The video is really excellent. The progression of work from using files to scraping to smoothing with sandpaper is very clear and well-illustrated. Thanks, Chelsea! Between you, Dan, and Erick, there's a whole curriculum of instrument repair.
Just a tip from an old woodworking teacher. I learned (at the Nicholson factory) that all files should ONLY be used in the forward direction, not back and forth. Even on hardwood this can flatten out or dull a file quite quickly. You will find your files stay sharper longer. Great video and very helpful.
Check out the video on TH-cam where a maker tests this myth; it's not even true on metal, nevermind wood. I always used to hear this idea, and was convinced it was true myself for a while, but here we are.
Great video! It's a pretty rare person who has the skills to do fine luthier work, but also talk about/describe it in a clear, concise way. More Chelsea Clark, please!
I've got a 7-string FR. The first few string changes were really frustrating, but now I can replace the strings, adjust height, length and tune it in under half an hour. It's my therapy.
My favourite scraper is one I made myself from an old circular saw blade. Convex one side, concave the other. Carefully sharpened straight from a bench grinder it is thick enough and hard enough to remove serious material and the thickness means it doesn't heat up too much in use.
Best neck shaping tool in the world is a small spoke shave cast in one piece with a half inch wide blade and handles about 2 3/4 inches long. You can hold it between two fingers and the palm of your hand, you can glide it along and take a deep cut or just a tiny little shaving. The best part is you feel the cut and the neck shape with your hand the whole time your shaping. A quick sanding with 220 then 400 and youre done. Professional luthiers do so many things the absolute hard way it amazing to me to watch, sometimes i cant, i have to switch away.
Nice work, my wife and I are also in the woodworking world and she felt in love with the straight edge you used, and I would like to know what brand is it.
Wow, cool. I learned a lot from this. I have been ordering parts from stew mac since before there was youtube. Glad to see they have a channel with these instructional of videos.
Thanks for this... I have a neck for a Jem that is 23mm thick that I want brought down to 18mm at the 1st fret. Gonna give it a go after watching this.
SOP in cabinet work if you're using water-based stains or finishes. If you don't wet the wood prior to final sanding, then the grain raises when you apply the stain or finish - and then you have a real problem dealing with the grain after you've stained the wood or applied the finish.
Brilliant demo, nice work, ps I love that you clean your file....oh I don't have time to sharpen my chisel, AND your evolution from scraping FROM sanding, would suggest TO MY SHOP teacher of 35 years ago, WTF, scraper are golden, and why breath dust!!!!!!!!!!!
Little tip on cleaning your files is invest in a small black and decker grinder and instead on the grinding wheels replace them with wire brush wheels will clean your files mech faster and wont take the metal off
Since I have started paying very close attention to my guitar neck finish, fret ends, profile and so on, my playing has improved. I feel like they guitar is "mine" now for some reason... It always was mine, but now it feels like an extra limb.
A most awesome comment. You are speaking from the perspective of a true artist. Extremely well said, my friend. Like a mechanic who builds his own hot rods, or a surfer who shapes his own boards, the experience and enjoyment is so much more complete when one has a hand in the development of the instrument.
Same here, my friend. I've been playing for the last 20 years but like a dummy never really got into learning ALL about the guitar. Now, I've brought my older guitars back to life, and it feels great. Because, like you said, they feel like mine. Cheers.
I used annealed copper to clean my files, on account of how soft it is- really gets in between, although i don't know whether it would work on these smaller ones
I don't know why there are so many comments that are in disbelief that there are female techs out there. When I was working for Ford Motor Co. they had a class we could pay for where the former guitar tech for The Eagles (she spent 20yrs with them) was there to show us how to build and set up our own Carvin kit guitars. Not just that but how to dress and polish the frets as well as clear coat the bodies. I can't remember her name but she was amazing. We were also allowed to bring in our own personal guitars to learn the specific setups for Strats, Teles, Gibsons, and Floyd Rose tremolo set ups.
that's because in many countries women are not even allowed to ride a bycicle,they're just in to make babies. That said,women are very good in super detailed and repetitive work,not a rule,just give them a chance to show what they are good at.
