matt, never consider yourself anything less than an artisan. the definition is: craftsman, workman skilled in a trade or industry. I wouldn't mind having half your skill. always, great video!
I always left the edge of my fretboards flat like you do until I got a Hamer Diablo. I took the rosewood board off and installed ebony. After examining the removed rosewood, I discovered the sides are actually tapered inward a slight angle, maybe 3-5 degrees. It feels really nice. Shaping necks and getting all the lines to form into the heel and headstock is one of my favorite things to do. Appreciate your videos. Great workmanship!
Man Oh Mango! You said it all about inlays. I thought I liked all of the different markers until I finally got one with them and REALIZED I can't ever even see them at all!
Nice video. I used my bandsaw to cut the back contour shape of my strat bodies as well as the front edge shape. I made a jig to hold the body against a flat surface at the proper angle so that the bandsaw blade wouldn’t go off my intended path. These machines can have a mind of their own. I had a shaper blade made for my neck shape and made a jig to hold the neck steady as I slowly fed it to the blade one half at a time. I was always looking to have the machines do most of the work trying to avoid having to do any extra handwork that would make a less consistent product. I was making limited production runs of 20 at a time. The rasp was my friend for making a smooth transition coming off the shaper cut. After I found the pneumatic sanding drum to work a charm.
@@TexasToastGuitars Probably not so don't get your hopes up. Here's the place that made mine about 45 years ago: cggschmidt.net/cggwp/. I had it made as a total spindle knife with 3 cutters, instead of a channel lock collar fit, safer. They did have to make the knives in two pieces so there was a very small bead left on the wood that needed to be sanded off as well. I think it cost me about $150 back then which was probably the most expensive investment I made in tools at that time. Good luck. If I live long enough to set up a hobby shop, I'll try to make some kind of shaper for it... (dream on, Marc, dream on... hahah)
A Redemption video🤔👏🏼... appropriate for Easter weekend! 😉. Always enjoy your video and banter🗣🗣🗣🗣. Say , I’ve done that parlor game, ...not on a guitar neck, but other wood working projects. Have you ever explained the “names “of your machines: dead head, ole man machine 😄😎. Sure hope Good Lord lets me live long enough to come build in your shop🙏🏼. Next state east of ya🌻. Thanks👍🏻👊🏻👏🏼
Killer work man! I just started making my first guitar and it's intimidating as hell but your videos give me more confidence to go for it by giving me some great knowledge.
Did you modified your belt sander yourself and if yes do you have plans or a link to a way to do it... I also love shaping necks on a sander but mine is stock and only use the spindle to it, it works but a sander like the one you have is much faster and easier to do the job. Great technique, great video and great workmanship... thanks for taking the time to share, keep it up!!!
Great video once again Matt !! Love that Dead Head Sander !! Makes short work of the neck shaping process !! Can't wait to see what my neck from Texas Toast looks like !!
Well , if ya need to , you can use that other roasted wood (that I can't think of the name of , lol) that looks like ebony . If that's easier to get . I believe it's name starts with a "G" . Heard about it on one of your videos with Guitar Wood Experts .
What's the best part of the day? It's after gluing up a heel to a neck (then later find it drifted a bit ... sonofa..*#$**@#!!), and mowing the lawn then on the back deck with a cool Taybeh beer watching Matt work in the shop!!! Great stuff...
I love the old school methods and hand worked necks. Yes a CNC can be consistent, but using scrapers, traditional wood working tools and hand sanding really can make you get a superior more tailored neck than an off the shelf buy. Even if you buy a regular neck, you can alter it to your liking. I like widdling them on my porch on a rocking chair. As for PRS, you cannot stop all movement from wood, unless its petrified.
