5-String Fanned Hybrid Headless

[togril]

I realise that I am resurrecting a VERY OLD but VERY BRILLIANT and historical thread:
I wonder if the builder ever managed to be able to set this instrument up; Those TWO deep pieces of carbon fibre
must have absolutley locked that neck into the original shape. I can not imagine how a truss rod would overcome that counter force - I think I could easily stand on those 2 pieces laid that way and am 110kg.
Am I wrong in this ? - I did not see anyone questioning this. I would love to know from anyone with experience of this.
Thank You
T. x

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I was worried about that on my Ric build, I used two 1/8” x 3/8” cf rods, one either side of the double action trussrod. The truss rod works fine, though I do “help” it a little by gently pushing the headstock the direction I want it to go. It’s very small movements involved, I’m adjusting it once or twice a year, no biggie so far. It’s an open question for me how much difference cf rods make, but a lot of builders and commercial guitar makers like Warmoth and Keisel use them, marketing hype? Jury still out, but it does no harm either,

 

[charlie monroe]

I would be over the moon if @Dave Higham would be kind enough to return to TB and post up more of his work.

 

[Ol'Bass'ead]

I may be wrong, but I was under the impression that not only do CF bars/rods stiffen the neck, but they also knock down the resonance of the neck so you dont have any dead spots.

 

[Rob Page]

To make a routing template for it I wrapped the curved side of it in painter’s tape; both sides and the edge. Three sides of it are straight so strips of wood were butted up to them and screwed down. A fourth strip was profiled to the same approximate curve and then spread with a layer of polyester mastic used for car-body repairs (Bondo?). This was then pushed up against the curved surface, screwed down and left to harden. When it became rubbery and started to harden I trimmed off the surplus that squeezed out.

I'm not really following this but would love to understand. Can you give any more detail?

 

[Rob Page]

I put them in the lathe and bored a 2.5mm hole through and then parted them off and chamfered each end of the hole.

Because, of course you did. You my friend, are a God.

 

[Beej]

Because, of course you did. You my friend, are a God.

LOL I bet I've read this thread three dozen times. It's a resource to say the least. I've also saved most of the pics for posterity.

 

[charlie monroe]

LOL I bet I've read this thread three dozen times. It's a resource to say the least. I've also saved most of the pics for posterity.

Just this one?

I have all of Dave's builds bookmarked. If I had much of a memory, then they would all reside there.

 

[Beej]

Just this one?

I have all of Dave's builds bookmarked. If I had much of a memory, then they would all reside there.

I've got them marked from sites all across the interwebz. He posted cool stuff in a few places, but always seemed to be site specific. His acoustics are insaneballs...

 

[charlie monroe]

I've got them marked from sites all across the interwebz. He posted cool stuff in a few places, but always seemed to be site specific. His acoustics are insaneballs...

Link please

 

[RichterScale]

His scarf joint method is simple and brilliant. If you're not carving the neck as one piece from deeper stock, that's the way to do it.
If that hasn't become the standard by now, I'd be surprised.

 

[Rob Page]

OK here's another installment.

Starting on the string anchors, made from mild steel bar. The only stuff I can find easily in the DIY stores is this hot-rolled stuff so I had a bit of machining and filing to do.

View attachment 1983715


String anchors finished. Sorry, no intermediate photos but it was just hacksaw, mill, drill, tap, files and belt sander.

View attachment 1983716


Here they are with their corresponding pieces of threaded rod. Stainless steel as it happens.

View attachment 1983717


Threaded rods fitted using threadlock. Again the only one I could find locally. The red stuff would have been better but I think this should be OK. If they unscrew I’ll have to try to get some red (or solder them).

View attachment 1983718


Finally here are all the bits and pieces together with 5 black nylon washers to go between the knobs and the ebony block.

View attachment 1983719


String anchors and knobs assembled.

View attachment 1983720


And cover in place.

View attachment 1983721



So far so good, I think, but before I put the finishing touches to this I’m going to have to start on the body, as I want to use the off-cuts from the body to inlay the cover and the pickup covers.

So… back soon and thanks for watching.

Insane. Wow.

 

[Funky40]

WoW, Wow, wow, just WoW

Congratulations ! and thanks for sharing !

 

[Passini]

Wow David, this is incredible!