nedjelja, 12. siječnja 2014.

Types of wood for building your guitar

Making a guitar neck.

Types of wood  for  construction

Before choosing a piece of wood for the neck, it is necessary to know the dimensions of the neck to the type of guitar.

Here I describe the neck for  an electric guitar Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster.

Standard (a standard average) fender guitar neck length is about 70 cm.

For such a neck requires dry maple piece 750x140x45 mm
Thus, the length of 75 cm, a width of about 14 cm and a thickness of about 4 cm.
It would be good if the width and thickness of the "amplify" with 1 to 2 inches if possible.

Now I will explain the rules and laws that govern the calculation of the dimensions of the door and which depends on the number of fields and thresholds and the length scale (scale length).

What is the length scale?.

The scale on the guitar is the distance between the NUT's (above the keel of the neck), and the bridge, and horses (bridge).


The scale depends on the type of guitar, so a medium length 25.5 "(64.68 cm) for  rhythm guitar and about 28" (71.12 cm) for  bass guitar.
Depending on the number of thresholds on the guitar, this distance may be greater.

The length scale is divided into 2 parts , so half scale right between the keel and the 12 threshold , and the threshold to 12 horses (bridge ) .

If this principle is not respected , it will not be able to achieve the tone of the guitar.

For other neck sizes , data on the calculator can be found at this link :

Pressing on 12 field wires will intone an octave higher .
For the neck when we know the dimensions , make a template  of
plywood or a piece Thickness about 10 mm 


It is cut exactly to the size and shape of the neck.


With the template is transferred to the dimensions of the piece maple neck that we create . Transferred part shall be spread to about 1 mm for fine sanding and equalization neck.


First you need to cut out the part that will serve as the " headstock " ( head gate where there are fans of the wire ( tuning ) .

It is best to before making the neck and body have all the parts that go on the guitar , because the parts are different .




When we cut that part , then approached the development of channels for rod ( truss rod ) which is used for the convergence ( the slope of the neck )

This slope is adjusted because the strain in the wire creates tension bending the neck in a convex shape .
To this tension is annulled , rod straightens the neck to the ideal plane .
Rod in the neck should be so placed that by looking at the door where the thresholds in the middle of the deepest and the shallowest parts .
Channel bar is usually made ​​milling cutter with a diameter of 6 mm if the rod diameter of 5 mm .


If you do not have milling machines , the channel can be excavated and chisel , but then it is less elegant and aesthetically worse solution .

Rod has on one side of the fixed part that prevents rotation of the same axis , and on the other side of the nut with a hex shank or rascijepkom for a screwdriver .

It may also have a regular nut that is tightened wrench br 8






Rod should be anchored in the channel in order not able to move or rotate , and it is made by inserting a narrow piece of wood into the slot , and the same stick ..
The neck on the top part where the threshold has called " fingerboard " or bridle , which is usually made of very hard wood ( maple or exotic wood ) , for the reason that it would be as durable as it is in this part of the playing surface is spent and finger touching.

This part is usually the thickness to 5 mm , and when the rod is fixed in the channel , glue to glue the wood to the neck .
Tighten the clamps and holds tight for 24 hours .

Thereafter approached threading slot thresholds . It works fine chickens for tree leaf width of 0.5 mm max . Threading should be exactly at the budget for the length of the scale and number of thresholds in the neck .

This part is usually the thickness to 5 mm , and when the rod is fixed in the channel , glue to glue the wood to the neck .


Cut the fingerboard then cutting to give a slight half-circle shape of the gripper (radius).
It is easiest to do that cut piece of wood with a slight radius, the width of the widest part of the neck and on it the glue abrasive paper No. 80

Pulling that part of the neck, will evenly sanded neck on the entire length thereof.
Before drilling drilled holes for points on the neck denoting the field. In them are usually pasted contrasting pieces of wood (the black neck white wood or vice versa)



Now the neck approaches the finish , the finished thickness of the neck together with the gripper to be a NUT about 23 mm , in the middle of the field 12 about 25 mm and a neck pocket( part of which enters the body ), about 27 mm .
Grips with the groove width is about 43 mm, and on the fifth ( at the end of the neck ), about 57 mm .
Of course , the width may be greater depending on the hand of the person who will be playing .
The distance between the wires on the NUT is in each of about 6.3 mm .

The neck finishes with very fine abrasive material ( 400 ) and painted or clear varnish , oil -coated ( OAK OIL ) or shellack . Surface of the gripper is not recommended to paint anything .

Making a solid body of electric guitar

As I wrote in the introduction to this subject , the material from which we make the body of the guitar is an important initial decision .

. So , to my certain knowledge, the best decisions and get the cheapest alder ( Jalsa ) to create the body of the guitar.

 Why , because it is resistant alder wood , semi-soft , fine texture , so the body can perform with a natural finish .

Under natural finish is understood that after the final treatment guitars see the texture of wood .

Alder is whenit lack clearcoat wonderful tangerine tree rings and beautiful lines , expressed lineup and resistant to bending .
So , after selecting the wood for the guitar to be a minimum thickness of 50 mm for the standard types of guitars ( Telecaster and Stratocaster . ) , According to previously drawn template ( template ) , the shape of the desired body guitars convey to the board .
Preferably at a guitar body made ​​of two pieces glued to each other to prevent warping .
The combination of these two pieces must be very smooth and free of dust .

Both connected surfaces brushed a thin layer of wood glue , wait 5 minutes for the surface to dry a little bit of glue and then firmly tighten clamps . So tight is left for 24 hours .


If you have a machine for planing ( cordless drills ) or machine for thinning timber to the correct measure  is recommended before gluing board  on both sides .
Only in the case of owning a professional carpenter tools and machines , ironing and when the blind can  later .
After drying the board to be drawn form circumcised .

It is an ideal crop to band saw ( banzeku ) , or jigsaw .


Saw about 1/2 cm beyond the edge of the designated surfing in order to measure the exact grind to a fine and accurate measure .

If saw with jigsaw , be aware of the type of list that drunk .
I recommend chick with bigger teeth and maximum speed , as this will splintering wood .
However , since the jigsaw cut up, if the wood is still spill , must choose the right side which will be the top.
Jigsaw push not by force, but I let it take action .
A board being cut must be securely fixed to a substrate .


After a rough trimming body shape guitars , approached the fine trimming or grinding along the edge of the guitar body .
I do it in two ways , if the edge of the grinding lower then this drum. We also sharpen their own making , and if the edge is thicker then Router with long straight bit .

After a rough trimming body shape guitars , approached the fine trimming or grinding along the edge of the guitar body .

All the holes are dug on the board are defined before the draft and prepared templates .
The best it can do a miller , in the absence of the chisel and the jigsaw is just slower , harder and less elegant.


At the end of the buried channels by default Electronics ( magnets , pots , switches , wiring , output jack ) and set the bridge .
I do it in two ways , if the edge of the grinding lower then this drum  We also sharpen their own making , and if the edge is thicker then Router with long straight bit .

When the body is ideal grinded approached digging holes for magnets , cables and potentiometers seat door .

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