Official Luthiers Forum!

The newest Luthier Tips du Jour instructional video is on Youtube. The topic is Neck Carving. I have added a new feature, subtitles. I have done them in both English and Portuguese and you can translate them into any other language by using the CC option on Youtube.
As always, comments and discussion are welcome.
Enjoy!

WOW! Excellent! Thank you Rob.

Rob, I'm just curious, why didn't you make your guitar building DVD in video format like these clips in stead of pictures?

Because the video format is just too time consuming and expensive to produce. We are not talking about a huge market here. You are looking at approx. 15-20 hours of my time in that small video on neck carving. In small bursts like this and with Youtube I am able to take on the project but producing and full blown video is a different story. I just got done doing that with two videos for Kent Everett. (voicing and set up) It has taken almost a year to complete them.

Besides, I think the still shot and overdubbed audio format is a great means of cutting out the bla bla bla and shop machinary noise of a normal video and getting right to the point. The photography can be more in depth as well. If you have noticed I have tried to do that in my Youtube videos as well by using the overdub format for audio.

You are a genius.

Thank you for all you have done and are doing.

Robbie, is Kent Everett in the Atlanta area? I'm going to be at Ft. Benning for a year starting June the first. I'd like to visit him if I could.

Thanks again.

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"After forty-nine years of violin building, I have decided that the search for a varnish is similar to the fox hunt. The fun is in the hunt."
Jack Batts Maker and Repairer of Fine Violins

Thank you Chuck. I don't know if I would consider myself a genious. I have been fortunate to have good teachers and I am grateful to them. One of them being Kent Everett. He is in the Atlanta area. Check out his website http://www.everettguitars.com

Thank you Chuck. I don't know if I would consider myself a genious. I have been fortunate to have good teachers and I am grateful to them. One of them being Kent Everett. He is in the Atlanta area. Check out his website http://www.everettguitars.com

Very cool, and great job on this one. Thanks for the plug on the neck templates! One thing to keep in mind when using those neck templates, is you must cut the fretboard taper by using the neck template if you want to replicate a specific neck. Otherwise, you can just use the curves from them. Also, another tip that I think is very useful in the final stages of sanding, is to mark the neck with pencil or chalk, then sand like you were showing. You will be able to see low spots more clearly. Great job on this, and man you are fast worker!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Nice video Robbie!!

Question wrt Spokeshave. Do you prefer a Curved or flat bottom?

For reference, I am looking at the Lie-Nielson Spokeshaves:
http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=514

For reference, which of these spokeshaves would you recommend for Guitar necks? And any other model recomendations?

I am getting near to the point where I will be carving a neck, so I want to make sure I have the correct tools.

One more question, which rasp do you recommend? I have seen alot of references for #49 or #50 Cabinet Rasp.

Thx!

Glenn

Robbie - where do you get the time? You are much more efficient than I am.

Far from being apprehensive, neck carving is by far my favorite part of the whole process. Very meditative. Maybe I should be a sculptor instead It's fun to see someone else do it though - there is always something else to learn.

Jim

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu

Glenn,

I prefer the flat sole spokeshaves. I use a veritas but used Stanley cheap ones for years. Keep 'em sharp. In the video you see I am just using a cheap 8 inch rasp. The Nicholson 10" pattern maker cabinet rasps work really well.

Robbie - Do you know when these are going to be ready for sale?

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John Ressler

Time?? Who has enough time these days? 7 days a week is certainly not enough time in my case.
I also enjoy the neck carving process. I kind get in my zone and before you know it, there is a neck that came out of a piece of wood.

Yes, they are being duplicated and packaged as we speak and they should be ready for sale within 2 weeks, three weeks tops.

perfect, as the rest of them thank you very much for these tutorials Robbie

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Olivier Gauthier
Montreal, QC

Many of you have expressed your gratitude for these Luthier Tips du Jour videos that I have been doing for the past few months. I am glad that they are of benefit and that the lutherie community in general is enjoying and benefitting from them. These videos take an incredible amount of time and energy to produce and I have almost thrown in the towel on several occasions. I recently added a paypal donation button to my website. If you are enjoying these videos please wander on over to my website and make a donation so that I can keep these things coming. http://www.obrienguitars.com

Hey! I recognize those drawers under your bench. I have the same Taunton book.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Glenn check out northbayforge.com for mini draw knives. It's a great tool for neck carving.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Robbie,
Thanks so much for all your hard work. I'm heading over your site to donate now!

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

Robbie,

Your videos have been very useful to me. I sure apreciate you taking teh time to make them. I'm sure it helps newbies like me more than the experienced though I'm sure they get something out of them as well.

Just made my donation.

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Formerly known as Adaboy.......

Thank you for your support Darryl and Tracy.

Hi Robbie

Thanks for doing these great videos, they have been helpful and are a great reference. A donation is on the way by paypal.

Thanks again
Fred

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks Fred.

Another great one, Robbie. I love the high-speed action especially!

I also can't stop wondering if snakes have lips...

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

thanks man your vids are the best guitar building ones ive seen
makes me feel a bit more ready for that lovely body i have sitting away
in the corner waiting .........

That parrot inlay is actually a fine example of some beautiful marquetry. I will post some pics when they guitar is done in the next few weeks.