@@MrAletube Umm they"re pretty much good at everything a man can do not just "super detailed and repetitive work" I doesn't take muscle to lift things either, just intelligent planning.
@@ilpatongi Nope. He is exactly correct. I do in fact own a 7 string floyd rose guitar and once I set it up correctly it keeps playing like a dream for months.
Am I the only one who uses a Fine Wire Wheel? Like a Million "Exacto's at a touch. If the file gets too worn, buy another! Less cost to clean with the wire wheel, and/or buy another, than the shop time invested with the old Exacto "toothpic", just sayin'.
Make a flat long block throw some 80 grit on there after getting it close with a rasp. Throw some marks on there with a pen and go to town with the flat block and get it all nice and flat. Works every time. Then go up to 320 from 80 (120,220,320) and pain the sucker and your done!
Can I sand down safely a 7 string neck to make it somehow thinner? It's an LTD and not comfortable for my hands to play in standing position. Thank you in advance.
final sanding's importance and extensiveness seemed underplayed. though i guess depends what finish is applied that light swirling around 400 or 600 for half a second in random directions just wouldnt fly with an oil finish. guess a thick slab of poly and/or a solid colour paint is more forgiving of whats underneath it
You absolutely can rout the neck pocket cavity in your guitar body. We recommend using our Ball Bearing Router Bits to rout the neck pocket. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routers_and_Bits/Bits/Ball_Bearing_Router_Bits.html If you're using a Fender neck (or a neck with the same heel dimensions) you can use our Neck Pocket Routing Template for Fender. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routing_Templates/Neck_Pocket_Routing_Template_for_Fender.html Otherwise, you can create a custom template for your neck pocket from a blank acrylic sheet. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routing_Templates/Blank_Template.html
You can use a straight router bit. However, unless you are using a downcut router bit, you will need to drill a starter hole. Then, start your rout by lowering the bit into the starter hole and cut laterally to create the cavity (neck pocket, pickup cavity, etc.). For the best results make multiple passes, routing no deeper in one pass than the width of the router bit. We're always interested in seeing builders' projects. You can message them to us through Facebook, or attach them to an email and send it to service@stewmac.com.
Floyd Rose was a great solution to the time tested problem of making bends via tremolo and have it return to being in tune. However the Floyd Rose system makes every string dependent on the others. So as you adjust each string, the others go out. So you have to keep climbing down them over, and over until you finally chime in on the sweet spot. The big problem with Floyd Rose is that if you break a string on stage, your whole guitar goes out of tune. The ultimate answer is the Evertune bridge which is not a whammy tremolo style bridge, but does keep your guitar perfectly in tune no matter what you put it through. Each string has an individual string so they are not codependent. Chelsea your technique is wonderful. You also are a sweetheart. A natural beauty.
I've fallen in love with Chelsea....great work and I love these videos... I wonder if a scraper would be the best way to get lil dabs of dried super glue off the back of a finished maple strat neck...?
The video is really excellent. The progression of work from using files to scraping to smoothing with sandpaper is very clear and well-illustrated. Thanks, Chelsea! Between you, Dan, and Erick, there's a whole curriculum of instrument repair.
I'm very grateful to StewMac for the opportunity to see accomplished professionals at work.
Just a tip from an old woodworking teacher. I learned (at the Nicholson factory) that all files should ONLY be used in the forward direction, not back and forth. Even on hardwood this can flatten out or dull a file quite quickly. You will find your files stay sharper longer. Great video and very helpful.
This is a commonly repeated myth and it simply isn’t true
Check out the video on TH-cam where a maker tests this myth; it's not even true on metal, nevermind wood. I always used to hear this idea, and was convinced it was true myself for a while, but here we are.
Great video! It's a pretty rare person who has the skills to do fine luthier work, but also talk about/describe it in a clear, concise way. More Chelsea Clark, please!
Chelsea is an excellent teacher. I learned a lot with this video.
Well done Miss Chelsea. Knows what she is talking about and does it without talking down to viewers. Good sense of humor always a plus.
"I hope I don't have to set it up!" BAHAHA, I'm with her!!!
The contrast in colors is very alluring.
