Building A Neck Thru Body Guitar

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:06 pm

Try this again

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:18 pm

Looks like I might need a new key board, this one keeps missing strokes.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Wed Jun 15, 2005 10:57 pm

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 2:37 am

Dale, the cool thing about this for me is I am seeing these things for the first time, really. I.e, the walnut wings. Never knew how that was done, now I do. BTW, do you have a picture of what the finished guitar will look like? Maybe you've done one before that's similar that you could post. If not, it will be fun watching it emerge from raw wood to its final "glorious' finished state.

Now, what's up with the guitar that shaped like a "Hofner?" Nice.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 6:36 am

Could be a solid Spruce top/curly Maple back and sides replica. Occasionally I build myself an instrument. Hofners are plywood, this one is all solid woods. A nice Bass it will be. I'll post pix when it's finished. The guitar I'm building here is similar to the 600/300 series Ricks. Kind of a little of both, Dbl. cutaway/neck thru body/
neck and body binding and maybe some sparkling inlays. This thread is to give the Forum a view of how an Electric Solid Body Guitar similar to a Rickenbacker is constructed from start to finish. For those who have always wondered, this is why I'm doing this project. The next steps will be the truss rod and the finger board.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:05 pm

Lots of work done this evening. These steps show how to set up a band saw with a fence to resaw your Rosewood for a finger board at rough size of 9/32nds inch. Then to the table saw cutting it to size, 2 1/4 inch wide. Using a fret scale, square and dial caliper, I am laying out the 25 inch scale with a pencil, then to the small miter box with a .022 fret saw, I will cut 21 fret slots. This is important to keep them within .002 of placement, other wise your guitar might not tune up accurately. Next I will mark the back of the finger board for those great crushed pearl inlays. This is cut on the table saw 1 at a time with the finger board upside down. Then using a small chisel I clean out the excess Rose Wood. Making the truss rod I use 3/16ths inch steel rod, thread 1 end with a 10/32 Std. thread. Measure and bend the rod so that the threaded end is 1/2 inch longer than the unthreaded rod. I use a brass 1/4 inch backing plate for the nut to push against.Now the peg head is marked from a template and band sawed to rough size. The back of the peg head is also cut away to a rough thickness. Last up is the start of the pearl inlays. Looks funky, but when the resin is sanded off you'll see the beauty of the inlays. lots of pictures to post

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:52 pm

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Thu Jun 16, 2005 10:58 pm

I'll have to post 1 picture again,
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0139.jpg
This is threading the 3/16th steel rod with a 10/32 Std. Thread

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:57 am

Dale, I had no idea you were going to do inlays like that - AWESOME! Those inlays against the very rich rosewood you slected will look incredible.

Is it going to remain a solid body?

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:21 am

Yes, I'll be using Alder for the body wings that attach the same way the peg head wings were glued on.

jwilli · Post by **jwilli** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 6:45 am

Dale, the pics and commentary are causing me to drool. BTW, instead of typing every all the info, copy and paste it.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:35 am

Thanks John. I haven't forgotten your requests, I'm good with guitars but stupid on computers. Run that by me on how to copy and paste pictutres from photobucket.com to the Forum site.
Now to go level that finger board. Just a little note incase anyone is wondering about this instrument being very close to a Rickenbacker. Before I started this project I talked to John Hall about doing this so as to let people see 1st hand what goes into building an Electric Neck Thru Body Guitar. This will be close as possible to a 600 series without infringing on their design. Oh, the most important thing: it's not for sale. As I stated before, I do not build Rickenbacker replicas for sale.

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 8:24 am

While these inlays are close, they are in no way the exact same thing as the ones used on the Rickenbackers of the 60's/70's. vintage. That material has been long gone and it seems there is no supply for it since 72.
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0150.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0147.jpg

dale_fortune · Post by **dale_fortune** » Fri Jun 17, 2005 10:04 pm

Well here's what happened this evening after dinner. The simple stuff, sanding peg head to size and shape, drilling pilot holes for the tuners,sanding the body wings on the ocillating spindle sander and the belt edge sander. Lots of sanding steps from here on. Then the body wings are run thru the planer to 1 5/16ths inch thickness, this shows the sides of the wings, final thickness will be 1 1/4 inch after final sanding. The last photo shows what the guitar will look like. It is about 1/2 was thru completion. A majority of the time to be comsumed is in the finish work. Hand sanding and applying the Lacquer or C.V.
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0169.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0170.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0171.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0188.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0189.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0175.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0176.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0177.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0178.jpg
http://photobucket.com/albums/b53/DaleFortune/000_0184.jpg

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Sat Jun 18, 2005 4:15 am

Ah, Dale, wow, beautiful. Elegant looking guitar. The neck is going to be stunning.

Is it to early to ask these questions?
1. What kind hardware are you planning; tuners, bridge, tailpiece, etc., and electronics; Pickups (toasters maybe, 2 or 3), controls?

2. Pickgaurd/trussrod cover?

3. Have you settled on a color yet?

4. BTW, what is the nut width going to be?

Hoping to get a little peek into final look.

I think its great that you got permission from John to do this (thanks John).