Neck dovetail joint the neck is attached to the body with a tapered sliding dovetail joint. Jul 30, 2016 since i have rough cut a few necks i decided to start making neck jigs. Inspired by another thread, i decided to try making a neck shaping jig. We have an erlewine neck jig at the shop that we made back in the 90s, but i havent used it in a long.
However, as soon as i began using it, one thing annoyed me. I got the idea for building this tool after seeing the stew mac erlewine neck jig. The correct neck alignment on any guitar is extremely important. A little bit about the dan erlewinestewartmacdonald neck jig. The stewmac neck jig has gone a long way to be what it is. Made from aluminum this jig allows for precise neck alignment and control giving you a perfect neck joint. May 01, 2014 dan erlewine developed the neck jig with a breakthrough idea. Dan erlewine developed the neck jig using the breakthrough idea of simulating string tension with the strings off. Despite the fact that i have never had a dissatisfied customer, i have been told that i cannot perform a perfect fret job without paying stewmac. The neck shape profile was drawn at the first, sixth and fifteenth frets and then offset by the distance the router bit extends beneath the router base. The first of these is a jig for routing the joint where the neck meets the guitar body. Erlewine wooden neck jig construction guitarras eletricas.
In 2001 he produced dan erlewines guitar shop an allnew dvd series on the same subjects. A the neck jig gave us a simple way to keep the frets in the same alignment with the string off by holding the neck in position. How to use the erlewine neck jig music theory being used youtube guitar tips shop atelier music guitar shophouse woodworking jigs, woodworking projects, carpentry, wood jig, making musical instruments, guitar building, guitar design, joinery, wood projects. Using the neck jig the erlewine neck jig is a string tension simulator. Music theory being used youtube guitar tips shop atelier music guitar shophouse. Since you started with a flat board and returned to a flat board, you have no need for a neck jig when building a new neck. Advanced fretting will teach you how to do professionallevel work on tricky fret jobs.
Here are the neck blanks ready for preliminary shaping. Acoustic guitar neck routing jig rds guitars and wood working. The concept is to mount the neck in a jig, fingerboard down, and have a router slide on top of radius templates. Erlewine neck jig workstation, how to use the erlewine neck jig. Finished my neck jig pics inside tools and shop chat. The neck angle on the set neck certified 7s and contemporaries is established by introducing the angle to the back of the heel. Stewmac erlewine neck jig workstation stewmac reverb. This truss rod channel routing jig has a base and two fences. Jim, the owner of custom fretted instruments in sparta, tennessee, told me that the best way to learn how to build a guitar is to build a guitar.
Apr 07, 2016 the erlewine neck jig from stew mac lets a repairer simulate neck tension on a guitar neck. I do not employ this technique anymore except in certain very rare circumstances. Building guitars with meshcam by john williams introduction. Speed up working with the erlewine neck jig youtube. Home of the string tension simulating neck jig for the discerning luthier. I figure the jigs will techniques of restoring wood antique find out more at. So after its cut out you will draw a centerline down the middle of the board which is 8 from the side in this case. Questionable old ways to straighten a neck with heat. Download these instructions for a clear, stepbystep guide to the most accurate fretwork ever. Jig saw any good jig saw and fine tooth blade for cutting the plastic control covers. I have the latest version, a great jig but still would benefit from a few small improvements seems like they just tried to make it simple for mass production. First up, i didnt design this one with the dial indicators so dont worry, i didnt forget them. Sn imports abn 21 955 464 407 trading as sje tools, po box 1150 oxley, qld 4075 australia.
Stewartmacdonald erlewine neck jig w vhs luthier series. Get your luthier on with this stewmac erlewine neck jig includes extensive vhs luthier series taught by erlewine. The inside scoop on the neck jig strange guitarworks. Apr 08, 2016 simple mod to speed up working with the erlewine neck jig. This tool is designed to set up the appropriate neck angle on the jig and then cut the joint on both the neck and the body of the guitar. Note that its loaded into the neck jig in playing position. Questionable old ways to straighten a neck with heat first, a caveat. I decided to use a length of rectangular steel tub. Discussion in luthiers corner started by tjclem, feb 14, 20.
We have an erlewine neck jig at the shop that we made back in the 90s, but i havent used it in a long time. The neck blank is now ready to go on the shaping jig. In my woeful ignorance, ive been doing fret jobs and setups for over 30 years without a neck jig. Dan erlewine developed the neck jig with a breakthrough idea. Jul 06, 20 the stewmac neck jig has gone a long way to be what it is. How to use the erlewine neck jig simulate string tension with the strings off for the most accurate fret and fingerboard work ever.
