I recently started playing guitar and out of curiosity I went looking for DIY videos on exactly how guitars were made... I guess rationally I understood it, but it still amazes me that all the skills you need to do this can be learned in high school. With some patience and attention to detail anyone can build a top shelf guitar in their garage. Maybe I'll have to give it a go. I want a Telecaster and I'm not terribly happy with the options at the price I'm willing to pay for one.
Thank you! Starting on a neck in a month or so. Nice to get multiple perspectives on how to build a neck. Thanks for taking the time to film and explain the process!
Great video and great work! I'm definitely going to watch this again, before attempting to build a neck in the Spring. Gotta get these winter projects finished first.👍😎🎸🎶
@@homebuiltshop good luck with them. I have 2 guitars and a bass that all need a little work to finish them. Paint and stain are the biggest parts and it's been so cold! Can't wait till Spring!👍😎🎸🎶
Loved it! My telecaster body is almost finished so it is now time to build the neck as well to replace the mighty mite which I bought second hand. A great neck but I want the truss rod sticking out of the back and not on the headstock.
Its a block that sits at 90 degrees to the fretboard. There's a small fence at the back to keep it square to the fretboard. (before its tapered on the neck). I use a Stew Mac Fret saw. I cut a recess in the side of the fence to make room for the brass thumbscrews on the saw. There are also small magnets epoxied in that grove to keep the saw at 90 degrees. The little handle piece is just there to help me hold the jig tight to the fretboard. Its a pretty crude jig really but it does work well. Its plywood just glued together. This version of it only works on a fretboard that is still square, it cant be tapered or radiused yet. I hope this is useful to you.
I personally like to cut the radius around the 2nd fret and about the 18th fret to correct radius to begin with. Get these two radii correct and the rest is easy peasy!!
Your process and results look great. Maybe the grain runout on your maple didn't parallel the edge of the board but angling the blank to avoid the splat could make the neck weaker because the grain is slashed rather than straight. Maybe the board was sawn crooked I couldn't tell in the video.
Excellent video, Jeff! Thanks for making these guitar related videos, I really enjoy them! While we're on the subject... Would you consider making some fret beveling files, where instead of a flat bottom, the bottom had a radius to it - for example, a 9.5 or 12" radius? Wouldn't that be kind of interesting? 😊 Have an excellent day Looking forward to hear from you All the best 😊
Thanks for watching. I like the fret beveling file idea. It would be interesting. You'd have to have a whole set of them though to get all the different radii. Thats not a bad thing just something to think about.
Thank you for this video I plan to make a neck for a nylon string solid body and the length of the Godin Multiact can you tell me if Premium Hickory wood is a good choice since I already have it.
Hey there, i think you could make the fret board darker by using a torch and gently burn it at the surface, i think it would look even cooler, just a idea, a couple months back i commented on a video saying that i was looing for a tutorial on how to make a neck and you happened to just make the body and already have the neck, i'm glad you did the neck tutorial, very cool man, you should make a costume body too to go with it (i didn't check if you made any more videos making bodies)
You could definitely darken it with a torch. I sure have made some bodies too. Theres a couple videos in this playlist. ua-cam.com/play/PLNdbmad_HnZWPfO-zTmCAFUFTMJWEOT8i.html
Thank you for sharing ,and taking your time ,to show how to do this at home ,with minimal tools ,do you make the template too ,or do you have to buy that?
Yes it can, although I haven't had an issue with it. I always try not to get too much glue in there. As long as you're careful with the amount you apply, you should be fine.
What is that bit you used for the barrel of the truss rod at the heel of the neck. I just made my first neck in that style but yours looks super clean and it would have helped me to have a bit like that! Thank you for all you do brother! You are still my go to for any questions in guitar building
Nice one! I've made a couple now (including one from plywood!), Just wondered if you've tried putting tuning pegs on yet as the headstock still looks pretty thick? I only ask because mine didn't even make it through the other side!🤦🏻♂️
Wow great video! Zero dislikes that’s awesome. The template router bit, is that the actual name? I really need one of those for my router. I just got a router a few months ago with no information about it or instruction and I have been learning through trial and error what the different bits do.
