacematter.co.uk/collections/richlite/products/richlite-bass-fretboard-blanks

 

And some interesting multi colour fretboards, though probably for 6 string guitar boards

 

https://shop.surfacematter.co.uk/collections/richlite/products/richlite-multicolour-guitar-fretboard-blanks?variant=33005897220184

 

 

Richlite webby..

 

https://richlite.co.uk/

Edited March 17, 2022 by fleabag

[Andyjr1515]

And onto fret cutting.

 

And here we have the same issue.  I use the G&W fretting mitre block.  The blank sticks to a metal notched template...you guessed it...with industrial quality double sided tape.  Usually, I would use one inch strip at either end and one in the middle.  Here I have two lengths of it all the way down the board. 

 

And I can still easily move the board from side to side!  So I am going to use the tape simply to stop the board from creeping forwards and backwards and, to stop it moving with the saw cuts, I've cut some wooden wedges that I can fit in the gap between the board and the jig sides and remove them and replace them for each fret progression, and use a sturdy bench clamp to ensure that the board cannot move, however much pull is on the saw:

Edited March 17, 2022 by Andyjr1515

[Andyjr1515]

And so - how is Richlite going to behave in fret cutting compared with ebony:

- Well, it's tough stuff.  I reckon I might need a new tenon saw when I've done all 22 frets plus zero slots

- It is very hard work...even in my prime, I don't think I could slot one in a single session.  Then again, I would say the same for ebony.

- But ebony grabs the blade, and early on.  Richlite still grabs the blade, but much later on.  Nevertheless - you can see the workbench.  It is VERY heavy.  And the jig is screwed to it. And the bench has moved an inch away from the wall after a dozen frets

- Nice clean slots, though and no chipping!

 

 

And so, 15 slots done, 8 to go:

 

Time for another break.  Besides, the local village Defibrillation Team have told me either to get rid of the smart watch or give up woodworking.

 

 

  

 

[fleabag]

Strange stuff innit ?  Hard as Bruce Lee.

 

Another Horlicks and a power nap, you'll be right as rain Andy 

 

[Andyjr1515]

In the end, I agreed a compromise with the Defibrillator Team.  They agreed to standby ready as long as they could do that watching Sky Sports in our front room.  Bargain!

 

[pete.young]

You're going to need a 4lb lump hammer to put the frets in!

[Andyjr1515]

10 minutes ago, pete.young said:

You're going to need a 4lb lump hammer to put the frets in!

That joy is yet to come.  And much too soon, I suspect 

[bartelby]

I imagine that stuff would make a nice fretless board?

[fleabag]

Indeed it would be ideal, and it's cheap as chips, and saves Ebony.

Edited March 17, 2022 by fleabag

[Richard R]

4 hours ago, pete.young said:

You're going to need a 4lb lump hammer to put the frets in!

It says on the web site that the fret slots might need to be wider as the material is harder than wood. 

[Richard R]

4 hours ago, Andyjr1515 said:

In the end, I agreed a compromise with the Defibrillator Team.  They agreed to standby ready as long as they could do that watching Sky Sports in our front room. 

 

Splutters coffee everywhere!

[fleabag]

39 minutes ago, Richard R said:

It says on the web site that the fret slots might need to be wider as the material is harder than wood. 

 

I sent Andy all the info before he started, so he'll be well aware.  Have faith, he knows what he's doing despite his Ovaltine/Horlicks induced comas 

 

[Andyjr1515]

27 minutes ago, fleabag said:

I sent Andy all the info before he started, so he'll be well aware.  Have faith, he knows what he's doing

Well, part of this is right.  @fleabag did send me the gen and so I am aware. 

[fleabag]

6 minutes ago, Andyjr1515 said:

 I am aware. 

 

Sort of.