At first I was scared to do neck shaping for fear I'd go too deep, but this video solved the problem. The idea is don't get in a hurry, and constantly check your work.
Ive always love hand carving the neck,it is the most enjoyable part of the build ,except for the very first cord. Ive struggled with the final shapes of my volutes especially when there are back veneers,,they never seem to fully look right.I now see how yours look and I have picked up a couple ideas, having watched this vid many times. thanks for that.
Very enjoyable video! with the many ways of removing material, your technique is joyful for me at least, as I have used a bandsaw, rasps, files, & last but the best a scraper, (yes and mechanical sanders) SO it is just plain fun to watch you, AND your use of actual sound with such nice music (which I epect is you!) is a second layer of treat! nice WORK, sincerely Michael...shame to the negative 5's
Only use scrapers when getting close Sandpaper impacts powder into the pore of the wood which causes problems later. sandpaper is for finishing nitro, etc. never wood, only steel scrapers when your getting close
James, The first tool is a microplane rasp. The second is a handscraper blade which you can buy at any wood working or guitar supply store. Try Luthiers Mercantile or Stewart Mcdonald.
This is very nice work. There are several ways to achieve this with skills and a good set of hands as every artisan craftsman is different. I, personally, don't like necks to have the feel of a "CNC" neck. CNCs follow a set plan for big production using a one-size -fits-all approach for each style. The beauty of hand-carved is to achieve a personal touch you won't get with "CNC" made guitars. A good set of hands is more accurate than any CNC anyway.
+Joe Bonomo I'm not a carpenter much less a luthier (and I mostly understand what you mean with the hand carved feel) but my guess is CNC is by definition more accurate and that's what makes the hand carved stuff feel special.
Jenda Hrbek U could never tell the difference between a hand carved and a CNC cut neck. Mainly b/c a CNC machine just rough cuts the shape w router bits. Hand shaping (sanding/scraping) is always required. CNC machines don't finish sand the neck they just rough carve.
Thank you very much. Regarding your question, I don't measure the thickness during the hand carving stage because the width and thickness have already been milled beforehand. As for the curvature of the neck, I just carve until it looks and feels right.
Wow! I admire your work a lot. How do you know when to stop carving? Is it all about feeling and experience? I would love to try out our one of your guitars. Best wishes Staffan
I don't have spokeshave. I haven't found any that isn't monstrously big. I do have drum sander for drill and similar tools like in video. Truss rod sets the limitation for carving. I think that many people know what I mean.
Hello Chris. Sorry for the delay in responding. That is Microplane. Here's a link - www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8/ref=asc_df_B00004S7V8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142021489&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17214262905845553397&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027651&hvtargid=pla-78957070886&th=1
Hello and sorry for the delay in responding. That is Microplane. Here's a link - www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8/ref=asc_df_B00004S7V8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142021489&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16770159525866976239&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027651&hvtargid=pla-78957070886&th=1
@simpsonguitars are you planning on doing any guitar demos? if not and want someone to do it, I would kindly do it for free!!! lol I just want one of your guitars.
Never understood why people make this rocket science. A good spoke shave, a rasp, some sandpaper... voila... as long as you're not heman armstrong, you can get extremely close to any CNC design.
Contrasting The Void no they aren’t i programmed mine to cut a neck based on no pre made design. I knew what neck profile I liked and built it to my specs
I've got a modern high end classical which saw very few power tools in the building. The lack of a perfectly contoured form, or the existence of "imperfections," actually feels good in my hands.