Its commonly called a template bit or a flush trim bit. From what I've seen, template bits are typically larger and Flush Trim bits seem to be smaller in size.
That could be a tough one. All of the routers I have ever used are crazy loud. I don't really have a quiet recommendation. If anyone has one, Id love to know as well.
@@Gichanasa well there's a lil bit more now...i wrote this a year ago lol. still aren't that many people on yt making vids specific to guitar neck construction.
@@kewlbns69 Glad to hear! Recently have been searching for guitar building tutorials, and I thought I was in darkness. Much to learn out there I guess. Cheers mate!
Thanks man. I used 3/4" for the neck, and 1/4" for the fretboard for a 1" total thickness at the heel. 10mm tuners, and medium fretwire. I hope that helps.
I just hold it in place. There are magnets on the side that hold the saw straight up. It works good, but there can be some inconsistencies if you're not careful lining it up. If it had something to index each location it would work much better. 👍
You make it look so easy. Isn't 3/4" too thin? Both my "commercial" guitars have 0.9" thick necks(at the heal and from back of the headstock not including fretboard). Shouldn't you start with a 1" thick piece of maple?
I add a 1/4" fretboard to give the final thickness of 1" My 3/4" measurement is without the fretboard. This also gives me less material to remove when I thin the headstock.
Is there any reason you don't have the truss slot in your template? Even a couple of pilot holes could allow you to skip the measurement step to center the slot. The other thing you could do is make the router sled fit exactly onto the neck shape so you just peel the template then drop the sled on and go.
I’m glad to have found this. Thank you for the great video. Considering your shop and everything, are you in the business of selling necks at all? You have probably been asked a thousand times, but I am very curious. Thanks
Right now I'm making my Hayley Guitars necks. They fit a Telecaster style neck pocket. Send me an email to homebuiltshop@gmail.com with what you're looking for.
Why did you make what appears to be a bolt on neck? if your going custom wouldnt it have made more sense to do a set neck or neck thru design? I appreciate seeing some fine woodworking skills though.
? at 3:00, " exactly"... Shouldn't you leave some extra space for the truss rod to be able to bend? Other wise you might push up the fret board...IMHO.
I recently started playing guitar and out of curiosity I went looking for DIY videos on exactly how guitars were made... I guess rationally I understood it, but it still amazes me that all the skills you need to do this can be learned in high school. With some patience and attention to detail anyone can build a top shelf guitar in their garage.
Maybe I'll have to give it a go. I want a Telecaster and I'm not terribly happy with the options at the price I'm willing to pay for one.
You got a great channel here man . I like the lack of fluff and strictly usable stuff for your content . Blessings
Great video and short and sweet!!!! I have a beautiful piece of maple all set to start on.. I will however use a premade fret board.. thanks again!!
Awesome work man!
Thanks a lot!
Something about Mary builds a guitar...right on man
Thank you! Starting on a neck in a month or so. Nice to get multiple perspectives on how to build a neck. Thanks for taking the time to film and explain the process!
You are most welcome. Thanks for watching. I like to get a ton of different perspectives too.
Great craftsmanship love the video keep up the good work God bless you and family and friends
Thanks so much!
Good stuff man, thanks for sharing. I really appreciate the balance between a bird's eye view of the process and the little details.
Thanks. Sometimes its hard to get the right balance. I really appreciate your feedback.
Like the design of the head stock! High quality necks!
Yeah! Thanks dude. Next up is the bodies for these. Stay tuned.
im about to start on a through body. i got a 20 ft piece of roasted maple and im so nervous
You can do it! Just go slow and don't rush it. Its going to turn out awesome.
I enjoyed every second of this! Bring on Hayley Guitars!
You make it look so easy, nice job!
Thank you so much for the amazing videos. You make everything seem so straightforward. Please keep making them!
Thank You. I appreciate it. There are plenty more videos to come.
GREAT JOB JEFF!!!! AWESOME!!!
Thanks. 👍
Nice job
Thanks man. You're one talented dude.
Thank You! I really appreciate that. It just takes messing up a bunch of them first. LOL.
Great lefty neck. Well done!