I've got a 7-string FR. The first few string changes were really frustrating, but now I can replace the strings, adjust height, length and tune it in under half an hour. It's my therapy.
This is just outstanding -- excellent tool info, techwork, pointers/ideas/suggestions; nice clear explanation. Many thanks for posting it!
I'm so glad there are people out there who do this.
"7 strings and a Floyd Rose? I hope I don't have to set it up" couldn't agree with you more lol
HAHAHA i bought a floyd rose guitar awhile ago, set it up, and then proceeded to sell it and swear i would never buy one again. pain in the butt :p
DrCowinabox
Not a floyd rose, and setting it up is pretty simple; much easier than setting up a vintage style trem *properly*.
***** No doubt! Intonating any guitar sucks, lets be honest. But yeah, you definitely need that lock!
***** Not everyone like tremolnos...
NICKHAM16 Look up the Frudua method of setting a Floyd. They really don't take long to set up once you know the smart way to work.
One of the most professional, and skilled I've seen on youtube
I don’t know if you’ll read this, but it was a lot fun watching you work. A good chuckle at the end, too;)
Thanks!
who in the world would give a thumbs down??? this is a great tutorial, she is very skilled
Nice work, Chelsea. A star is born!
My favourite scraper is one I made myself from an old circular saw blade. Convex one side, concave the other. Carefully sharpened straight from a bench grinder it is thick enough and hard enough to remove serious material and the thickness means it doesn't heat up too much in use.
"Seven strings and a Floyd Rose?!" -- That was the best part :)
Best neck shaping tool in the world is a small spoke shave cast in one piece with a half inch wide blade and handles about 2 3/4 inches long. You can hold it between two fingers and the palm of your hand, you can glide it along and take a deep cut or just a tiny little shaving. The best part is you feel the cut and the neck shape with your hand the whole time your shaping. A quick sanding with 220 then 400 and youre done. Professional luthiers do so many things the absolute hard way it amazing to me to watch, sometimes i cant, i have to switch away.
Nice work, my wife and I are also in the woodworking world and she felt in love with the straight edge you used, and I would like to know what brand is it.
real finesse work , takes a lotta patience
Wow, cool. I learned a lot from this. I have been ordering parts from stew mac since before there was youtube. Glad to see they have a channel with these instructional of videos.
best video on the subject I've seen so far.
Awesome.
Please post more videos on how to make the neck more playable and feel "broken-in". GREAT VIDEO !!!
Thanks for this... I have a neck for a Jem that is 23mm thick that I want brought down to 18mm at the 1st fret. Gonna give it a go after watching this.
I have never seen this work. Thank you for showing a noob how to shape a neck and using rasps and files the correct way!!
Thats a great trick water before sanding. I would not have thought of that. enjoyed the video Thanks for the tips.
SOP in cabinet work if you're using water-based stains or finishes. If you don't wet the wood prior to final sanding, then the grain raises when you apply the stain or finish - and then you have a real problem dealing with the grain after you've stained the wood or applied the finish.
Brilliant demo, nice work, ps I love that you clean your file....oh I don't have time to sharpen my chisel, AND your evolution from scraping FROM sanding, would suggest TO MY SHOP teacher of 35 years ago, WTF, scraper are golden, and why breath dust!!!!!!!!!!!
Cleaning superglue from the file, that must be fun hehe. Gain knob for the mic level is over 9000!!
great to see girls making guitars! :) great job!
Some remarkable knowledge & skill being shared here. Thanks.
Great video. Makes me want to start making guitars, but I like playing them too much for now...
Good video. Everything is explained very well.
Very nice video. Try acetone to clean up files...it's quicker and easier on the file edges.
Great attention to detail. Beautiful work.
This video is still great in 2024. Go Chelsea!
You're like a master craftsman! Good video and good job!
Really Nice video! I hope you show it when it's totally finished, if you get to do that?
Nice work Chelsea...!
Great job Chelsea
Nice job!! Really good explanation of all you were doing! Thank you :)
PLEASE. More videos with Chelsea.
Great video! Learned some things that I'll use in the shop. Thanks!
Little tip on cleaning your files is invest in a small black and decker grinder and instead on the grinding wheels replace them with wire brush wheels will clean your files mech faster and wont take the metal off
Great work. I clean my files on a wire wheel. If gunk remains I do what you did.