All the videos ive seen of people using the stewmac or vinson jig show them using a slotted straight edge to get the fingerboard perfectly flat prior to setting the dial indicators in contact with the back of the neck, and then zeroing them out. Neck tension simulation jig aka neck jig or stewmac erlewine jig helps a lot when often the truss rod doesnt work ideally. Jim, the owner of custom fretted instruments in sparta, tennessee, told me that the best way to learn how to build a. This makes for much more accurate fretwork, with less chance for weird necks to cause problems. The neck angle jig has become the industry standard in guitar building tools. This is the jig for cutting the dovetail on neck blanks. Now you can do your fretwork with total accuracy, because when you string the guitar back up the neck doesnt change. I figure the jigs will techniques of restoring wood antique find out more at the image link. First, im specifically interested in possibly using different puck shapes to accommodate favorite contours etc. Now test the fit by fitting the neck inside the pocket. Stained finishes check out the master dan erlewine put a stained finish on a guitar. Scheltema neck contour jig and puck discussion telecaster.
I find that to be big enough to jig acoustics, bass, or whatever guitar you want to jig. If everything went well, you should be able to hold the body by the neck. In the absence of an effective adjustable trussrod, i prefer to plane and refret or simply replace a board to true up an errant neck. The guitar body area is smaller and the body sits right on the surface of the big square wood piece. Erlewine neck jig instructions how to assemble and jig up a guitar. Evolving through years of fretwork for demanding players, the erlewine neck jig has become a valuable asset in busy shops arou. There have been a number of different approaches introduced in recent years, including bolted and pinned straight tenons, and even flat butt joints attached with epoxy. Evolving through years of fretwork for demanding players, the. After my last guitar build i realized that i would need to make more jigs. Apart from a plek machine which i have used, and hope to own one day, you cant attain accurate results unless you have one of these.
The erlewine neck jig from stew mac lets a repairer simulate neck tension on a guitar neck. Advanced tools are demonstrated in use on real jobs, so you can decide what you really need for the work you do. Next, cut the 2x4 to around 51 long and draw a centerline all the way down the top of it. Removing a traditional dovetailjointed guitar neck from the body is tricky business. A truss rod channel routing jig project electric guitar. Dec 30, 2010 since you started with a flat board and returned to a flat board, you have no need for a neck jig when building a new neck. The neck angle on the thru tenon meridian necks had been established since the chassis went together several steps back. This results in the most accurate fret and fingerboard work ever. I started building guitars as a hobby in 1997 after a challenge from jim grainger, a great friend and great luthier. I do this on the router skimmer with the neck attached to an angled sled. Mar 09, 2017 dan erlewine s tips for shaping a guitar neck. This is practical training for everyone involved in guitar repair. Stewmac dan erlewines tips for shaping a guitar neck.
The bolts allow fine tuning of the centerline and also hold the neck blank in place. The materials are basic, a piece of plywood approx 24 x 24, 8 threaded inserts with set screws to match, 4 strips of 14 aluminum 34 x 6 long, some cork leather, etc, and some scrap lumber for the straight edges and end block. A revolution in fretwork fretwork without guesswork. This eliminates the problem of working on frets, then finding that everything has changed when you string the guitar back up to pitch. Working alone on stewmacs tripleo kit, hes got the body and the neck in good shape. I remember the story and the pics with some early prototypes and the jig evolution. Jan 14, 2016 this truss rod channel routing jig has a base and two fences. All the joint templates are made in a match set for both the neck and body and indexed to the center of the jig. In 1984 dan produced dan erlewines guitar hospital a sevenvolume series of videotapes on guitar repair, maintenance, and setup. I think that the neck jig is an excellent tool for a repair shop, where you do not get to dictate what condition the neck is in when you begin to work on it.
Acoustic guitar neck routing jig rds guitars and wood. Simple mod to speed up working with the erlewine neck jig. The edge vise is specifically designed to work with the jig, it also doubles as a end graft tool. If the frets sit ok, arent worn out and are tall enough, they can be leveled using this jig to compensate uneven or excessive neck back bow, but the best solution is refretting. Acoustic guitar plans ultimate guitar online, guitar plans in printable pdf format. It was an interesting process with a couple mistakes but nothing big. Using this jig you can cut your neck blanks to size, cut the scarf joint very accurately, and glue the headpiece and the heel blocks at the same time. Joe etgen is building a guitar for the first time, working down in his basement.
Ive read through numerous build threads here that feature bills contour neck jig and while i have the basic concept together and could probably make one that looks just like it id like more info on the math behind the jig. Although the photo doesnt show it well, there is an alignment piece that fits in the truss rod slot, and the destaco clamps hold the neck in place. Once you are happy with the fit, remove the neck and do not test the fit again if you dont need to. Since i have rough cut a few necks i decided to start making neck jigs. Woodworking jigs, woodworking projects, carpentry, wood jig, making musical instruments, guitar building. The neck removal jig inspired by luthier bryan galloup applies gradual, properly aligned, and controlled pressure to the neck heel. Two adjustment knobs allow precise adjustment for both side to side and neck angle positioning. When the strings are removed, the neck jig holds the neck in the same curvature that existed under string tension. V5399 simulate string tension with the strings off for the most accurate fret and fingerboard work ever.
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