Nick - accuracy probably isn't a problem, but cost sure is. Guitars go the same way furniture went - as time goes on, changes are made that decrease man hours and lower the competence level of the craftsman at the same time, allowing makers to go from skilled to semi-skilled to unskilled labor. I have just gotten into guitars, so I can't make too many comments about accuracy, but when I make infill planes, the infills measure no less than 2 thousandths less than the metal shell of a plane. Any more than that, and there will be visible gaps, and things that are acceptable with guitars (inserting plugs and then color matching and blending them in, etc) are not acceptable. Most guitars show some visual compromise vs. work of 200 years ago where designs are adjusted to fit a machine (the entire fender lineup for example, designed by a guy from the car industry - and it's a genius design, by the way - that's not to suggest it's no good). Or, they're sanded heavily in every area, and this becomes a brag whereas crisp lines left in certain places would look nicer. My thoughts of carving necks so far is that it's far easy to make an accurate neck by hand than it is to try to learn how to make a neck with machines and do it accurately. Powertools and jigs are an asset where the capital investment is repaid, but a guy working in his garage can make trash out of nearly finished parts in a hurry if something doesn't work out. That, itself, is something that almost never occurs when working by hand. In 12 years of woodworking and toolmaking, I still leave all critical parts to be done entirely by hand. It takes a little longer, but nothing ever needs to be thrown away. Most of the guitar world considers internal hand work on an electric guitar to be "unprofessional", even if it's crisp - just because there is evidence that someone actually did it vs. the scorched earth look from a router bit and jig.
Thanks everyone for your comments and questions. Sorry for not responding sooner. In answer to your questions, The song in the video is one that I wrote called "Wiggle Foot Rag" As for knowing when to stop carving, well, when it looks and feels right. There is a truss rod in the neck adjustable at the peghead. If you guys like the video please share with your friends. Thanks again!
Whats you name buddy ? I ripped the mp3 from the video to save your awesome song in my computer, and I have in a Album Called " Te de Arpegios ", but I need you name to put it in the Artist and Composer :)
Could someone please tell me if that fretboard is a man made composite, or is it a premium grade Ebony that has not been dyed? That is a very nice neck, thanks for the help.
Most Luthiers , myself included will use a finger board that is fretted as a guide when make the neck, other will use the final fingerboard and just sneak up on it to keep from nicking it. The classical builder I learned from 40 years ago did it this way.
Steel scraper or cabinet scrapers have been in use for centuries , before sandpaper, first you use a file or steel to put a burr on the scraper then redo it as needed. Thick steel for more aggressive then progressively thiner for finer work.
Heh, heh, heh.............. I suppose the shape of the heel doesn't bother me that much for a Steel String, as it fits in with the neck width. I do have a problem with this rounded profile for a Classical Guitar though. (In which case you need to pull out those chisels, knives & scrappers if you're looking to build an Aesthetically pleasing instrument.)
Not exactly a citrus zester but similar. It's a microplane. Here's a link for you. www.amazon.com/MICROPLANE-SNAP-BLADE-RASP-SET/dp/B000H6BPKG/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=microplane&qid=1562274283&s=hi&sr=1-5
Its a surform, not a rasp, but same principle as a food grater. A rasp is a solid metal object, like a file with chunky teeth. A surform has holes in it, akin to a cheese grater as you mentioned. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to think you couldnt use a fine cheese grater in the same fashion.
JgHaverty I know I'm 10 months late to a fairly inconsequential conversation but I reckon surforms are made of a harder/thicker steel than most cheese graters I've seen so can handle working hard woods better. The grater might be okay for pine or balsa projects.. ;-)
The one thing a CNC will never be able to do is build a hand made guitar! Robots and CNC "luthiers" suck! It is such and enjoyment to hand make a neck, rewarding and enjoyable. Money has ruined more things in life than I can count 40 years of building and about 3 left to fill my orders then I am done! Gonna find a guy or gal that is interested in carrying on the craft of hand building and make them a great deal !!!!!
Amazing. This is the best video for hand carving a neck.
Thank you so much!
At first I was scared to do neck shaping for fear I'd go too deep, but this video solved the problem. The idea is don't get in a hurry, and constantly check your work.
Luthier is one of the most beautiful job in the world.
Respect.