CNC builders are quick to point out that they are more accurate and there is a lot of handwork after it comes off the machine... you ever see what sandpaper will do to an accurate piece of wood :)
Love the way you do necks but I cant say no to CNC. Worked as a CNC Machinist for years. Also I have friend who owns a cabinet shop and just bought a CNC Router so I might bug him for some shop time. Will make video if I do. :-)
@@TexasToastGuitars yeah only because my skill set leans that way. Looking more at a blended technique. What does machine do well versus man's eye and brain do well. Thing to know about CNC, it is only as good as program/programmer. Junk in means junk out.
I think I would seriously F***k this up, Band saw slant cut, one tiny slip is all it takes! But I guess when ya got the tools and the talent, it's considerably easier. awesome band saw BTW!. That sander is the cats ass! Damn! Your method of sanding the edge radius last is smart, so as you can now used the mostly shaped neck as a better guide when applying the final passes. You can always take more off, but ya can’t put it back on. I’ll probably never do this, but it’s interesting to see how it’s supposed to be done correctly. You’ve got your step by steps down really good. Nice job!
I do not recommend that technique at all... however that is an old school thing that I thought people might be interested in seeing. There are lots of forgotten ways things used to get done that aren't used any longer
Thank you for making this very informative video. Quick question. What size bandsaw blade do you normally keep on your bandsaw to rough cut your bodies and necks?
Hey Matt, great vid. Guess I'll see more on Sunday's training. For those of you who don't know, Texas Toast Guitars has a solid online training and is building an awesome guitar. Step by step with Q&A. Not to late to join. Checkout their website...Cheers!
Beautiful work Matt!!...what do you guys at Texas Toast call that guitar shape.....I would like that body with a Jackson style pointy headstock..if we ever get back to work in this country
Great video, as always. Your irreverent style is refreshing and makes me laugh out loud. Where did you get that “dead head” sander. Did you make it? If so can you do a video of how you did it? Or is that a Texas Toast secret. I’ve hand shaped enough necks to know I really want one of those things.
Thanks for watching my friend, the deadhead sander was a tool we made, actually modified. There were no plans just kinda built it and hoped for the best
I remember you saying a while back you were going to build a dead head sander from a Harbor Freight 6x48 sander. Any plans to still do it. I think it would be great wholesome family entertainment and educational.....
@@TexasToastGuitars Naw, man, wish I had. I've got so many projects 1/2 done now I've gotta on them before new toys. Thanks for asking man! Stay safe bud!
It is so fucking impressive to see a luthier shape a neck by hand and eye. It’s really sculpture. In the end, hands are what use a neck, so it’s best that hands shape it. Why would those “vintage guitar enthusiasts” want a guitar that only looks like it was made in a traditional way? Instead of a guitar that is actually made that way? Discuss..
That is the milling dollar question isn't it? Mark my words, one day, large companies (probably the Fender custom shop) will offer this exact thing and people with the cash will be able to look down on people with CNC guitar and talk smack on the internet forums.
Freaking GREAT video Inspires me to take a hack at it. Came across it and was mesmerized and now I’m late for work!!! #%*+ . Keep keepin on ! , Best , TG
Don’t understand cnc, they just remove the best part of a build, ok, it’s precise, but being precise with your hand is so gratifying. Drawing, cutting, using rasp and see the result is so gratifying. All the woodwork is just the best part to do by hand, and you can say "yes I’ve built this guitar" not just "I’ve been waiting and screw the hardware when it was done"..but anyway, maybe I’m saying that cause I can’t afford a cnc either 😂 btw, you should buy a little handle for your rasp, I was using like this too but I find some cheap one for less than 2€ on amazon and I gotta say, this is so much better 😅
I call my shop made drum sander "The Old Man Machine" because I believe it was built by an old guy who died. I hope he was 100 and went in his sleep because this machine is really cool
I just pooped in my pants. And I don't even have a CNC. Plus, I just got my very own "Old Man Machine" on Craig's list. It's not as nice as yours but it was built by a luthier, I got it from the second luthier and I'm the third in-line. It must be at least 30-40 yrs old. Works great and it was $40.
easy throwing that dial caliper, didnt your father teach u to take care of your tools. lol in all seriousness i did cringe when u threw it on table lol, but i am just joking! love your videos keep up great work and cool builds!
matt, never consider yourself anything less than an artisan. the definition is: craftsman, workman skilled in a trade or industry. I wouldn't mind having half your skill. always, great video!
