CNC Project - Guitar Neck (and the rest if I can get away with it)

Interesting watch but knowing nothing about musical instruments and only able to play a CD or Ipod not many comments I can make, nice work though would get more comments if people knew more about process.

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Originally Posted by lucan07

Interesting watch but knowing nothing about musical instruments and only able to play a CD or Ipod not many comments I can make, nice work though would get more comments if people knew more about process.

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Good point lucan07 and thanks for the feedback - I may try and inject some "anatomy of a guitar" into future videos - probably during the Andy Summers Telecaster project I am thinking about, as the build process will be very similar to the three guitars I have going.

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Originally Posted by Wal

I doubt it bothers you in the least, but I can't understand how you're not getting more views on this series of vids..!

Keep making 'em - I'll gladly watch more..!

Wal.

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Thanks Wal,

Youtube viewing numbers are a "funny" thing and starting to use the channel properly was also an exercise in learning how the Google/Youtube algorithms work and there is a fair sample of data there now I can drill into. I could of course drum up extra traffic guess by CNC carving a pair of 3D breasts or cats, but chasing "ratings" is a slippery slope I'd rather not go down :-)

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Originally Posted by mekanik

I am watching
saw some guitar neck jig on website but for the life of me don't know how it works.
I thought(know nothing about guitars) the headset(or whatever it's called) was tied into the guitar body with a steel rod and this prevented the string tension from bending the neck, and i have heard nut mentioned.
Videos are GR8
Mike

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Thanks Mike,

The thing you are describing is the truss rod - its an adjustable steel bow that fits inside the neck and compensates for the string tension. One of the neck videos has me installing them in the Jaguars (the one where I glue the fingerboards to the main neck body iirc).

The nut is the bone or plastic piece at the top end of the neck and holds the strings in place at that point - I will have a video showing me making these once all the paint work is finished.

I was thinking about the YouTube views - guitar builds are a really popular subject on the 'tube with some pretty mediocre vids getting some very high viewing figures - this series features an informative and well put together build log of an iconic guitar - great work deserving of more YouTube views IMO..!

Wal.

[EDIT: Yep, I totally hear you on not wanting to 'chase' views - if you're anything like me then you're doing this as a personal record of work done - but there is a level of satisfaction knowing that your work has been seen by a few pairs of eyes and maybe inspired hands to have a go at making one themselves. I think back to the time before I had built my little mill, what did I do on weekends back then...?!)

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Originally Posted by Washout

....Andy Summers Telecaster project I am thinking about.....

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looking forward to this Chris, as you know I also want to make a Tele, I've got a few files of body and neck shapes but have looked no further than that as of yet as I'm still trying to make my RC plane!!

There are companies out there that will give you views for $ on youtube or followers on twitter and people crazy enough to pay them making the numbers pretty pointless at the end of the day apart from massaging a few ego's at a price. Also posts can be placed on thousands of forums by using a Bot people pay for these services too so I would not take a lot of notice of viewing, follower figures or indeed reviews they are easilly manipulated with very little knowledge.

Very true - there are also the Youtube network companies and other external parties, who also promote the channels they have under their wings (for a revenue cut) using various "rent-a-mob" techniques and some who try to disguise what are in essence "infomercials".

Personally I'm not really motivated by the financial side (nor need to be), but I do enjoy doing the videos for their own sake and more to show people that they can also do great things using CNC. It also helps answer a repeat question I get i.e. "what on earth are you going to make with a CNC machine" when I tell them I've built one myself - maybe I should do a channel intro vid along those lines.

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Originally Posted by njhussey

looking forward to this Chris, as you know I also want to make a Tele, I've got a few files of body and neck shapes but have looked no further than that as of yet as I'm still trying to make my RC plane!!

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Yeah me too - I've wanted that guitar since 1978/9, but wasn't going to shell out the ~£10,000 Fender wanted for the limited edition replica in 2007.

Perhaps when the time comes (we both have projects to finish :) ) we could do a collaboration video as your machine's larger bed would save a lot of grief when it comes to cutting out the bodies.