You make it look so easy, some guys look like they try to make look as complicated as possible.
Fantastic!
Love the video! For sure taking some of the lessons to my workshop today!
This is fantastic man, thanks for posting!
Thanks my friend. 🎸👍
Excellent!!
excellent tutorial, nice voice and detailed explanation and tips!!! Thank you!!
Thank you. 👍
Great video and great work! I'm definitely going to watch this again, before attempting to build a neck in the Spring. Gotta get these winter projects finished first.👍😎🎸🎶
Thanks. Ahh yes. The winter projects. I still have a few of them to get done myself.
@@homebuiltshop good luck with them. I have 2 guitars and a bass that all need a little work to finish them. Paint and stain are the biggest parts and it's been so cold! Can't wait till Spring!👍😎🎸🎶
Awesome work buddy.
Right on. Thank You.
Great Job!! Thank you!!
Awsome Jeff thanks for the instruction take it easy
Thank You so much.
Great job Jeff!
Thanks man! I appreciate that.
Loved it! My telecaster body is almost finished so it is now time to build the neck as well to replace the mighty mite which I bought second hand. A great neck but I want the truss rod sticking out of the back and not on the headstock.
Sweet. You can do it!
You make it look so easy and simple. You have to make a video of the final result. Thanks for sharing!
Once you get the steps down, its really not that bad. There are quite a few steps, but you can do it. Its just one step at a time.
Dude epic!! Thank you!
Dude amazing
Great job! I hope to be able to make a neck in 11 minutes one day! 😀
I wish I could too. Lol.
Thank you sr!!! Great video!
Nice job Jeff ! Like the shape of the headstock i Greets from Belgium.
Thank you!👍
Hello Jeff. On 4:19 you have interesting Jig for cutting fret slots. Can you show us a little more detail?
Its a block that sits at 90 degrees to the fretboard. There's a small fence at the back to keep it square to the fretboard. (before its tapered on the neck). I use a Stew Mac Fret saw. I cut a recess in the side of the fence to make room for the brass thumbscrews on the saw. There are also small magnets epoxied in that grove to keep the saw at 90 degrees. The little handle piece is just there to help me hold the jig tight to the fretboard. Its a pretty crude jig really but it does work well. Its plywood just glued together. This version of it only works on a fretboard that is still square, it cant be tapered or radiused yet. I hope this is useful to you.
καταπληκτικό ΄βιντεο...Μόλις τελείωσα τον λαιμό μιας Fender Telecaster και βλέποντας εσένα τον έκανα τέλειο. Ευχαριστώ αδερφέ μου.
Φοβερό, χαίρομαι που το ακούω.
Thanks for this!
Saw your tools and bought a template on Ebay, a lot simpler than what I had planned!
Awesome video, any chance you have a video on how to make the jigs you use?
I don't think I have any specific ones at the moment.
Great video... you present it in a very friendly way to. Subbed!!
I personally like to cut the radius around the 2nd fret and about the 18th fret to correct radius to begin with. Get these two radii correct and the rest is easy peasy!!
Chris Elliott makes some awesome necks.
Your process and results look great. Maybe the grain runout on your maple didn't parallel the edge of the board but angling the blank to avoid the splat could make the neck weaker because the grain is slashed rather than straight. Maybe the board was sawn crooked I couldn't tell in the video.
Cool
I see you've got a lot of jigs for this work. This clearly isn't your first rodeo. 😁 Thanks for sharing!
After you've done a few, you start to figure out ways to improve your processes. Jigs are great for that.
great
Excellent video, Jeff!
Thanks for making these guitar related videos, I really enjoy them!
While we're on the subject... Would you consider making some fret beveling files, where instead of a flat bottom, the bottom had a radius to it - for example, a 9.5 or 12" radius? Wouldn't that be kind of interesting? 😊
Have an excellent day
Looking forward to hear from you
All the best 😊
Thanks for watching. I like the fret beveling file idea. It would be interesting. You'd have to have a whole set of them though to get all the different radii. Thats not a bad thing just something to think about.
Looks great and I'd love to try it. How would one do this without all the jigs?
You can do it! Everything here can be done by hand without jigs. It just takes longer.
