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If I could go back to the days when I was making my first guitars, what would I want to tell myself to make the process less stressful while ensuring a better end result?
Of all that I learned I would have to say:

1 Get a mold and use spreaders
I know some folks insist you don't need them and yes, some do just fine without, but if you want to control the neck angle and get the best playing guitar and a repeatable process the mold is paramount to a good end result.

2 This one is the most important; be very careful how the neck block gets mounted.
I have stopped using a spreader on the neck block and now opt to screw through the mold and hold the neck block that way. It makes the neck block firm and gives more accuracy to the neck joint.

3 Keep an open mind.
Many times we get into a thought process that closes the outside perspective. Many great ideas come from students who simply ask, "why?" By the same token, if you have a process that works, allow only an act of God to change it but be sure the process is a viable one.

4 There are many ways to do this.
Some insist their way is the only way. Be careful as sometimes you may be more lucky than good. Early on I thought I had many processes nailed but I discovered the more I learned , the more I needed to learn.

5 Share
Even if you make mistakes , share that info , it may save another from doing the same thing. Often it is the sharing process of a mistake that we learn from another experience.

6 Lastly, this is to be a joy to do.
If you feel you are working and not playing then it's time to take a break.

In the 15 years I have been doing this I started as a hobby, got more serious, and now I do this for a living. There is no secret, it takes hard work and learning. My wife and I are lucky that we get to do this as a way of life. I have met many nice people and made many friends. You never know what door opens which presents something that can take your hobby to that next level.

John,
This is excellent. Thank you.
As to this comment,
"I have stopped using a spreader on the neck block and now opt to screw through the mold and hold the neck block that way."
Very interesting.
Can you show us how you are doing this with some pictures?
Thanks

Kevin

I will do this It may take a few days.

tippie53 wrote: Lastly, this is to be a joy to do.
If you feel you are working and not playing then it's time to take a break.

All good points John. Thx for your insightful post...again!

For me, I really like playing/practicing. So, I tend to go back & forth between the two. Sometimes, for long spells at a time. When building, I have a tendency not to play & vice-versa. Then a light bulb goes off in my head & I get motivated to get out there & take care of business again. Lately for me, my body dictates when & what I can accomplish that day...sigh!

I also don't have a problem sharing the mistakes I've made along the way & there have been quite a few. Viewing other's boo-boo's is always a lesson as well. Steep leaning curve to this art....

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Kevin Sjostrand wrote:John,

"I have stopped using a spreader on the neck block and now opt to screw through the mold and hold the neck block that way."

Can you show us how you are doing this with some pictures?

Yes, I'd like to see a 'how too' as well...

I have a guitar build in a few weeks and will be doing this in detail and may make a video on this also.

Good advice,

On my last guitar I added a new self practice. If at the end of a long day or a long session in the shop if I am ready to accept or go for a quick fix for a mistake or a problem, I put my tools down and revisit in the morning. In the morning I have a lot more mental energy to open up more options including redoing the mistake.

Screwing in the neck block sound like something I will try to assure that the block stays square to the mold. For the same reasons before I profile the top side of the rims I use the flat top as a reference plane to draw parallel guide lines on the rim to assure that I can keep the rims properly in the mold. Otherwise once the rims are profiled there are no straight\square lines to measure from on the rims. I usually draw at least 2 so that I can re-position the rims in the mold depending on what I am doing.

That is a good idea John. I pre-profile my sides before I bend them so that wouldn't work for me, but what I ALWAYS forget to do is after I do the final profling by sanding in the radius, I forget to measure all the way around and make sure my sides are equal.
I need to add that to my check off list for sure.

Kevin

Kevin Sjostrand wrote:That is a good idea John. I pre-profile my sides before I bend them so that wouldn't work for me, but what I ALWAYS forget to do is after I do the final profling by sanding in the radius, I forget to measure all the way around and make sure my sides are equal.
I need to add that to my check off list for sure.

Kevin

I profile the back side before bending but leave the top side flat as there is less sanding. That allows me to use the top as the reference.

Glad to see other folks have a similar concern. After experiencing way too much rework/remedy/magic words I gave myself a rule: No new work after 10:00 p.m. The cutoff tends to flow backwards into the rest of the work session and I find myself considering whether I ought to go read a book and have a cuppa tea instead of carrying on with something that if it goes wrong, I'll cry. Been working out nicely so far. Also encourages me to consider, at any time, if I have enough time to do that particular task without feeling a time squeeze. Thinking is good.