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Originally Posted by Washout

Yeah me too - I've wanted that guitar since 1978/9, but wasn't going to shell out the ~£10,000 Fender wanted for the limited edition replica in 2007.

Perhaps when the time comes (we both have projects to finish :) ) we could do a collaboration video as your machine's larger bed would save a lot of grief when it comes to cutting out the bodies.

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Definitely up for that Chris, will have to have a play with Fusion 360 before that and finish off the CNC Router build and get it up vertical as it's a PITA having it on the floor!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Washout

Perhaps when the time comes (we both have projects to finish :) ) we could do a collaboration video as your machine's larger bed would save a lot of grief when it comes to cutting out the bodies.

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Another cool build. Looking forward to that one taking shape..!

Wal.

Morning chaps,

More progress - nitro lacquer going on in this vid i.e. colour at last:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xShT2vMbp8E

No doubt you have seen this guys work, but here it is for other forum members to be amazed at !

http://www.carverdoug.com/guitars.html

Cheers,

Rob

I wish I had your skill and patience Chris - I would love to build a Harpejji.

Hi Rob

Yes I have seen those guitars - they're really nice.

That Harpejji looks interesting and looks to be more 2D than a Fender design so should be doable if you can find a design/blueprint somewhere.

Chris

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Originally Posted by Washout

Hi Rob

Yes I have seen those guitars - they're really nice.

That Harpejji looks interesting and looks to be more 2D than a Fender design so should be doable if you can find a design/blueprint somewhere.

Chris

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The Harpejji board should be simple on a CNC router, it is just a matter of getting the fret distances right. The formula is something like 1/17 of the remaining distance to the bridge (but I would check it out properly). Electronics are more of a problem, I think you will need a sustain circuit for each string and that, in turn, means individual pick-up coils. The Chapman Stick works on a similar principle.

Cheers

Rob

Yes makes sense - there's a couple of scale length/fret calculators out there (Stewmac and Manchester Guitar Tech iirc have them).

I must look into Sustainers as well at some point - I'm guessing they are similar to my beloved e-bow?

I've always fancied having a go on a Chapman Stick and didn't realise they use a separate pickup coil per string. That's very similar to the Gittler, which is another concept I've had in mind to incorporate into a guitar design.....so many ideas...so little time :)

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Originally Posted by Washout

Yes makes sense - there's a couple of scale length/fret calculators out there (Stewmac and Manchester Guitar Tech iirc have them).

I must look into Sustainers as well at some point - I'm guessing they are similar to my beloved e-bow?

I've always fancied having a go on a Chapman Stick and didn't realise they use a separate pickup coil per string. That's very similar to the Gittler, which is another concept I've had in mind to incorporate into a guitar design.....so many ideas...so little time :)

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If you want to trigger MIDI you need separate coils like on the Shadow SH35. Roland do a similar pick-up, but I can't remember the model number. Otherwise I suppose you can get away with standard guitar pick-ups.

My experience of MIDI guitar was a little fraught, to say the least, and I have the Shadow kit sitting on a shelf doing nothing for a number of years.

Rob

Hi all,

Some CNC for the Jaguars whilst I wait for the lacquer to harden:

Part 15a - CAD/CAM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1Vom8-0fdY

Part 15b - Machining:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4o1eTtuUOu8

Hi all,

Latest video in the Jaguar saga is up, but no CNC this time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6pJ3GJ6bNU

So by way of compensation here's another scratchplate machining video and CAD/CAM walkthrough from another guitar project I'm getting to the end of:

Fusion 360 CAD/CAM:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dquZtcoCQM4

Machining:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Hpzyr95Kvw

Looking good Chris....Tele soon? 😋

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Originally Posted by njhussey

Looking good Chris....Tele soon? 

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Thanks Neil and yes Tele Soon :thumsup:

I've been trying to do some research on the neck of Andy Summer's guitar and it looks like it has a heel adjusted truss rod, but still retains the headstock hole but plugged with a walnut blank. Once I have that sorted out I can begin the CAD/CAM for it. I normally use the TDPRI forums for this stuff, but have drawn a blank so far.

