A new prospect.

[Hendrix]

I do have think about in the press,  set neck like what PRS S2 did , glued 3 pice of wood together

also in this video

https://youtu.be/NHmIXMjpHIU?t=91

 

[PhilHill]

I do have think about in the press,  set neck like what PRS S2 did , glued 3 pice of wood together

also in this video

https://youtu.be/NHmIXMjpHIU?t=91

Yes, good video. This method has been used for awhile by different companies because it allows them to use thinner blanks or boards for the neck and results in less waste. Thinner boards being cheaper to source. Headstock joint is called a scarf joint. And the bottom of the heel is glued on as a separate piece. This works ok as long as the glue joints are perfect. If not, sooner or later your head or your tail lets go and disaster results. The flat style of headstock that Fender uses was also designed with the idea of allowing thinner blanks.

 

[PhilHill]

Confusion rules at this point. These particular chunks of redwood are the craziest I've ever encountered. Routing the inner chambers went rather well. HOWEVER, no matter what method or tool I use cut the final outer shape, it results in massive tear-out and cracks parallel to the grain. I have worked redwood before and never had this bad a problem, evidently this is the Grand Diva of all redwood and will submit to no one. I suspect that it's possibly too dry, but I don't have a working moisture meter right now to check. At this point though, considering that it cost me only the price of the walnut, which I can reclaim and use elsewhere, I'm consigning it to the failed experiment pile and moving on.

I'm not totally depressed as I found this last week for $60. USD.

It's a solid one piece chunk of Khaya, otherwise known as African Mahogany, 1 3/4 thick. I'm kinda thinking maybe a double cutaway Tele........... :icon_scratch:

 

[rgand]

Bum deal about all the tear-outs and such. But, I'm looking forward to your khaya body. That's a nice piece of wood and at a good price. If it behaves like Brazilian mahogany, it'll be a dream to work.

 

[PhilHill]

Bum deal about all the tear-outs and such. But, I'm looking forward to your khaya body. That's a nice piece of wood and at a good price. If it behaves like Brazilian mahogany, it'll be a dream to work.

Yes, the redwood was aggravating, but such is life. I am happy about the sweet find on the khaya, I've used some before and it wasn't bad to work with at all. Now I have to go into deep thought and come up with a whole new plan, or just proceed with the original plan which was no plan at all. :cool01:

 

[rgand]

I was having fun following what you were doing. Maybe something similar?

 

[Cagey]

Yes, the redwood was aggravating, but such is life. I am happy about the sweet find on the khaya, I've used some before and it wasn't bad to work with at all. Now I have to go into deep thought and come up with a whole new plan, or just proceed with the original plan which was no plan at all. :cool01:

I have little experience with Redwood, but some others are prone to that sort of thing. For example, Maple can be bitchy that way. Do a bit of research on "climb cuts". The orientation of the wood grain and direction of travel on your cutting tool make a big difference. You may have to make several different cuts to do what should be a straightforward job, but it can save the piece. Too late on that one, but...

 

[PhilHill]

I was having fun following what you were doing. Maybe something similar?

I actually kinda thinkin' the same myself. Thanks for the suggest.

 

[PhilHill]

Yes, the redwood was aggravating, but such is life. I am happy about the sweet find on the khaya, I've used some before and it wasn't bad to work with at all. Now I have to go into deep thought and come up with a whole new plan, or just proceed with the original plan which was no plan at all. :cool01:

I have little experience with Redwood, but some others are prone to that sort of thing. For example, Maple can be bitchy that way. Do a bit of research on "climb cuts". The orientation of the wood grain and direction of travel on your cutting tool make a big difference. You may have to make several different cuts to do what should be a straightforward job, but it can save the piece. Too late on that one, but...

Your quite right on that. Just like with sanding, you have to go with the grain. Unless it's burl, then you have to go with a prayer.  :icon_thumright:

 

[PhilHill]

All right, after the unfortunate redwood incident,(Of which we will never speak again.) I have substituted the khaya body and I believe we're about back to where we left off. Made a better chamber template and fought sawdust and chips for awhile. The routes are .800 or a little over three quarters of an inch deep. The blank is 1.730 thick so it's close to halfway. I think I'll stop there to allow some contouring on the back.
With the korina top the whole thing will be around 2in thick. A little more than a standard tele, but about the same as a Les Paul if you count the belly thickness on the Paul.  Should be a lot lighter though from being semi-hollow. We'll see.

 

[rgand]

Nice. You probably won't need a block under the bridge, either.

 

[PhilHill]

Nice. You probably won't need a block under the bridge, either.

Shouldn't need it with the mahogany. I made the center block a little wider too just to be sure. Now I'm trying to decide what kind of f-hole to put in the top. I have a template for the standard kind, but I'd like to do something different. Bear claw type slashes have been done to death. Maybe some circles, but those have been done a lot too.  :dontknow:  I'll have to ponder it awhile. :icon_scratch:

 

[rgand]

Nice. You probably won't need a block under the bridge, either.

Shouldn't need it with the mahogany. I made the center block a little wider too just to be sure. Now I'm trying to decide what kind of f-hole to put in the top. I have a template for the standard kind, but I'd like to do something different. Bear claw type slashes have been done to death. Maybe some circles, but those have been done a lot too.  :dontknow:  I'll have to ponder it awhile. :icon_scratch:

It's hard to come up with something original but, as Fat Pete has shown us, it is certainly possible. I look forward to seeing what you finally choose.

 

[Logrinn]

The hammerhead shark that Ormsby guitars have used is really cool.
That could perhaps spark some ideas?

 

[PhilHill]

The hammerhead shark that Ormsby guitars have used is really cool.
That could perhaps spark some ideas?

Thanks.That is cool. I will have to give that some thought. Mainly as to whether or not I have the tooling to achieve that. Well, there's always the coping saw........... :icon_scratch:

 

[PhilHill]

"Scotty, I need more clamping power!"

"But Cap'ain, she canna stand the strain!"

"Blast it Scotty, just get me more clamps!"

"(Sigh) Aye, Cap'ain."

 

[Hendrix]

also Samantha Fish TELE guitar  :guitaristgif:

 

[PhilHill]

also Samantha Fish TELE guitar  :guitaristgif:

I like that too. aghh, decisions, decisions!.............Thank you though.

 

[rgand]

The hammerhead shark that Ormsby guitars have used is really cool.
That could perhaps spark some ideas?

Thanks.That is cool. I will have to give that some thought. Mainly as to whether or not I have the tooling to achieve that. Well, there's always the coping saw........... :icon_scratch:

Rough it in with a Dremel and finish it up with swiss files. This is such a good idea. Not necessarily the shark but any cool and interesting shape. A coyote, a guitar, a bird, a dollar sign, a feather, a leaf, your initials, a dog bone, a .... .. .....

 

[PhilHill]

:laughing7: :icon_thumright: