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All the posted examples above are beautiful! Thanks for the details and inspiration.

I cut the slots wider to 5/8" but now they look weird, a bit uneven, and the outside strings still hit the ramp edge due to the 15 degree angle.

Good training! Going to bail on this one and make a new neck. I think I'll take the advice on the "build cost effective" thread and go load up on mahogany and cut a few blanks for my upcoming builds while I'm at it.

Good luck with the new neck. It may be possible to salvage the first neck to be used as a solid-head, but it would mean lots of plugging and new veneers etc. Or you might be able just to cut off the headstock at the scarf and glue on a new one - maybe need a one-time table saw jig for that.

I considered plugging but it’s not that special of a carving job to save. I already ran out for more mahogany to cut some new blanks.

Good idea on the scarf joint save. I cut my scarfs on a band saw them clean them up on the jointer/planer. Doesn’t seem real safe but I do it very carefully. I’ve had good results but i think I’m just gonna let it go.

I'd keep the neck. You probably have wood left over from cutting it. I'd cut the headstock off and glue a new one on, making a new scarf. You could use it in the future.

If you have access to a table saw, I've found this scarf-cutting jig very useful:

http://theamateurluthier.com/amateurlut ... gplan.html

I recently had to recut the cheeks on an already-carved neck (so no square corners) and made a jig like the one below to hold the neck plumb and level with a well-fitting spline in the truss rod slot, then clamped it to the fence on my miter saw and did the trimming. I think it could be used to clamp a neck to the scarf-cutting jig to cut off the headstock at the scarf. Not sure if the angle goes the right way though . . .might have to be modified somehow. Bruce W.

I guess, if you are looking for a challenge, trying to save the old neck might be interesting. In my experience, a lot of the time it either does not work out or never ends up being satisfactory. I have a pile of partial projects that I keep to remind myself of what NOT to do. My vote is just to make a new neck. And don't make multiples until you have a viable prototype. Good luck.

Yup. New one under way. Thanks to Mainegeezer (Steve) I’ve got a pdf of a Martin plan. My 1st build, a Blues Creek D-12 kit also came with a pre made slotted head. I should have just copied it in the 1st place. It has a 15 degree angle and 9/16” wide slots with a 1.75” nut.

Thanks for the jig designs, they will come in handy one day I’m sure.

well, not bad! Somehow my side holes got out of alignment vertically but who cares, it's a trademark my 1st one. I'll work that out next time. I don't think I'll plug the holes and go again but who knows I may change my mind on that. I could just plug the 3 on the left and move them down a bit. It would be easy. I plan to dye the neck to darken it so it would hide the plugs.

The slots came out great though. Thanks for all the advice on this thread. Much appreciated. I put strings over the nut and into the slots and they don't intersect w/ the sides of the slots.

Notes:

Used a 1/4" spiral bit to take out the middle of the slots using a fence to guide the router, then switched to 1/4" top bearing pattern bit against the template to finish the slots. Used heavy rat tail file to make the ramps.

I cut the template from baltic birch plywood but then planed it down to 1/4" thick. There's probably easier ways to do that but I like it. It'll be reusable.

Everything is rough and needs final shaping and sanding after I glue on the neck.

I like your volute! My attempts to carve one haven't turned out particularly well.

Looks really good! And I would definitely consider plugging and filling the misaligned holes. I did it for a 12-string solid peghead guitar and I'm much happier with it. And, having learned how to do it, I have used it to correct a couple of other individual misplaced holes. In my case I needed a 10mm plug and had to order a dowel cutter from Amana which worked well. No one will notice the redrilled holes in the slots, especially if you can use the same wood for the plugs. Bruce W.