Screwed-up neck.....help?

jongor · #1 06-03-2006, 09:59 AM

I'm working on my first neck build. Laminated maple & purpleheart with a scarf joint.

It's been a great learning experience, though humbling. I'm beginning to appreciate why handmade guitars cost so much!

I had a couple of router mishaps when shaping the neck. I made an MDF template and routed it using a following bit. At one corner of the heel I tried to move the router against the rotation of the blade and chipped off one of the corners.

In an effort to salvage the neck I put some wood putty on the corner, but don't think that's going to work.

Is there any way I could fix this? I'm thinking that I could cut the heel off and glue a piece of maple on and re-route it. But how would I clamp it?

Like this:

Is there anything else I could do?

DougP · #2 06-03-2006, 10:08 AM

that looks like the portion that will be hidden in the neck pocket, i would just chalk it up to experience. i think going to any extreme to get rid of that may cause even further problems.

jongor · #3 06-03-2006, 10:12 AM

It does extend to the front, which I guess will be hidden by the fingerboard. I could just round it over, but that would make a funny looking neck pocket.

Kibuddy · #4 06-03-2006, 11:02 AM

I think I'd just leave it. It may look a little messy, but some clever woodworking could mask that right up.

jongor · #5 06-03-2006, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kibuddy

I think I'd just leave it. It may look a little messy, but some clever woodworking could mask that right up.

Like what? Any ideas?

**Rodent** · #6 06-03-2006, 12:16 PM

if you cut off the heel and glue on another piece, you will build a weak point into the neck in a location where you need reliable strength

my thoughts would be to make this a 21 fret neck and overhang the fingerboard. route the neck pocket like you did the neck clean, utilize a pickguard to cover your boo-boo, and then let the extended fretboard cover the remaining heel slop.

if you do it right, you'll only see the damage when you have the body/neck apart

of course if you were making this bass for a customer or with the intent to sell it ... I'd then be saying it's time for a new neck blank - you've got a trophy for the shop wall to remind you not to do this again

all the best,

R

THIRSTYGUMS · #7 06-03-2006, 01:53 PM

mask it up with maple dust mixed with pva and stick it all together, that chip wont affect the tone or playability at all, Plus as you say the fingerboard is going on top.
Itll be GRAND!

jongor · #8 06-03-2006, 05:49 PM

Thanks for the advice guys.

I think I'll just round off the corner and make an uneven neck pocket.

A good learning experience!

gfried84 · #9 06-04-2006, 10:40 AM

If that happens again save the chip and sometimes it will fit back together so tightly that you can see the crack. This happened to a tele I was building I took chip and glued it right back in place with some pva. I can not even find the chip on the neck when I look for it.

Musiclogic · #10 06-05-2006, 02:50 AM

A nice easy way to fix this is to smooth the damaged area, take some thin ply's of maple, glue them to the damaged area, and clamp them in place. (enough to repair the mistake). Then sand it out to your original shape.

As this is more cosmetic than structural, this will work just fine, and save you from a funny looking neck pocket that may be harder for you to accomplish than staying square. IMO

Denyle Guitars · #11 06-05-2006, 11:02 AM

You could shorten the fretboard and notch the heal. Then cover it with the neck pup, like PRS does with his bolt-on necks.

jongor · #12 06-05-2006, 08:19 PM

Ok, now it's REALLY screwed up!

Nice work huh? Wanna buy a fixer-upper neck?

Dusty G · #13 06-05-2006, 08:32 PM

Make a 3 string dude!

**Rodent** · #14 06-05-2006, 08:42 PM

that just hurts to look at!

all the best,

R

Suburban · #15 06-07-2006, 02:59 AM

Think you just saved yourself some time at the heel end...
Best of luck next time - and best preps before using power tools...

NamelessOne · #16 06-07-2006, 05:49 PM

find out how to do a graft repair, and use some exotic for it. mirror it on the other side of the neck, and claim it's because that wood's more comfortable to play on when you're just grooving, and the others are better for higher up stuff.

Rule 1 of lutherie (or most woodworking): make thy mistakes look intentional.

Dirk Diggler · #17 06-07-2006, 07:08 PM

Too bad the new yikes was on the other side. But you could still cut/sand off the whole maple piece that got cut and replace it. That way it's only one little glue-up and reshaping and you're back in business. Don't give up yet there is always a way.
And I love NamelessOnes quote, it's very true, much like playing there's usually a way to improv your way out of trouble.
Good luck,
Dirk

jongor · #18 06-07-2006, 08:45 PM

Thanks for the encouragement!

I was thinking about sawing off that one maple side and trying to replace it, but it's a scarf joint headstock, so that could be tricky.

Just spent the last hour or so steaming off the fretboard, about 2/3 done.

NamelessOne · #19 06-07-2006, 09:56 PM

take off just the part labeled, with the neck face down on a band saw (rods out, obviously). replace with fancy wood of choice.

just my idea for it, would require some nice joinery. maybe make it wenge, or something you like the feel of

ehque · #20 06-07-2006, 10:50 PM

i realise the fingerboard's also been overcut. thanks for the lesson in proper routing... but i really dont see how you might be able to fix it without compromsing neck integrity in some way or other. id bandsaw that side off but as you said its a scarf joint.

i mean, it was a nice neck. time to bury it and move on, i say. or you can install a small tuner there, a la bassugery.