Completely agree with you , Donald !!
Thanks man, you are too kind
I always left the edge of my fretboards flat like you do until I got a Hamer Diablo. I took the rosewood board off and installed ebony. After examining the removed rosewood, I discovered the sides are actually tapered inward a slight angle, maybe 3-5 degrees. It feels really nice. Shaping necks and getting all the lines to form into the heel and headstock is one of my favorite things to do. Appreciate your videos. Great workmanship!
Man Oh Mango! You said it all about inlays. I thought I liked all of the different markers until I finally got one with them and REALIZED I can't ever even see them at all!
A decade, that is some finely aged, perfectly dried limba. 2010 was a great growth year. Texas Toast Reserve Necks. Damn that's nice
It's good stuff
Breaking that fret board edge is always tricky. Thanks Matt. Nice walk through.
Thanks John
Nice video. I used my bandsaw to cut the back contour shape of my strat bodies as well as the front edge shape. I made a jig to hold the body against a flat surface at the proper angle so that the bandsaw blade wouldn’t go off my intended path. These machines can have a mind of their own.
I had a shaper blade made for my neck shape and made a jig to hold the neck steady as I slowly fed it to the blade one half at a time.
I was always looking to have the machines do most of the work trying to avoid having to do any extra handwork that would make a less consistent product.
I was making limited production runs of 20 at a time.
The rasp was my friend for making a smooth transition coming off the shaper cut. After I found the pneumatic sanding drum to work a charm.
Let me know if you want to sell that shaper cutter
@@TexasToastGuitars Probably not so don't get your hopes up. Here's the place that made mine about 45 years ago: cggschmidt.net/cggwp/. I had it made as a total spindle knife with 3 cutters, instead of a channel lock collar fit, safer. They did have to make the knives in two pieces so there was a very small bead left on the wood that needed to be sanded off as well. I think it cost me about $150 back then which was probably the most expensive investment I made in tools at that time. Good luck. If I live long enough to set up a hobby shop, I'll try to make some kind of shaper for it... (dream on, Marc, dream on... hahah)
Nice camera work. You can see how the shape of the neck heel on production guitars follows the the form of a dead head sander.
There are a lot of factory features that are peculiar at first and then when you use the old school tools there is a light bulb moment
A Redemption video🤔👏🏼... appropriate for Easter weekend! 😉. Always enjoy your video and banter🗣🗣🗣🗣. Say , I’ve done that parlor game, ...not on a guitar neck, but other wood working projects. Have you ever explained the “names “of your machines: dead head, ole man machine 😄😎. Sure hope Good Lord lets me live long enough to come build in your shop🙏🏼. Next state east of ya🌻. Thanks👍🏻👊🏻👏🏼
We have done some explanations of the tools. Next time you are out west look us up
I really like working with hand tools, it's a lot of fun
You got that right
That band saw is the most ef’d up spokeshave I’ve ever seen.....I love it!!!
That is as close to a spoke shave as I get
You make that look so easy, I guess I need to practice on something that doesn't matter before I try to sand a neck like that.
I have done a couple
Killer work man! I just started making my first guitar and it's intimidating as hell but your videos give me more confidence to go for it by giving me some great knowledge.
You can do it man!
And also, I like the thickness you give your fretboards! I dig it man!
I like a nice thick fretboard
Did you modified your belt sander yourself and if yes do you have plans or a link to a way to do it... I also love shaping necks on a sander but mine is stock and only use the spindle to it, it works but a sander like the one you have is much faster and easier to do the job. Great technique, great video and great workmanship... thanks for taking the time to share, keep it up!!!