Ive always love hand carving the neck,it is the most enjoyable part of the build ,except for the very first cord. Ive struggled with the final shapes of my volutes especially when there are back veneers,,they never seem to fully look right.I now see how yours look and I have picked up a couple ideas, having watched this vid many times. thanks for that.
Sublime artistry. Thank you for an inspiring video.
Best wishes
fascinating process.. and also beautiful shape of the neck, heal, head
Beautiful neck. Really like the red accent laminate under the head-plate and fingerboard.
Thank you MingoCity. The blade on the spoke shave is straight.
A true luthier...finally one neck carving with "hands"....good!
Amazing craftsmanship ! Perfect result, thanks for this video.
Anyone who would thumb down this just doesn’t get it I guess. Nice work👍
Very nice video, love the valute detail!
Beautiful work.
Very enjoyable video! with the many ways of removing material, your technique is joyful for me at least, as I have used a bandsaw, rasps, files, & last but the best a scraper, (yes and mechanical sanders) SO it is just plain fun to watch you, AND your use of actual sound with such nice music (which I epect is you!) is a second layer of treat! nice WORK, sincerely Michael...shame to the negative 5's
Only use scrapers when getting close Sandpaper impacts powder into the pore of the wood which causes problems later. sandpaper is for finishing nitro, etc. never wood, only steel scrapers when your getting close
Awesome very good
Thank you!
Thanks for this, I am in the process of building my first neck and this video will help alot.
James, The first tool is a microplane rasp. The second is a handscraper blade which you can buy at any wood working or guitar supply store. Try Luthiers Mercantile or Stewart Mcdonald.
This is very nice work. There are several ways to achieve this with skills and a good set of hands as every artisan craftsman is different. I, personally, don't like necks to have the feel of a "CNC" neck. CNCs follow a set plan for big production using a one-size -fits-all approach for each style. The beauty of hand-carved is to achieve a personal touch you won't get with "CNC" made guitars. A good set of hands is more accurate than any CNC anyway.
+Joe Bonomo I'm not a carpenter much less a luthier (and I mostly understand what you mean with the hand carved feel) but my guess is CNC is by definition more accurate and that's what makes the hand carved stuff feel special.
Jenda Hrbek U could never tell the difference between a hand carved and a CNC cut neck. Mainly b/c a CNC machine just rough cuts the shape w router bits. Hand shaping (sanding/scraping) is always required. CNC machines don't finish sand the neck they just rough carve.
Trop bien de voir un peu comment font les autres
Man, I just love how the color of that veneer blends into the neck..
Wow, hand made with skill and it looks very nice. What did you use to laminate between the fingerboard and the neck. Good tune too.
Awesome ,diameter neck gitar
Scala
Thank you for this very helpfull video !
Cheers
I love it
Nice music :)
I like it
this is art!! Perfect!
Thank goodness for mute. Great video. Would have been better with narrative and tool list. Thanks!
Love videos like this. One day I'll have one of your guitars.
Thank you very much. Regarding your question, I don't measure the thickness during the hand carving stage because the width and thickness have already been milled beforehand. As for the curvature of the neck, I just carve until it looks and feels right.
Wow! I admire your work a lot. How do you know when to stop carving? Is it all about feeling and experience?
I would love to try out our one of your guitars.
Best wishes
Staffan
I don't have spokeshave. I haven't found any that isn't monstrously big.
I do have drum sander for drill and similar tools like in video.
Truss rod sets the limitation for carving. I think that many people know what I mean.
you are very confident with your tools, shows real talent. can you tell me how often you measured the thickness whilst carving, rough estimate please?
Mantap2,.....top
With the material beneath the fretboard extension, would that neck be going on an archtop, or flat top ?
@penlandc The guitars are great for strumming and fingerstyle playing.
luv the tune
Great video..thanks. @3:35 what is that tool called?
Hello Chris. Sorry for the delay in responding. That is Microplane. Here's a link - www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8/ref=asc_df_B00004S7V8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142021489&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17214262905845553397&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027651&hvtargid=pla-78957070886&th=1
What is the name of that rasp you are using at 3:35? I can't seem to find one.
