New Warmoth neck and a PRS S2 Vela/Reclaimed Copy build

[dmraco]

I got all of the wood cut and planed.  I had a small splinter on the one piece of walnut but I will be able to flip it and hide it. 

The photos show what the top lay out will be as well as how I incorporated the flamed basswood into the back of the guitar.  The center block will be a solid piece of mahogany. 

As much as I hate working with the Purple Heart, I ditched the maple and decided to use the Purple Heart.  It just looked to much better. 

Let the gluing begin!!!

 

[rgand]

Those woods look really nice together. That'll make a fine body. :icon_thumright:

 

[dmraco]

Getting ready to cut the body.  I will route the neck pocket 1st.  I think that is easier than doing after.

Cagey...no uneven surfaces here.  I took this body to a local mill that ran it though a GIANT belt sander until all surfaces were even.  This was also good for the flamed basswood on the back.  That does not like the planer blades and tends to tear out easily.


I kind of like the little "nipple" on the upper horn.  I may try to replicate on the lower.

 

[Cagey]

Those big surface sanders are a wonderful thing. Not exactly the sort of tool most guys would have in their shop, although you can get drum sanders that don't require a second mortgage...

That one's only $1,100, but it auto-feeds and goes to 16" wide, which should cover just about any guitar body.

I agree about that little "nipple" on the horn. It's a nice touch, and maybe should be on the lower one as well for symmetry.

 

[dmraco]

Rough cut.    On to the sander next

 

[rgand]

That's cool. Gonna look great.

Damn, Kevin. Why did you have to post that sander and with a link, yet? Hell, I need one of those. But not badly enough yet to get one. I can have any blank sanded to the thickness I like but that would save me about $100 per. After 11 guitars it would be paid for, though...

DON"T post a link to any reasonably priced CNC machines! :icon_biggrin:

 

[Cagey]

Hehe! I'll try not to, but I've been looking at them for a long time. I really want to be able to cut nut mounting channels/ledges, among other things, and it's either build a dozen jigs or get a small CNC.

 

[rgand]

Hehe! I'll try not to, but I've been looking at them for a long time. I really want to be able to cut nut mounting channels/ledges, among other things, and it's either build a dozen jigs or get a small CNC.

The best I've found is this one you build yourself. They have a really commercial video on it so - meh. They talked about this idea over on the Tele forum but from what they were saying, you can do better than this if you want to build one. Fortunately for me, there was nothing really definitive on the subject.

 

[Cagey]

I'm just going to pretend I didn't see that. For now.

 

[rgand]

I'm just going to pretend I didn't see that. For now.

:icon_thumright:

 

[dmraco]

I am loving the new spindle sander.  Here are some smoothed pics.  I have also cut a template to mark where I will carve the body.  I am going to practice on some scrap first.  I have to wait for my new rasps to arrive.  I welcome any input on tips on this.

Here is a photo of the back too.  There is a very sharp corner where the upper horn meets the neck pocket. A real pain to sand.

 

[bagman67]

It's always fun to watch you take on a project, Mr. Raco.  Like others who have opined, I like the "nipple" on the upper horn.  Ya really did it to yourself when you opted for a square corner where the neck pocket sits, didn't you?  Best of luck with it.
 

 

[dmraco]

The nipple did survive.  I an going to create a little one on the bottom horn too.

I have one of these.  What I am going to do it take one of the tiny belts, cut it, and do it by hand.  The are is only about 1/2 inch in area should go quick.  Getting finish in there is a challenge too....I doubt it will ever be fully polished :doh:

 

[dmraco]

Well my new files came yesterday.  After planing some careful marks on the guitar, this is the interim result with the ROUGH raps.  I must say I am very happy.  I am going to finish the work with a finer file to ease the need for huge amounts of sanding.  You can still see my guidelines that I used for reference.  They are on the side too.  About 1/16 of inch left to remove.  Less in some areas.  This will also help create a crisp line on the body.

  I also will take out more material on the lower horn.  Of course I pick some of the hardest woods to file a body contour.  The tummy cut will go much faster in the basswood.

 

[Cagey]

Looks great! Gotta be a lotta work, though.

 

[dmraco]

Looks great! Gotta be a lotta work, though.

Thanks Cagey.
I am about 2 hours into it.  I tried using a small belt sander but it was not giving me that hard edge the file did.  I may use it for the tummy cut as I do not mind a more rolled edge there. 

I took a few measurement on my own Vela to get the contour and eyeballed it when masking using some pinstripe tape.  I was pretty spot on.  I just needed to go a little deeper on the most carved section by the forearm.

 

[rgand]

Outstanding. Well worth the extra work. I can appreciate what you did there since I just did the contours on the body I'm building and that took some time to get right. You're working all the way around it and keeping a nice even line.

 

[BigSteve22]

Great looking contours! Watching with interest for future reference.  :headbang:

 

[dmraco]

Time for final sanding.  This is going to be sexy

 

[DangerousR6]

...... :toothy12: