New Thickness/ Profile

RAHAZ · #1 02-18-2008, 01:01 PM

I know the profile of a neck is a subjective matter, my question is what is the minimum thickness you guys have under any given truss rod?

On my current build I have a Hot Rod two way. I have laid out the profile per the attached but the neck feels like and old Les Paul neck (read: BASEBALL BAT)

allenhumble · #2 02-18-2008, 01:06 PM

This is a 5 string?

RAHAZ · #3 02-18-2008, 01:15 PM

Yes, it is a 5 string.

Jonsbasses · #4 02-18-2008, 01:25 PM

Over 1/8" of thickness is safe. Which is a little more than 9/16" or .625" not including the fingerboard for the hot rod truss rod, that is if you routed precisely 7/16" of depth. The neck I am working on now has a fingerboard thickness of .200" and neck thickness of .650, so .850" total thickness. I plan on switching to a thinner truss rod so I can get my necks just a tad more slim.

Don't forget to calculate everything properly so you don't get too thin on the neck.

SDB Guitars · #5 02-18-2008, 01:27 PM

yeah, the generally accepted minimum thickness beneath the truss rod is 1/8".

RAHAZ · #6 02-18-2008, 01:37 PM

Okay. Awesome. I routed the channel dead on to the 7/16 mark as the top of the brass ends sit flush with the top of the neck. Looks like I have a LOT more carving to do.

Anyone not put silicone at the end of their truss rods?

Jonsbasses · #7 02-18-2008, 02:40 PM

No need under the brass inserts. If the route is straight, then when you tighten the truss rod it certainly wont move and will stay in place since it's under tension. However, the PVC material may rattle and StewMac recommends using a bit of silicone beneath it. I have used silicone in one neck and none in two and I can't tell the difference. When the rod is under tension, there is zero rattle.

gfried84 · #8 02-18-2008, 08:40 PM

I feel that the stewmac rods move the neck the best. I usually follow the rule for 1/8". By looking at a truss rod function you can see that the most movement is in the center of the rod and this is consequently where the neck will begin to fill out unless you are building a paper thin neck. I have built a few necks on the thin side and have never had a problem with it. I have built an acoustic that went way too thin and there was still no problem after years and that was using mahogany.

SDB Guitars · #9 02-18-2008, 09:00 PM

I generally make my neck blanks either 5/8" thick (occasionally) or 3/4" thick (more often than not)... this allows for the thickness needed by the truss rod, and doesn't waste the wood.

Jonsbasses · #10 02-18-2008, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDB Guitars

I generally make my neck blanks either 5/8" thick (occasionally) or 3/4" thick (more often than not)... this allows for the thickness needed by the truss rod, and doesn't waste the wood.

This is important. Especially if you decide to use a rasp or microplane to shape your neck, you'll end up with popeye forearms by the time you're done with the job.

RAHAZ · #11 02-19-2008, 09:00 AM

I'm suffering the Popeye syndrome now as I cut my blank from 3" down to 1 1/2" tick at the neck to 2" at the heel. Makes for a nice workout though.

I have another blank that is 3"Wx2 1/2"Hx48"L. I guess I can get a couple of instruments from this piece if I use a scarf joint at the neck?

SDB Guitars · #12 02-19-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAHAZ

I'm suffering the Popeye syndrome now as I cut my blank from 3" down to 1 1/2" tick at the neck to 2" at the heel. Makes for a nice workout though.

I have another blank that is 3"Wx2 1/2"Hx48"L. I guess I can get a couple of instruments from this piece if I use a scarf joint at the neck?

With a thin kerf bandsaw blade and careful saw work, I could get three 5/8" thicm, neck blanks out of that.

If you are trying to do it without a scarf joint, you could get two necks out of that. Just plane the faces true, then bandsaw the basic back profile out with the two necks laid out headstock-to-heel (see attachment)

RAHAZ · #13 02-19-2008, 01:34 PM

Cool. When I started on this first build I made a very large blank. Split it in two, one I am carving on for this bass the second looks like I will be splitting up for a couple "piccolo basses" (read: the G word)

Rudeboy · #14 02-21-2008, 08:03 AM

I just wanted to thank you for asking that question
i'm in the same position now, hot rod truss rod and a really thick neck and i'm absolutely terrified of carving it too much

but if 9/16" is the goal, it looks like i can go another 1/8" and be safe

RAHAZ · #15 02-21-2008, 11:00 AM

Glad I could ask a question that would help someone else out.

I drew up the neck profile in negative and then cut it out of cardboard so I could check as I went along carving. This method has worked well for me.