- Jan 28, 2009
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- Owner: Moonshine Custom Guitars
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Peavey T-40 Replacement neck construction (long thread + pics)
- Thread starter Callan
- Start date
So it's been MONTHS since I started this (and I'm still not done!), but this is a great project and the results are awesome. I still need to lacquer/buff/polish it, but that's the easy part.
The logo came out ok. The "T-40" font was spot-on on my desktop, then when I printed it off with my laptop, I realized that my font folders were different....so the font is different. I didn't want to waste the decal vinyl as it's kind of expensive stuff, so I kept it as is. Still looks ok! Waiting to have a tattoo artist friend (with a much steadier hand than myself) pinstripe the headstock and then I'll throw some lacquer on it.
Here is the original and the replacement side-by-side. If I had to do it over again (and I am - I got a commissioned build for another one - maybe a TB guy, not sure! He and I are both stoked about it) I would lessen the steepness of the volute. It doesn't bother me, but it's abrupt. Oh well! Still feels good.
The logo came out ok. The "T-40" font was spot-on on my desktop, then when I printed it off with my laptop, I realized that my font folders were different....so the font is different. I didn't want to waste the decal vinyl as it's kind of expensive stuff, so I kept it as is. Still looks ok! Waiting to have a tattoo artist friend (with a much steadier hand than myself) pinstripe the headstock and then I'll throw some lacquer on it.
Here is the original and the replacement side-by-side. If I had to do it over again (and I am - I got a commissioned build for another one - maybe a TB guy, not sure! He and I are both stoked about it) I would lessen the steepness of the volute. It doesn't bother me, but it's abrupt. Oh well! Still feels good.
Well I suppose I'm necro-bumping my own thread here....Sadly, STILL not done with this T-40 neck, but I had a lot of things happen that put it on hold for a good while.
I am currently in the process of finishing spraying this one AND another one that I've built, so the next few posts will be dedicated to the new one.
Enjoy!
I am currently in the process of finishing spraying this one AND another one that I've built, so the next few posts will be dedicated to the new one.
Enjoy!
Got a request to build a neck for a customer for his T-40: 1 piece maple neck, Ebony fretboard, abalone dot inlays, SS fretwire (Med. Jumbo), double action truss rod, nitro finish, built to the original Peavey specs.
You'll notice that there was a mineral streak in the headstock (and subsequently near the volute) that I could NOT see when I laid out the profile. The customer is ok with this - kinda like a birthmark - but it just goes to show that there may always lie something underneath!
Slab maple and the ebony (the ebony DOES have some slight waviness/flame to it)
Cut to rough shape, truss rod routed.
Fretboard glued on.
At this point I bought a house and moved, and did some work over the next few months (but neglected to take many pics)...
Inlays done.
Sanding the radius - took this up to 3,000 grit. Turned out amazingly reflective.
You'll notice that there was a mineral streak in the headstock (and subsequently near the volute) that I could NOT see when I laid out the profile. The customer is ok with this - kinda like a birthmark - but it just goes to show that there may always lie something underneath!
Slab maple and the ebony (the ebony DOES have some slight waviness/flame to it)
Cut to rough shape, truss rod routed.
Fretboard glued on.
At this point I bought a house and moved, and did some work over the next few months (but neglected to take many pics)...
Inlays done.
Sanding the radius - took this up to 3,000 grit. Turned out amazingly reflective.
Time for frets!
Fret bevel - rolled the edges on this board and it feels great and broken-in.
Fret bevel - rolled the edges on this board and it feels great and broken-in.
Onto carving - went with the old faithfuls: Spokeshave and rasps.
Here you can see the reverse side of the mineral streak. It lessened in size greatly when I had finalized the shape, but still, you couldn't see ANYTHING from the blank board. Kinda bummed me out.
About done with carving and sanding the profile - a very nice, thin C shape. Feels very similar to the original, only slightly thicker.
Heel thicknessed to 28mm, mounting holes tapped, and bolted on. The ebony combination with this looks SO good.
Sealer coat:
And more nitro....
Hangin' with the boys.
Ready for the logo application which now almost identically matches the Original T-40 logo - I did away with the other one - then a final few coats, wet sand, buff, polish, finish the nut, fret level/recrown/dress, and it's off!
Here you can see the reverse side of the mineral streak. It lessened in size greatly when I had finalized the shape, but still, you couldn't see ANYTHING from the blank board. Kinda bummed me out.
About done with carving and sanding the profile - a very nice, thin C shape. Feels very similar to the original, only slightly thicker.