Great video thanks! How did you determine the location for the tuning machines? Didn't look like they were marked on the template.
Thank you for this video I plan to make a neck for a nylon string solid body and the length of the Godin Multiact can you tell me if Premium Hickory wood is a good choice since I already have it.
While its not a "traditional" choice for a neck, I don't see any reason you couldn't use it as long as its dried thoroughly.
Great video and killer neck Jeff! I love the design of the headstock. Do you sell your guitar necks?
I will be selling the guitars as I get them done. Possibly necks too. 👍
Hey there, i think you could make the fret board darker by using a torch and gently burn it at the surface, i think it would look even cooler, just a idea, a couple months back i commented on a video saying that i was looing for a tutorial on how to make a neck and you happened to just make the body and already have the neck, i'm glad you did the neck tutorial, very cool man, you should make a costume body too to go with it (i didn't check if you made any more videos making bodies)
You could definitely darken it with a torch. I sure have made some bodies too. Theres a couple videos in this playlist. ua-cam.com/play/PLNdbmad_HnZWPfO-zTmCAFUFTMJWEOT8i.html
Thank you for sharing ,and taking your time ,to show how to do this at home ,with minimal tools ,do you make the template too ,or do you have to buy that?
Thanks, I made my templates. They're based on a Tele neck though.
Can you show how to make the fret cutting jig please.
Where did you get the wood for the fretboard?
I believe these pieces were given to me by a family member. I've seen them at my local wood supply stores as well as online.
So can the glue seep into the trussrod slot and stick that up??
Yes it can, although I haven't had an issue with it. I always try not to get too much glue in there. As long as you're careful with the amount you apply, you should be fine.
What is that bit you used for the barrel of the truss rod at the heel of the neck. I just made my first neck in that style but yours looks super clean and it would have helped me to have a bit like that! Thank you for all you do brother! You are still my go to for any questions in guitar building
He said a “spiral down router bit” at 2:54
Nice one! I've made a couple now (including one from plywood!), Just wondered if you've tried putting tuning pegs on yet as the headstock still looks pretty thick? I only ask because mine didn't even make it through the other side!🤦🏻♂️
They worked out fine.
Wow great video! Zero dislikes that’s awesome. The template router bit, is that the actual name? I really need one of those for my router. I just got a router a few months ago with no information about it or instruction and I have been learning through trial and error what the different bits do.
Its commonly called a template bit or a flush trim bit. From what I've seen, template bits are typically larger and Flush Trim bits seem to be smaller in size.
I'm looking for a NOT-SO-LOUD router, the small hand held router is really that loud? what would you recommend me? thank you.
That could be a tough one. All of the routers I have ever used are crazy loud. I don't really have a quiet recommendation. If anyone has one, Id love to know as well.
What what the size of the block of wood you used to make the neck?
there really isn't enough on youtube about this.
Kidding or for real?
@@Gichanasa well there's a lil bit more now...i wrote this a year ago lol. still aren't that many people on yt making vids specific to guitar neck construction.
@@kewlbns69 Glad to hear! Recently have been searching for guitar building tutorials, and I thought I was in darkness. Much to learn out there I guess. Cheers mate!
@@Gichanasa check out crimson guitars. there's a wealth of information. ;)
@@kewlbns69 Appreciate it very much. Many blessings to you!
Where can you get that Fret Press at?
Congrats man, well done!!! Could you please share the bill of materials including the wood thickness? Thank you!
Thanks man. I used 3/4" for the neck, and 1/4" for the fretboard for a 1" total thickness at the heel. 10mm tuners, and medium fretwire. I hope that helps.
@@homebuiltshop Thank you very much! For sure it will help me a lot.
I hope watching more videos like that :)
Im interested in that fret cutting mitre jig. Do you just hold that in place on the line or does it clamp to the neck in some way?
I just hold it in place. There are magnets on the side that hold the saw straight up. It works good, but there can be some inconsistencies if you're not careful lining it up. If it had something to index each location it would work much better. 👍
You make it look so easy. Isn't 3/4" too thin? Both my "commercial" guitars have 0.9" thick necks(at the heal and from back of the headstock not including fretboard). Shouldn't you start with a 1" thick piece of maple?
