New acoustic guitar build...questions/help please

[MaineGeezer]

I finish the neck and body separately, then assemble. Doing so means you don't have difficult-to-finish internal corners where the neck joins the body, and 50 years from now when some hapless repair guy has do a neck reset on the guitar, he won't curse you for gluing the neck and body together with the finish.

I've used both shellac and Tru-Oil to finish necks. While shellac is nice because it's easy to touch up when it wears, most people aren't going to do that and Tru-Oil is probably a better choice if a guitar is destined for a member of the general population.

[beginner]

thank you for your input....makes a lot of sense. i'm pleased to hear that using shellac for the neck is not discouraged or that it would compromise the final result and playability. This is all so new to me and i didn't know if shellac would be a mistake.

I hope to keep and learn on this guitar.

Surprisingly i'm kind of enjoying the french polish technique...

...i know it might sound like an absurd or perhaps bizarre questions but i am curious....is there a limit to the number of layers of shellac one could or should apply with the French Polish technique?

right now it looks very pretty and shiny and not oily...truthfully I don't mind doing more coats but is there a point where it becomes disadvantageous or negatively impact the final result?

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Technically you can stop applying shellac once you have level smooth surface, flat with no pores showing. You can keep going if you want a thicker finish but at that point it's not necessary. Some believe the thinner finish the better for sound production. That can be debated.
Keep in mind that as the shellac cures/dries it gases off the alcohol and can shrink slightly.

[beginner]

thank you, that information helps

great forum by the way

[JLT]

I finish the neck and body separately, then assemble. Doing so means you don't have difficult-to-finish internal corners where the neck joins the body, and 50 years from now when some hapless repair guy has do a neck reset on the guitar, he won't curse you for gluing the neck and body together with the finish.

I've used both shellac and Tru-Oil to finish necks. While shellac is nice because it's easy to touch up when it wears, most people aren't going to do that and Tru-Oil is probably a better choice if a guitar is destined for a member of the general population.

That's my logic, as well. If the join is perfect before you start the finishing process, it will almost always be perfect afterwards. (The only exception I've encountered was with the Hofner "Beatle Bass" I built from a kit, as described on another part of this forum. And it was an easy fix.)

[beginner]

thank you....appreciate the information/experience. that's what i'll do as well.

i'll search out your post...would be interesting to see how you managed the challenge

[CherryLine]

Hey, congrats on starting the build. For the truss rod, nudging it a bit toward the headstock is usually a good call. That area tends to flex more, so having support there makes sense as long as the nut stays accessible.

If it fits snug, I'd skip the glue. Two-way rods like a bit of room to do their thing. I usually just tape it down before adding the fretboard and it's solid.

A light wash of shellac early on can help protect the wood, especially during handling. Just keep it thin so it doesn't get in the way later.

I’m wrapping up a natural PRS-style myself. Feels good watching the pieces come together, right?

[beginner]

thank you. Sorry of the delay in follow-up but i've had some challenges medically. Anyway,

In a few weeks I hope to glue the neck to the body...I'm still playing with the fit, trying to make it as nice as possible....Sadly, I must have had a little alcohol puddle on the pad that i work on.... as there is now a 1/2 dollar size area that lost much of it's shellac/color. Very sad because i had a lovely deep shellac finish to the back and sides...countless days and countless layers. I'm doing a bit of judicious sanding and trying to rebuild up the finish again. It's slowly getting better but I think i'll always have an circular area of discoloration.

I will try to calculate the position of the bridge and tape that area off so i can shellac the front face of the guitar as well.

I have 2 other questions....been searching a bit and just haven't found the answer.

1) When i glue the neck, should i also glue the distal part of the fret board that overlies the front face of the guitar body so that there is a solid connection between the two structures?

2) I purchased 2 different bone saddles for the acoustic bridge...one is a straight bar (https://www.amazon.com/Cheerock-Electri ... =8-29&th=1)
and the other is "compensated" by which i mean it has an angled section with a small rectangle that is offset. (https://www.amazon.com/Blisstime-String ... 222&sr=8-6)

Which type do luthiers generally prefer, I'm assuming bridge placement calculations would be the same for both (measured to the center of the saddle).

Thank you

[CherryLine]

Sorry about the shellac spot.. That stuff happens, and honestly, it kind of adds to the guitar’s charm in the long run.

For the neck, yep, once the fit feels solid, go ahead and glue the fretboard extension to the top. It helps everything work as one piece. And between the saddles, the compensated one’s usually the way to go. Better intonation across the strings, especially the B. Just place it so there's room to tweak if needed.

Sounds like you're doing great. Keep going, it’s all part of the fun.

[CherryLine]

Sorry about the shellac spot.. That stuff happens, and honestly, it kind of adds to the guitar’s charm in the long run.

For the neck, yep, once the fit feels solid, go ahead and glue the fretboard extension to the top. It helps everything work as one piece. And between the saddles, the compensated one’s usually the way to go. Better intonation across the strings, especially the B. Just place it so there's room to tweak if needed.

Sounds like you're doing great. Keep going, it’s all part of the fun.