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Be sure to do it when you rout the binding channels. Easy to forget. I have "did you shellac the top?" Written on my binding channel rig.

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Thanks, Terence! I appreciate that tip.

The height adjustment on my vise stand is unbeatable.



Finally cut the neck out of the hunk of mahogany.



I'm pretty happy with it so far.



Almost perfectly quarter sawn headstock.

That vice stand is way cool...I want one!
Nice chunk of hog....!

Splitting the billet to make the brace wood.



I think this is pretty good. Pretty straight grain.



Woodworking tools can bite!



This brace is rejected. The grain is too wavy.

It always amazes me what people throw out. It works so well with the vise on it.

Things are about to get scary as I prepare to cut out the sound hole. I really needs to be perfect without chipping or tear out.



I got lucky again. Good result! Phew.

As for chipout protection, I found Stewmac's carbide bit, while expensive cuts very smoothly without any fuzzy edge or chip outs. Now I do not know how long they will last but they work very well, much better than the HSS end mills I used to use.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Planing the X-braces.



Planing the X-braces.



Working on the X-braces. A laminate of Lutz spruce on the outside and Koa on the inside.



Rip cutting a plank of Spanish Cedar for what will be the kerfed linings.



Trying to be efficient by planing three strips at once. It worked!



Planing the bevel onto the lining.



Almost done. The last step before installing is to kerf the strips. I'll show that in the next post.

Oh my, that is looking really nice. I'm looking forward to seeing some more pics and progress reports.

Cheers!

Kerfing the Spanish Cedar linings.



Kerfed linings are done. They will have to wait their turn to be installed.



A diversion... I worked on an ebony pick guard. Shape is not quite there yet. If I decide to use it, it will be the last thing glued to the guitar. I have time to think about it.

This is the blank of mahogany I cut a one piece neck out of last week. I am now attempting to make a bird's beak joint between the neck and headstock.




I think it took most of y day to figure out the layout. Believe it or not, there isn't much info on the internet about this joint. A little bit, not much. No dimensions. I've written them on the wood in case it comes out right I'll have something to go with should I choose to build another guitar with this style neck.



Side dimensions.



Getting the chance to use my magnificent Independence Dovetail saw. I think Lie Nielsen bought them out 13 or so years ago.



Close up for tool dorks.



Sawing and paring...



Let the chiseling begin. Using an old Stanley #50 Everlasting chisel.



Paring with a Robert Sorby paring chisel.



Rough fit. Tomorrow I'll do the final fit.



The headstock and neck still have to be shaped.

Here's the neck and headstock assembly held together with gravity. The head plate is Madagascar Rosewood.

This is why this particular headstock/neck joint is call a Bird's Beak joint.



Getting ready to shape the neck.



I'm using a paring chisel...



...and also a rasp that I bought about 15 years ago from a nautical supply store on the embarcadero in SF. I don't think it's still there. The upstairs storage room was loaded with new old stock of all kinds of tools. I bought a bunch of files and chisels for peanuts.



It's a slow process. Lots of touching and feeling.



Little by little... I still have a lot of material to remove.

Great progress!
You originally cut a 1-piece neck - why the switch to the birds-beak?
What was the the inspiration for the laminated x-braces? How wide will they end up?

So what advantage does a bird's beak neck joint offer? It seems to be far more complicated than a scarf joint.

_________________
Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

Thanks, Robbie. I'm well aware that screw ups are lurking everywhere. I bought a piece of mahogany that makes two necks, so I thought I'd make two. I really like the birds beak joint with the real volute. I thought I'd try it and see which neck looked best. The Stahl design (Larson Bros.) calls for a laminated X-brace. It will be significantly smaller when I get done with it. The design calls for 9/16" x 5/16".

Hi Tai Fu. It's more complicated. I can't say I know for sure if it's stronger. More than anything, I liked the idea of attempting it. It's an elegant joint. If it comes out nicely than I'll be happy.

Some more refining. I think I still have to remove a lot of material.

What do folks think... The "B" is a tad higher than I intended. Generally I'm pleased for a first inlay. I'm I being too anal?

Headstock slots drilled and cut lines laid out. This is my second headstock. I screwed the first one by trying to freehand drill a 1/2" diameter bit and expected it to come out on the other side where I wanted it to. Fat chance. It wandered. The good news is this head stock fits really well and is much tighter.



Headstock slots roughed in. More refining tomorrow.



Side view of headstock and volute.



Another angle of the back of the headstock and volute.

Sanding the headstock slots.



Laying out the fret slots.

Getting ready to assemble the bird's beak joint.



Here its goes.



Using a nylon strap and clasp to clamp the headstock and neck during the glue up. I'm using Hot Hide Glue for all you glue aficionados.



Trimming the base of the head plate where it meets the nut.



Gluing the head plate to the headstock. Using an old headstock as a clamping caul.



Tapering the ebony fret board.



Getting ready to make the "ramps."



Using a 1/2" round rasp.



The finished ramps.

Lovely work Steve,
You know your way around hand tools.

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Regards from RangeView, Bill

Thank you P Bill!!!