Guitar building steps

[watergunn]

I had a quick question on the order of the building steps.

I have an HD28 body that is about to be bound. The neck just needs peg holes drilled and the fret board glued on.

Do you set the bridge location before finishing or do you do it after the neck has finally been joined to the body after finishing.

I had seen it done both ways.

Just curious as to what the group leans towards.

Thanks

[Darryl Young]

I do a set to get it close before finishing.......then do a final neck set after finishing. Hopefully, the final is just a touchup (but that wasn't the case on my first).

[tippie53]

I don't set the bridge till the neck is attached. That will make finish much easier. You can mask off the bridge area , but personally I prefer finish then remove the finish for the bridge glue up.

[watergunn]

Thanks Darryl and John for the quick answer.

[Darryl Young]

Now how did you ask a question about placing the bridge and I gave an answer about setting the neck??? (again, I'm an idiot <smile>)

The final neck reset is usually after finishing and most folks won't locate the bridge till after the final neck set.

[watergunn]

I figured that was what you meant. Thanks again.

[watergunn]

By neck set I assume you are talking about gluing it into the dovetail?

[tippie53]

No
I like Runningdog set the neck while the body is in the white then glue on the fretboard and then after finish glue on the neck
Here is a vid of neck setting for you .
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... 40l0.1l1l0

Getting the neck at the proper angle is critical for set up and playability.

[watergunn]

Thanks John.

I was the one bugging you this past weekend. I did finally get the neck set correctly. Now I am ready to begin the finishing.

I think I watched you videos about twenty times.

Sometimes it takes a while for the lights to come on. By the time I re-shimmed a third time I finally figured it out.

The next one should be much easier, I hope!

I am at the point to start the finish and was unsure as to the bridge setting timing in the build.

I think I will go ahead and do all the finish, glue in the the neck and then set up the bridge.

Does that make sense?