She makes me smile!!
i wish i could take my guitars to her for maintenance etc. super cool
Since I have started paying very close attention to my guitar neck finish, fret ends, profile and so on, my playing has improved. I feel like they guitar is "mine" now for some reason... It always was mine, but now it feels like an extra limb.
A most awesome comment. You are speaking from the perspective of a true artist. Extremely well said, my friend. Like a mechanic who builds his own hot rods, or a surfer who shapes his own boards, the experience and enjoyment is so much more complete when one has a hand in the development of the instrument.
Always easier to build when your tools dont fight back. Same applies to guitars.
Same here, my friend. I've been playing for the last 20 years but like a dummy never really got into learning ALL about the guitar. Now, I've brought my older guitars back to life, and it feels great. Because, like you said, they feel like mine. Cheers.
As it should!
ben inglis what a cool insight!! kicked open some windows in my mind. thank you dude!
cheers
Very good tutorial and a super personality.
If I had half the skill of Dan and Chelsea I'd be happy.
Gostei muito da sua aula parabém bom trabalho . você e muito simpática .
I used annealed copper to clean my files, on account of how soft it is- really gets in between, although i don't know whether it would work on these smaller ones
I don't know why there are so many comments that are in disbelief that there are female techs out there. When I was working for Ford Motor Co. they had a class we could pay for where the former guitar tech for The Eagles (she spent 20yrs with them) was there to show us how to build and set up our own Carvin kit guitars. Not just that but how to dress and polish the frets as well as clear coat the bodies. I can't remember her name but she was amazing. We were also allowed to bring in our own personal guitars to learn the specific setups for Strats, Teles, Gibsons, and Floyd Rose tremolo set ups.
that's because in many countries women are not even allowed to ride a bycicle,they're just in to make babies.
That said,women are very good in super detailed and repetitive work,not a rule,just give them a chance to show what they are good at.
@@MrAletube Umm they"re pretty much good at everything a man can do not just "super detailed and repetitive work" I doesn't take muscle to lift things either, just intelligent planning.
I've not seen a single comment saying anything related to her being a female. You just made that up.
Try a 1/4" round piece of bamboo to clean a file especially one with metal chips in it. I think you'll like it.
wow nice work you raly take grat care of your files
Beautiful work.
"Seven strings and a Floyd Rose... I hope I don't have to set it up". Yep, I don't blame you one bit.
Tyler Gavin floyds are easy... ugh... just time consuming..
RobTapps88: You keep saying that, but I'll bet you don't have a 7 string guitar with a Floyd on it. Do ya?
Tim Hallas
just one string more, where's the problem?
If you know how to do it, that is.
Mercator Jubio And this is where you’re wrong
@@ilpatongi Nope. He is exactly correct. I do in fact own a 7 string floyd rose guitar and once I set it up correctly it keeps playing like a dream for months.
You got some great skills! Thanks for the video.
More Chelsea Clark, she's great! (almost as great as Dan Erlewine)
Great job. Fantastic teacher.
I might have used a little Acetone and the brass brush to clean the super glue out of the file's cutting grooves.
At 4:10 their are nicks in the wood, did you fix them or do they need to be left in???
NICE work Chelsea.
More please :-)
to clean files you can use soft brass or hard wood to push across the teeth...
for cleaning the file... use some soft brass... push later laterally.
Am I the only one who uses a Fine Wire Wheel? Like a Million "Exacto's at a touch. If the file gets too worn, buy another! Less cost to clean with the wire wheel, and/or buy another, than the shop time invested with the old Exacto "toothpic", just sayin'.
Make a flat long block throw some 80 grit on there after getting it close with a rasp. Throw some marks on there with a pen and go to town with the flat block and get it all nice and flat. Works every time. Then go up to 320 from 80 (120,220,320) and pain the sucker and your done!
Great tips there. But I really don't like the circular or horizontal sanding on the neck, should be with the grain 100 % of the time.
good point
Did you apply polyurethane or nitrocellulose on back of neck ?
heres a real craftswoman with real pro tips
Haha! All that awesome detail work and dreading the setup! ;-)
Thanks for this, picked up a few new tips but the best part's at the end, lol!