I add a 1/4" fretboard to give the final thickness of 1" My 3/4" measurement is without the fretboard. This also gives me less material to remove when I thin the headstock.
@@homebuiltshop. I wasn't referring to the fret board being included.
nice, but how u get template
Thank you Jeff for making it look so easy.Now to get started! Happy Thanksgiving from Toronto Canada!
Thank You. You can do it! Let me know if you need any help.
Routing that maple was brave!! haha Good Job!! :) What's the Drill bit for the truss rod recess... Any links?
Thank you, Its a tool I got from StewMac.
Is there any reason you don't have the truss slot in your template? Even a couple of pilot holes could allow you to skip the measurement step to center the slot. The other thing you could do is make the router sled fit exactly onto the neck shape so you just peel the template then drop the sled on and go.
That's a brilliant idea. That would save a bunch of time. 👍👊
I’m glad to have found this. Thank you for the great video. Considering your shop and everything, are you in the business of selling necks at all? You have probably been asked a thousand times, but I am very curious. Thanks
Right now I'm building them for my guitars, but it may be something I'll add.
How did you know how to round the neck? And how thick? No markings or measurements?
These were mostly done with feel. I now use some templates and measurements to get them where I want them.
@@homebuiltshop a ok, ta
What blade did you use on the band saw? TPI and width?
Do you have to take the neck off the guitar to adjust the truss rod? I didnt see an access point besides in the heel.
That is correct. It's a heel adjust. It pretty common and not as inconvenient as it sounds.
Nice video. However, I would have preferred to see the truss rod being flipped so that the adjustment nut is at the top not the bottom of the neck.
how you space frets
I use a fret spacing ruler and a very sharp pencil. The ruler has all the markings on it.
good luck on your guitar line.
Thanks, I appreciate it.
Woogie, your face is looking much better!
What if you don't have a template? How do you get the measurements..
There are 'standard" measurements you can use if you want to draw it out by hand.
Do you make necks for people and what would you charge for one ( right handed )
Right now I'm making my Hayley Guitars necks. They fit a Telecaster style neck pocket. Send me an email to homebuiltshop@gmail.com with what you're looking for.
where is the part that you carve the neck?
How much does this cost in all?
how many hours did this take ?
It took quite a few. I didn't track this one exactly.
Do you sell necks if I'd supply the wood?
Maybe in the future. Right now its just for my guitar builds.
Why did you make what appears to be a bolt on neck? if your going custom wouldnt it have made more sense to do a set neck or neck thru design? I appreciate seeing some fine woodworking skills though.
Can you make me a strat neck proyect?
and price ?
? at 3:00, " exactly"... Shouldn't you leave some extra space for the truss rod to be able to bend? Other wise you might push up the fret board...IMHO.
I wanna hear you play this thing when your done you do an awsome job tho im givin you a thumbs & sayin WAY cool
Thanks, I'll play it. 👍🎸
imagine if you forgot to put the truss rod in... DOPE
That would be bad. Lol.
9:12 undertail ?????
Dimension of neck blank please
Can you show how to restore a whole electric guitar so we can follow along with you
What sort of restoration are you working on? I do have some guitar work to do, but not sure if its the information you need.
Are you planning to sell any of the guitars you make?
Yes, that is the plan. 👍
@@homebuiltshop That's awesome. I'm excited to see what you come up with.
Tim Sway has entered the chat
I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT FRET SLOTS NEEDED TO BE CUT AT RADIUS
Bro wear a mask when you sand!
Not all of us wanna grow old
To thine own self be true.😊
What I thought would be easy then he says, "Now using a special tool to put this very important piece of the guitar in..."
Did Chris Peterson finally got a job? 😄
Are you related to Chris Elliot?
Not that I'm aware of. LOL. I'd like to meet him though.
nice... i build cigar box guitars, i cant wait till i build a real guitar....
CBGs are great. I've made several of them and have more waiting to be made.
I tried to email you about the neck,it returned the email saying that the homebuildshop@gmail.com account does not exist
should be homebuiltshop@gmail.com