Great video once again Matt !! Love that Dead Head Sander !! Makes short work of the neck shaping process !! Can't wait to see what my neck from Texas Toast looks like !!
Sourcing ebony is getting tricky but your neck is going to be super cool
Well , if ya need to , you can use that other roasted wood (that I can't think of the name of , lol) that looks like ebony . If that's easier to get . I believe it's name starts with a "G" . Heard about it on one of your videos with Guitar Wood Experts .
What's the best part of the day? It's after gluing up a heel to a neck (then later find it drifted a bit ... sonofa..*#$**@#!!), and mowing the lawn then on the back deck with a cool Taybeh beer watching Matt work in the shop!!! Great stuff...
I did the opposite removed a neck from a 74 Les Paul and then had beer
Great video and great craftsmanship!
Thanks Thomas
Thanks Matt you are the man! Appreciate everything you do for us
Thanks for watching my friend
I love the old school methods and hand worked necks. Yes a CNC can be consistent, but using scrapers, traditional wood working tools and hand sanding really can make you get a superior more tailored neck than an off the shelf buy. Even if you buy a regular neck, you can alter it to your liking. I like widdling them on my porch on a rocking chair. As for PRS, you cannot stop all movement from wood, unless its petrified.
CNC builders are quick to point out that they are more accurate and there is a lot of handwork after it comes off the machine... you ever see what sandpaper will do to an accurate piece of wood :)
That wasn’t spooky at all... 😂🤘
Another great video! 🏆
Very smart and cool technique.
Thanks man
“Ensmoothen” - word of the day!
We are inventing new words all the time
Wow thanks Matt .great camera angles . Um now on the prowl for making a deadhead .
It is a cool tool, that's for sure
What a great video, really enjoyed the hands on approach of a craftsman, thank you.
Thanks brotherman
Love the way you do necks but I cant say no to CNC. Worked as a CNC Machinist for years. Also I have friend who owns a cabinet shop and just bought a CNC Router so I might bug him for some shop time. Will make video if I do. :-)
Sounds like you already said yes to CNC :)
@@TexasToastGuitars yeah only because my skill set leans that way. Looking more at a blended technique. What does machine do well versus man's eye and brain do well. Thing to know about CNC, it is only as good as program/programmer. Junk in means junk out.
Excellent work!
I'm digging these half homemade tools. That deadhead sander works so well it seems like cheating, but if you ain't cheatin, you ain't tryin.
I think I would seriously F***k this up, Band saw slant cut, one tiny slip is all it takes! But I guess when ya got the tools and the talent, it's considerably easier. awesome band saw BTW!. That sander is the cats ass! Damn! Your method of sanding the edge radius last is smart, so as you can now used the mostly shaped neck as a better guide when applying the final passes. You can always take more off, but ya can’t put it back on. I’ll probably never do this, but it’s interesting to see how it’s supposed to be done correctly. You’ve got your step by steps down really good. Nice job!
I do not recommend that technique at all... however that is an old school thing that I thought people might be interested in seeing. There are lots of forgotten ways things used to get done that aren't used any longer
Thank you for making this very informative video. Quick question. What size bandsaw blade do you normally keep on your bandsaw to rough cut your bodies and necks?
We always have a 3/8 blade in that saw
Hey Matt, great vid. Guess I'll see more on Sunday's training. For those of you who don't know, Texas Toast Guitars has a solid online training and is building an awesome guitar. Step by step with Q&A. Not to late to join. Checkout their website...Cheers!
Thanks Patrick I fear there is a lot of handwork I have to do for this Sunday's class
Beautiful work Matt!!...what do you guys at Texas Toast call that guitar shape.....I would like that body with a Jackson style pointy headstock..if we ever get back to work in this country
That is our Challenger model...
www.texastoastguitars.com/the-challenger
This was very cool to watch!!