Heel thicknessed to 28mm, mounting holes tapped, and bolted on. The ebony combination with this looks SO good.
Sealer coat:
And more nitro....
Hangin' with the boys.
Ready for the logo application which now almost identically matches the Original T-40 logo - I did away with the other one - then a final few coats, wet sand, buff, polish, finish the nut, fret level/recrown/dress, and it's off!
Got the logos applied this weekend - going to cover these up with some more nitro and get the pinstripe on. Coming along nicely!
So after a long summer, happy to say that the T-40 necks (first and second one) are done, and I've begun a third replacement neck for a fellow TB'er. It'll be quartersawn curly maple with a curly maple fretboard to match his original.
The nitro buffed out great (though I truly despise finishing) and I have an awesome local artist who specializes in pin striping helping me out. I used LMII's synthetic fingerboard oil on the ebony and it really, really made it pop. Didn't take pics of the maple/maple neck yet. I'll get to it since that one is for my own T-40 and I've already shipped out the maple/ebony neck.
Really pleased with the way that these turned out! Much more stable than the originals. Looking forward to reviving more of these 30+ year old basses! Long live the T-40!
The nitro buffed out great (though I truly despise finishing) and I have an awesome local artist who specializes in pin striping helping me out. I used LMII's synthetic fingerboard oil on the ebony and it really, really made it pop. Didn't take pics of the maple/maple neck yet. I'll get to it since that one is for my own T-40 and I've already shipped out the maple/ebony neck.
Really pleased with the way that these turned out! Much more stable than the originals. Looking forward to reviving more of these 30+ year old basses! Long live the T-40!
Bringing this one back from the dead (again)...four and a half years later! Figured it's an extension of the original project, so I'll keep it continuous.
After a hell of a hiatus (and moving, again...this time to another state), I've been working on some more projects and decided to take on a few more commissions for replacement T-40 necks, in addition to making about another half dozen guitars. The latest few use CNC'd templates (still all hand-carved) that I made on my X-Carve that I didn't have for the first three replacement neck builds that I did. I'm much happier with the results, and the accuracy is far superior. I'm currently working on my 6th T-40 neck, third done with the CNC'd templates. I've sort of found my groove with making them.
The latest one is a 5-piece curly maple and mahogany veneer neck with a curly maple fretboard, handmade aluminum nut, Jescar SS medium jumbos, Stew-Mac Hot rod, 1/4"-20 threaded inserts (my go-to), and full dot inlays. Customer wasn't worried about the pinstripe, so we opted to go without it. Tru-Oil finish all over. Shipped this one back in November.
Currently doing another commissioned one, and I'd be happy to take on a few more if anyone is interested, especially now that I've got a semi-permanent shop setup. And the space. My old 9'x22' garage was a bit too tight.
And for good measure, a semi-hollow ES-335 that I finished up around Thanksgiving. Started this 5-6 years ago, and found the time to finish it.
After a hell of a hiatus (and moving, again...this time to another state), I've been working on some more projects and decided to take on a few more commissions for replacement T-40 necks, in addition to making about another half dozen guitars. The latest few use CNC'd templates (still all hand-carved) that I made on my X-Carve that I didn't have for the first three replacement neck builds that I did. I'm much happier with the results, and the accuracy is far superior. I'm currently working on my 6th T-40 neck, third done with the CNC'd templates. I've sort of found my groove with making them.
The latest one is a 5-piece curly maple and mahogany veneer neck with a curly maple fretboard, handmade aluminum nut, Jescar SS medium jumbos, Stew-Mac Hot rod, 1/4"-20 threaded inserts (my go-to), and full dot inlays. Customer wasn't worried about the pinstripe, so we opted to go without it. Tru-Oil finish all over. Shipped this one back in November.
Currently doing another commissioned one, and I'd be happy to take on a few more if anyone is interested, especially now that I've got a semi-permanent shop setup. And the space. My old 9'x22' garage was a bit too tight.
And for good measure, a semi-hollow ES-335 that I finished up around Thanksgiving. Started this 5-6 years ago, and found the time to finish it.
Hey Callan...what are you cahrging these days for a T-40 replacement neck?
PM'd.....again!
If Callan can't help you, check with Jeremy Kirsch (known as Freekmagnet here on TalkBass). He's made a few Peavey replacement necks too. You can PM him and ask. Here's his main thread over in Luthier's Corner:
Sirena Instrumentos Musicales - Expositions and Aspirations Regarding Luthiery in Fillmore, CA
Thanks! I sent him a PM so here's hoping I can get a new neck. Peavey necks are just so darn hard to find
