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I've made two classical necks both of which have (in my opinion significant - I'm a perfectionist) issues with the headplates and would like your opinions.

I have my own acrylic head-plate template and when I cut/routed out using the template, the head-plate ended up narrower that I anticipated - the double sided tape must have shifted while routing. That is issue # 1 but livable if you like them skinny.

The second and in my opinion more important issue is using the full LMI headstock routing jig using the directions carefully, the outside sides of the slots ended up at 6mm where every measurement I've seen states 8mm - happened on both necks. Jig aside (I'll call LMI to see what they say), but is the 6mm structurally sounds or is the standard 8mm there for a reason?

So I have two necks with skinny heads and 6mm sides the tuners sit on. If the 8mm is critical, I'm contacting LMI with the design flaw built into their jig, or have my user-error explained to me

Am I OK, or do I have as Robbie likes to say "an expensive set of firewood"?

Steve

It will probably hold, but it likely looks a bit off. Show us some pics? 8mm is really standard on 95% of guitars, and the rest are thicker...

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Build log

I don't recall seeing 8mm side walls, but I'll have to check. 6mm will work fine, you just have to be OK with it.

If you are not, and you build anyway, your self proclaimed perfectionist nature will do you in. The guitar will be fine, but you won't like it.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

I'll take a picture this afternoon, but one thing I didn't consider is the screw length of the tuners. I need to check if 6mm is enough width to accommodate the tuner and screw without the screw poking through the side. hmm.....

My wife says I need to start over - don't you hate it when they tell you to spend money? I just don't want to use the jig again if it is indeed engineered to be 6mm. I need to call LMI first.

For what it's worth, Sloan's book calls for a width of .25" which is 6.3 mm. So you sound OK to me.

Pat

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There are three kinds of people:

Those that make things happen,
those that watch things happen,
and those that wondered what happened.

Just checked the classicals that are in my shop for repair and finish work. Ten guitars ranged from 7.5 to just over 8. I think 6 will work but it will look a little thin. The tuner screws vary. Sloans and Rubners have really short screws. Schallers are longer . Some low end gotohs have really long screws. They would poke out the other side even at 8 mm, but you can always grind the points off before you put them in.

I think all of mine have ended up narrower than I anticipated, due to a plethora of errors. No problems. The only time I could see it being a problem, is with high end tuners, Graf, which have a brass sleeve that sticks out from the inside of the plate.

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I decided to just cut the screw short and if needed modify the jig for my next guitar to give me the 8mm I'm looking for.

I called LMI and they say all their guitars are at 6mm using the jig, so it must be fine. I do love the jig and would recommend it to anyone who has a b-day coming up!!

-Steve

Steve - I also thought the 6mm from the LMI jig was too thin, even before I tried it the first time. I went with a somewhat wider router base insert than they state in the directions, to get closer to 8mm. I'd let you know, but it's home in Delaware and I'm here in Spain until July. I'm guessing it was the next size wider insert in a standard set, with the same size bit.

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Jim Kirby
kirby@udel.edu