BTW - Do you use Fusion 360 now? If I get some time this week, I'll maybe start the CAD/CAM and then I could give you permissions on the project and try out the collaboration side of the software/cloud.

Cheers

Chris

I don't yet but I use Geomagic so I'm sure I'll pick it up quickly enough...I've downloaded it I think, just need to have a play!

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Originally Posted by Washout

BTW - Do you use Fusion 360 now? If I get some time this week, I'll maybe start the CAD/CAM and then I could give you permissions on the project and try out the collaboration side of the software/cloud.

Cheers

Chris

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I do !

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Originally Posted by Lee Roberts

I do !

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Could be the start of a MYCNCUK community project then :-)

and the next part is up - attaching the necks (no CNC this time):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEI25tMOkTA

Played a Jaguar yesterday in Andertons in Guildford....lovely guitars....my playing didn't do it justice at all...was a bit ashamed really!! Also played a tele...................:eagerness:

Yes the Jaguar is very underrated/overshadowed by the Tele and Strat - probably because the setup can be a bit fiddly and I only caught onto them by chance having ignored them for years.

So long as you didn't play Stairway I'm sure it was all good :-)

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Originally Posted by Washout

So long as you didn't play Stairway I'm sure it was all good :-)

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Nooooooooooooo.....bonjovi wanted dead or alive, oasis don't look back in anger...by which time the tips of my fingers were hurting as I've not played for months [emoji6]

Almost there (actually the guitars are finished but the video editing is not) - this week its electricals and funnily building a CNC enclosure was helpful, as its all in the grounding with guitars as well:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSiVCuKZYpM

And the Jaaaaags are done finally:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6i0x-mpjgM

Telecaster next :)

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Originally Posted by Washout

Telecaster next :)

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[emoji106] [emoji450] must talk to you about a collaboration Chris....

Beautiful. Just beautiful..!

Wal.

Thanks guys,

@Neil - yes indeed - bit busy atm, but hope to have a start on the neck and body on Fusion360 by this coming Sunday.

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Originally Posted by Washout

Thanks guys,

@Neil - yes indeed - bit busy atm, but hope to have a start on the neck and body on Fusion360 by this coming Sunday.

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I'll have a play with Fusion 360 in readiness then...

Id like to get in on this! I've started some sketches but would greatly appreciate some fusion files!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by ericmac

Id like to get in on this! I've started some sketches but would greatly appreciate some fusion files!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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Hi Eric

See the other thread for the Telecaster project.

Cheers


Chris

Superb thread.

I was expecting you to cut another slot in the baseboard to mimic the truss rod slot and use that as a register to machine the reverse of the neck. But then noticed your register pins...
You had some roughness problems which to me were to do with cutter rotation and timber grain directions. Might get over that by changing the cutter travel direction in local areas to avoid the grain lifting?

Soon have strings on!

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Originally Posted by fwm891

Superb thread.

I was expecting you to cut another slot in the baseboard to mimic the truss rod slot and use that as a register to machine the reverse of the neck. But then noticed your register pins...
You had some roughness problems which to me were to do with cutter rotation and timber grain directions. Might get over that by changing the cutter travel direction in local areas to avoid the grain lifting?

Soon have strings on!

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Hi fwm891

Thanks and the idea of using the truss rod slot as an indexing fixture is interested and less fiddly than pins. If I was looking to produce these in any quantity I think that would be a good way to go.
Agree on the direction thing - its always a bit of a lottery when cutting wood and using tool paths that might not mix in certain portions of its travel. I get asked for feedback by Autodesk on occasion for Fusion 360 and being able to specify "wood" as a material and a grain direction that the tool path can then take account of might be a good feature for them, to implement in software as a checkbox.

BTW - I made the CAD available for the Telecaster on one of the videos if you want to do one yourself, or PM me your email address and I'll add you directly to the Fusion 360 project.