BTW where's the lucky person that did the final setup? Any video of that, Dan?
Can I sand down safely a 7 string neck to make it somehow thinner? It's an LTD and not comfortable for my hands to play in standing position. Thank you in advance.
Great tips!
thanks! this is actually pretty much the part where I stopped my build at. think I'll finish it up soon as soon as work loosens up at least. lol :)
I would use the neck as it was at the start at the video to play and ftw. Or maybe i would work it too. Depending on the mood.
Great video, as always! Does the scraping and 600 grit sandpaper get in the way of finishing the neck with oil/lacquer/etc.?
Where do you get the Curved S Scraper can't find those anywhere....
Use a piece of brass to clean the file. Slide the brass with the grain and the shavings will get pushed out.
final sanding's importance and extensiveness seemed underplayed. though i guess depends what finish is applied
that light swirling around 400 or 600 for half a second in random directions just wouldnt fly with an oil finish. guess a thick slab of poly and/or a solid colour paint is more forgiving of whats underneath it
Question I'm building a guitar in shop class I have the body ready I just need to cut out the neck pocket can I use a router to cut the pocket out
You absolutely can rout the neck pocket cavity in your guitar body. We recommend using our Ball Bearing Router Bits to rout the neck pocket.
www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routers_and_Bits/Bits/Ball_Bearing_Router_Bits.html
If you're using a Fender neck (or a neck with the same heel dimensions) you can use our Neck Pocket Routing Template for Fender. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routing_Templates/Neck_Pocket_Routing_Template_for_Fender.html
Otherwise, you can create a custom template for your neck pocket from a blank acrylic sheet. www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Routing_Templates/Blank_Template.html
Does it have to be a specific bit because in shop we have alot of bits
Can I just use a straight bit & lower it?
Just out of curiosity are u interested in seeing what I'm building?
You can use a straight router bit. However, unless you are using a downcut router bit, you will need to drill a starter hole. Then, start your rout by lowering the bit into the starter hole and cut laterally to create the cavity (neck pocket, pickup cavity, etc.). For the best results make multiple passes, routing no deeper in one pass than the width of the router bit.
We're always interested in seeing builders' projects. You can message them to us through Facebook, or attach them to an email and send it to service@stewmac.com.
Excellent job.
Floyd Rose was a great solution to the time tested problem of making bends via tremolo and have it return to being in tune. However the Floyd Rose system makes every string dependent on the others. So as you adjust each string, the others go out. So you have to keep climbing down them over, and over until you finally chime in on the sweet spot. The big problem with Floyd Rose is that if you break a string on stage, your whole guitar goes out of tune. The ultimate answer is the Evertune bridge which is not a whammy tremolo style bridge, but does keep your guitar perfectly in tune no matter what you put it through. Each string has an individual string so they are not codependent. Chelsea your technique is wonderful. You also are a sweetheart. A natural beauty.
you make it look so easy
4:40. I use alcoholf or that and light it up. Woof! then you don't have to wait for the water to dry.
Great ending.. "With seven strings and a Floyd Rose...I hope I don't have to set it up!" :-)
metman3 LMAO, unless you know Floyd Rose personally, it’ll never be right...
What does her tattoo mean? Usually the ones on the hand signify something....?
I know people with entire bodies of tattoos that don't mean anything. Just looks like a star to me.
Had to watch that twice !! - the second time to look at the neck!
I've fallen in love with Chelsea....great work and I love these videos...
I wonder if a scraper would be the best way to get lil dabs of dried super glue off the back of a finished maple strat neck...?
is it possible to narrow the width of the neck, from the low E to high E?
I prefer a thin narrow neck
can you clean the files with a wire brush?
Nice work
So nice!
thank you teaching good ideals
7 string Floyd rose are easy to set up if play one for long time
how do you get it perfectly symmetrical?
might want to think about final-shaping those preposterous-looking upper and lower cut-aways
After dampening the wood do you wait to sand?
Patrice Webb Yes must be dry
Files or flat sanding blocks the LONG way on the neck to get straight surfaces.
wow...Awesome!!! Good job.