Finally starting the Walnut/Redwood and Koa OM.

[Darryl Young]

Recovering quickly Kevin! Looking good.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

No pics, but last night I got the truss rod in, glued on the fretboard and cut off the heel to length.
For some reason I am feeling really apprehensive about the neck. I haven't been so bothered in the past. The bound fretboard is to size, and I'm worring about taking it down too narrow in the final shaping and sanding of the neck and fret job. I don't want it any thinnner, and the binding is already at .060" on either side. I know I just have to take it slow and careful. And hey, the worst that can happen is I have to start a 3rd neck to complete this guitar.
I'm still on schedule to have it done by June 1, so that is okay.
Do you all think white side markers in the Koa binding on the fretboard will be okay, or should I go for black? There are no markers on the face of the fretboard per the customers request.

Kevin

[JVan]

I would probably go with white or white M.O.P. side markers, just mho! I would stay away from the glow in the dark ones Lol!.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Got started carving the neck this weekend. I'm going slow on this one...very slow.
The shaft is close to done, the heel still needs a little work, and I have the headstock to thickness on the back and the volute/transition to the neck to do. Hopefully by the end of this coming weekend the neck will be done.

Kevin

[Kevin Sjostrand]

...a few more pics

Kevin

[johnnparchem]

Kevin, the neck and the enitre guitar is looking really good. I really liked the last picture with the match of the walnut and the koa bindings and the neck. One fine guitar.

[darren]

very nice Kevin.

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Boy I am really slow on this one. I spent about 9 hours this weekend, just on the neck! Arg!
But, it is almost, thats right almost done. I finished the heel, the shaft, the volute, inlaid my headstock, and adjusted the neck set. I now have the frets in and leveled, but not yet re-crowned. I had alittle more fall off of the fretboard at the body overhang then I thought I would end up. I sanded about a 1/32" into it, but with the overhang clamped down against the top in this area, it is more like a 1/16". I sanded the fretboard a wee bit more with the neck attached and brought the rest of the fretboard down but keeping it flat just over the body join area. When the neck pulls up a little under string tension, it should look just right. This worked out well as angle was still a wee bit steep anyway, so this brought that down to now with a straight edge on the frets, I am right at 3/8" over the saddle area, this will be perfect as I will make the bridge height to fit. I'm pretty happy with the way the neck turned out.

I forgot to take pics yesterday once the frets were in so I'll put some up today or tomorrow night.

Kevin

[Kevin Sjostrand]

A little more progress. Fret job is almost done. It amazes me sometimes how I forget steps from one guitar to the next. In my head, I think I know what I'm doing, but the reality is I don't!!!!
I marked the tops of the frets with a marker, leveled, and started recrowning without remarking them. When I was done and sanded them to 800 grit, I remembered that I had forgot to do that, and now I don't know if they are still level or not. I TRIED to not take any more off the tops, but I don't know....so tomorrow I will check it out and my have to do a bit of leveling again....hope not!
Neck still needs some light sanding, but it is mostly done.

Kevin

[johnnparchem]

The neck looks really good. The guitar as well. Do you finish the guitar and neck separately? The nine hours for the neck is not slow. I have spent nearly that on the neck angle.