Hello and sorry for the delay in responding. That is Microplane. Here's a link - www.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8/ref=asc_df_B00004S7V8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167142021489&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16770159525866976239&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9027651&hvtargid=pla-78957070886&th=1
@simpsonguitars are you planning on doing any guitar demos? if not and want someone to do it, I would kindly do it for free!!! lol I just want one of your guitars.
nice
Really like the veneer design with that thin red layer in between! What kind of wood is that?
Thanks. If I remember correctly, it was dyed maple.
Hello. Thanks for your question. The heel is not separate. It's all one piece
work of art..
Woa !!! Suppppppeeeerrr!!! I wish i were .
Is the heel a separate piece of wood, or did you get a large piece of timber and cut out the excess timber for the neck?
-thanks
Never understood why people make this rocket science. A good spoke shave, a rasp, some sandpaper... voila... as long as you're not heman armstrong, you can get extremely close to any CNC design.
Not to mention, every CNC design is based on a master template that was carved by hand.
Contrasting The Void no they aren’t i programmed mine to cut a neck based on no pre made design. I knew what neck profile I liked and built it to my specs
JgHaverty yes but can you do it as consistently and accurately and as much as a cnc mill all day?
I've got a modern high end classical which saw very few power tools in the building. The lack of a perfectly contoured form, or the existence of "imperfections," actually feels good in my hands.
Nick - accuracy probably isn't a problem, but cost sure is. Guitars go the same way furniture went - as time goes on, changes are made that decrease man hours and lower the competence level of the craftsman at the same time, allowing makers to go from skilled to semi-skilled to unskilled labor.
I have just gotten into guitars, so I can't make too many comments about accuracy, but when I make infill planes, the infills measure no less than 2 thousandths less than the metal shell of a plane. Any more than that, and there will be visible gaps, and things that are acceptable with guitars (inserting plugs and then color matching and blending them in, etc) are not acceptable.
Most guitars show some visual compromise vs. work of 200 years ago where designs are adjusted to fit a machine (the entire fender lineup for example, designed by a guy from the car industry - and it's a genius design, by the way - that's not to suggest it's no good). Or, they're sanded heavily in every area, and this becomes a brag whereas crisp lines left in certain places would look nicer.
My thoughts of carving necks so far is that it's far easy to make an accurate neck by hand than it is to try to learn how to make a neck with machines and do it accurately. Powertools and jigs are an asset where the capital investment is repaid, but a guy working in his garage can make trash out of nearly finished parts in a hurry if something doesn't work out. That, itself, is something that almost never occurs when working by hand. In 12 years of woodworking and toolmaking, I still leave all critical parts to be done entirely by hand. It takes a little longer, but nothing ever needs to be thrown away.
Most of the guitar world considers internal hand work on an electric guitar to be "unprofessional", even if it's crisp - just because there is evidence that someone actually did it vs. the scorched earth look from a router bit and jig.
I like your vice
I'vent seen a trussrodchannel in the peghead. Is there a trussrod build in?
Thanks everyone for your comments and questions. Sorry for not responding sooner. In answer to your questions, The song in the video is one that I wrote called "Wiggle Foot Rag" As for knowing when to stop carving, well, when it looks and feels right. There is a truss rod in the neck adjustable at the peghead. If you guys like the video please share with your friends. Thanks again!
Legit!
Nice vid... What is that song, love it?
Hey Justin, Thanks! The name of the song is "Wiggle Foot Rag."
Is that a down draft work table the neck was sitting on at the end??
looks like it
Yes.
Beautiful! are you a trained luthier or self taught? I'm about to embark on my first electric build.....