Thanks man
If you stopped before the sander, you'd have a Strandberg neck profile. ;)
I'll have to check that out
Another great video!! That neck profile looks nice, is it what comes on the DD necks?
I think the DD necks are .82 to .87 or there abouts we can also fit the neck to the customer needs
Great video, as always. Your irreverent style is refreshing and makes me laugh out loud. Where did you get that “dead head” sander. Did you make it? If so can you do a video of how you did it? Or is that a Texas Toast secret. I’ve hand shaped enough necks to know I really want one of those things.
Thanks for watching my friend, the deadhead sander was a tool we made, actually modified. There were no plans just kinda built it and hoped for the best
A bit of a pucker factor watching that bandsaw trim...
“We spend a lot more time with the beloved pin router then we do people.” And I’m insanely jealous about that! 😄😁
For a home garage solution, can you mount a belt sander on its side?
I don't; really know Aaron, let me know what you come up with
I recognize that tshirt. They played my bar in Texas at some point in the last decade.
Oh cool they are a fun group
Nice video dude! Now I just need to figure out how to build a dead head sander without spending a fortune, haha
Being cool cost money bro :)
You can do it I think we have less than 500 in ours
@@TexasToastGuitars didn't you do a video on how you built that? I couldn't find it
If you did build this tool, what is the distance between the center the each hubs, guessing the hubs are about 3" diameter.
We built this rig flying by the seat of our pants. It works really well but I might do it a little differently if I had to start over
Agree about the inlays. Unless it's huge block inlays, I dont want any inlays.
I like the way a clean board looks
Hi, what material do you have between the plywood and the belt to stop the heat from the friction?!
That is an adhesive backed graphite platen thing, You can buy it in all kinds of custom sizes
I remember you saying a while back you were going to build a dead head sander from a Harbor Freight 6x48 sander. Any plans to still do it. I think it would be great wholesome family entertainment and educational.....
I would still like to do that but you know... time and energy. I'll get to it one day
Perfect !!! ... that is what the term "Hand Crafted" actually means ... great skill set Matt ... btw, whats the status of the recto-mod ???
Thanks Barry, I actually have the EBO in paint, video coming soon
That contour gauge is interesting. What brand is that one? Thanks.
Not sure, I think I got it at Harbor Freight
@@TexasToastGuitars Thanks man. Cool channel, by the way.
Thanks Matt, great vid man!!
Thanks Karl, did you build your dead-head yet? I want to say you told me you did but I am getting old and can't remember
@@TexasToastGuitars Naw, man, wish I had. I've got so many projects 1/2 done now I've gotta on them before new toys. Thanks for asking man! Stay safe bud!
Is there a video on how you built the dead head sander?
There isn't, sorry.
We just sort of made it and modified it as we went along
Looks good Matt .
Hardly, his camera angles were all wrong. Did you even watch the video?
Lol there was a video, I should stop watching pod casts .
I like it
It is so fucking impressive to see a luthier shape a neck by hand and eye. It’s really sculpture. In the end, hands are what use a neck, so it’s best that hands shape it. Why would those “vintage guitar enthusiasts” want a guitar that only looks like it was made in a traditional way? Instead of a guitar that is actually made that way? Discuss..
That is the milling dollar question isn't it?
Mark my words, one day, large companies (probably the Fender custom shop) will offer this exact thing and people with the cash will be able to look down on people with CNC guitar and talk smack on the internet forums.
How straight/flat does a neck blank have to be realistically? Does it have to be dead perfect?
The flatter the better
Hey Matt, is it posible to weld acrylic glass with acetone?
We have done it with Lucite and acetone
My only hang up is how the heck to make a deadhead sander!!! I don’t even know what step one would be 😔
Hey Matt…. just curious …. what do you backfill the end of the fret slots with ???
Some kind of pooty I forget what we are using these days.
@@TexasToastGuitars …sounds like a great band name "Some Kind of Pooty"…..I can just imagine the merch !!!!
Freaking GREAT video Inspires me to take a hack at it. Came across it and was mesmerized and now I’m late for work!!! #%*+ .
Keep keepin on ! , Best , TG
Hi Matt, could you do a video about how to deal with drips, curtaining and boogers in your finish?
You bet, we have a few videos coming
Thnx Matt!
Don’t understand cnc, they just remove the best part of a build, ok, it’s precise, but being precise with your hand is so gratifying. Drawing, cutting, using rasp and see the result is so gratifying. All the woodwork is just the best part to do by hand, and you can say "yes I’ve built this guitar" not just "I’ve been waiting and screw the hardware when it was done"..but anyway, maybe I’m saying that cause I can’t afford a cnc either 😂 btw, you should buy a little handle for your rasp, I was using like this too but I find some cheap one for less than 2€ on amazon and I gotta say, this is so much better 😅
I'll look into it Gary :)
Did you build the deadhead sander or is it a tool you can buy?
We built ours, I have not seen one for sale, but I could be wrong
What should I do with the cnc machine I just bought
Enjoy it
@@TexasToastGuitars litterly got it just to make templates for the guitars I sketch
Why do you call the thickness sander "the old man machine"?
Cause an old man made / used it !! LOL
I call my shop made drum sander "The Old Man Machine" because I believe it was built by an old guy who died. I hope he was 100 and went in his sleep because this machine is really cool
8:35 to 8:40 in the video, check behind the belt on the lower left, it looks like there may be sparks under your sander. Bad juju in that environment.
Yep
I knew a guy that got heavy into CNC. Now he’s a bum begging on the street for offsets and cad files. Sad.
It is a hard knock life
I just pooped in my pants. And I don't even have a CNC. Plus, I just got my very own "Old Man Machine" on Craig's list. It's not as nice as yours but it was built by a luthier, I got it from the second luthier and I'm the third in-line. It must be at least 30-40 yrs old. Works great and it was $40.
Awesome score man!
easy throwing that dial caliper, didnt your father teach u to take care of your tools. lol in all seriousness i did cringe when u threw it on table lol, but i am just joking! love your videos keep up great work and cool builds!
Those plastic calipers take a beating
That's the same way I facet the belly on a longbow when I'm building one to save from some drawknife work
Works like a charm right
@@TexasToastGuitars yes sir, I also glued the frets in with your method, why the hell didn't I think of that it's brilliant
it has a very interesting grain..
White limba is cool
Only when I made my first neck all by hand I really could say to myself: damn, I'm a luthier! (sorry for english errors, it is not my native language)
Making necks is super cool and people are often amazed
Skootch that's a technical word right?! Lol
I only use technical terms
nothing for 2 days - hope you are all OK
Really busy these days
Asymmetrical shape... Do you you compensate for that by offsetting the truss rod?
Arrrrggh! I kid! I kid!
This is how REAL men build guitars!
It's how I do it too :)
👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks man
Oh hey
Hey Homes
Much faster than CNC also.
You know, there are CNC machines and then there are CNC machines
Dude just use a rounded router bit. Lear from maximum guitars 😀
*
Maybe the CNC guys need to make sure their bowels have done all the movement they're gonna do.
bevo65 Us CNC guys don’t have a problem with our vowel movements... we drink plenty of coffee watching the machine carving necks all day! Lol
@@bucknaked31 I envy y'all! 😃
I like to poke the bear. It makes me laugh when CNC builders get all bent out of shape. The fact of the matter is that I really don't care. I do me
@@TexasToastGuitars That's one of the great things about this channel. Snowflakes be damned.
Wow, ill stick with a spoke shave and draw knife
Enjoy
90% of the wood comes off in 10% of the time but the final 10% takes 90% of the time...
Ain't it the truth John
How do you spell catty-wamp-ass... and assume that is bad..... lol dang you-alls
Some people spell it with a C and some people spell it with a K