Hello Mark! I was self taught with the aid of books such as "Guitar Making, Tradition and Technology.
hi
at 5:10 what tool is that?
then at 5:28 what is that?
thanks
Whats you name buddy ? I ripped the mp3 from the video to save your awesome song in my computer, and I have in a Album Called " Te de Arpegios ", but I need you name to put it in the Artist and Composer :)
what is the red thin piece under your headstock veneer?
+JJ JJ Dragon scale, from a foe, bested the night he marched upon Mordor.
What's that round metal knob-looking thing on the door?
i think... it's bloodwood veneer
thank u
If I remember correctly, it was dyed maple.
are they good strummers?
Could someone please tell me if that fretboard is a man made composite, or is it a premium grade Ebony that has not been dyed? That is a very nice neck, thanks for the help.
Most Luthiers , myself included will use a finger board that is fretted as a guide when make the neck, other will use the final fingerboard and just sneak up on it to keep from nicking it. The classical builder I learned from 40 years ago did it this way.
Hey Gregory! That was premium Ebony, not dyed.
I really wish I had the tools to do this stuff
He didn't show any expensive tools. Buy some hand tools like coping saw, rasp, spokeshave and give it a go.
what is the metal plate shaving tool you used after rasping the general neck shape please?
id just google cheese grater rasp file
It's called a cabinet scraper.
Steel scraper or cabinet scrapers have been in use for centuries , before sandpaper, first you use a file or steel to put a burr on the scraper then redo it as needed. Thick steel for more aggressive then progressively thiner for finer work.
Hello Andy! That is a cabinet scraper. You can find them at wood working supply stores.
lindo
Heh, heh, heh.............. I suppose the shape of the heel doesn't bother me that much for a Steel String, as it fits in with the neck width. I do have a problem with this rounded profile for a Classical Guitar though. (In which case you need to pull out those chisels, knives & scrappers if you're looking to build an Aesthetically pleasing instrument.)
What is that thing you're using at 6:47 through 7:09 and at 7:56
Hey Brad! That is a piece of PVC pipe that I cut up to use for that step of carving.
How did you learn how to do all of this?
Self-taught with the aid of books like "Guitar Making - Tradition & Technology"
What type of spokeshave was that, please? Is it rounded?
Hey Peter! It was a regular straight flat base spokeshave.
Sorry if I missed it, but what's the music?
The name of the song is "Wiggle Foot Rag."
4:00 is that a citrus zester?
Not exactly a citrus zester but similar. It's a microplane. Here's a link for you. www.amazon.com/MICROPLANE-SNAP-BLADE-RASP-SET/dp/B000H6BPKG/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=microplane&qid=1562274283&s=hi&sr=1-5
Are you using a food grater?
Marcellius, It's a Microplane rasp made for woodworking. It is a lot like a food grater. :-)
Its a surform, not a rasp, but same principle as a food grater. A rasp is a solid metal object, like a file with chunky teeth. A surform has holes in it, akin to a cheese grater as you mentioned. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to think you couldnt use a fine cheese grater in the same fashion.
JgHaverty I know I'm 10 months late to a fairly inconsequential conversation but I reckon surforms are made of a harder/thicker steel than most cheese graters I've seen so can handle working hard woods better. The grater might be okay for pine or balsa projects.. ;-)
mistacoz I was using it as an analogy not a direct comparison...
JgHaverty and I was being a picky twat not worthy of a reply but thank you anyway.
The one thing a CNC will never be able to do is build a hand made guitar! Robots and CNC "luthiers" suck! It is such and enjoyment to hand make a neck, rewarding and enjoyable. Money has ruined more things in life than I can count 40 years of building and about 3 left to fill my orders then I am done! Gonna find a guy or gal that is interested in carrying on the craft of hand building and make them a great deal !!!!!
matt smith song ?
Hello Kenny! That song was a son that I wrote called "Wiggle Foot Rag."
Pease tell me the name of this song!
Wiggle Foot Rag
that was fast
expect, I can spell, just caught up in the moment
I love the video but the backromusic was annoying .
Thanks Larry! Sorry the background music bothered you.