Ok, the cavity is 1/8" wider. Now to slap it back together and test it. I had to cut the jack and ground wires in order to remove the guts, so I'll need to re solder those. Then I'll employ what I've learned about setting up the string height and radius, and then he'll show me how to set intonation properly. That's to do with the length of each string. Object being to get the middle of the string directly over the front edge of the 12th fret, so it's exactly one octave higher than the open string. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...bd6ce706e5.jpg

I could have, but it would have taken longer and looked lumpy. Not that you see it, but hey. I did get the chisel out to make the transition between the lower and regular areas of the pocket.

Whatever works. And it looks like you got it done just fine.

You need a workbench worthy of your craftsmanship.

That's purty.

After adjusting the cavity to make room for the switch and Tone knob that were in the way, we put it back together, and it was still too high. So, We cut out and added a shim. I traced the heel of the neck on a thin piece of walnut he had set aside for this kind of thing. Then we tested the fit with a folded business card. 2 layers got it where we wanted it, so then drill through the shim where the neck bolts will go, and sand or plane the shim to the .0025" at the heel end, and disappearing on the neck end. that creates the correct angle so we can get the strings to be nice and low but parallel with the neck.


I didn't take any pics of the shim, but I did get Pete using the veneer slicer to reduce the thickness of the shim.





oh, he finally tried the super glue and masking tape trick. i had told him about it and he kind of blew it off saying he'd been using spray adhesive for 20 years, and etc.... but he tried it one day for a little template that wasn't critical... and was amazed at how strong it held and how easy it was to do. 'changed my life' I think is what he said. lol.. I did teach him a trick.... and he also said he'd probably try the neck heating trick if he ever comes across a neck as bad as mine was. Given the proper disclosure and if all other methods fail as mine did.


So yeah. a good long productive day at the luthier's shop. I was there until after 10pm. And I have one more adjustment to make....



This stems from that same frigging 3/8" error I made gluing the fret board onto the neck. I trimmed 1/8" off the neck, 1/8" out of the neck pocket...and figured I'd just extend the saddles to make up the last 1/8". well, the tremolo block under the bridge is butt up against the inside of that pocket, which becomes the fulcrum instead of the 2 posts like it should be.


I need to rout that 1/8" out of the upper edge of the trem pocket to let it forward enough to contact the posts properly. Then I'll need to nibble the pick guard down right there to match.



And THEN I can intonate the strings and call it done. (yeah...we'll see about that)


look how low the strings are:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...029a0ff216.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...0b5bba859b.jpg

Here's the shim. I had to remove the neck to rout this bridge cavity.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5272bd35b4.jpg

This line is where I need to rout to.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a00ea02334.jpg

So I set up a fence 2 1/4" away and routed a groove deep enough to get the collar bushing to keep the edge, then finished the rout using that edge as a guide. I had to flip it over and finish the back by hand with a dremel.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5b933271e1.jpg
The new cavity
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...c6f7367fb9.jpg
From the back
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a0b5c38ff7.jpg
And then I reassembled it.

You can see that I nicked the one side. It just shows under the edge of the bridge. I cut a little plug and glued it on the edge.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...98664da453.jpg

I set up the string height, grooved the nut and set the intonation.

It is finished.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ee2356b875.jpg

Let's Hear some ROCK N ROLL!!! Please.

Nailed it!

Kudos for following through to make everything right, and not saying good enough, or next time it'll be right. :thumb:

In the end you've been true to the thread title, "LEARNING HOW to build an electric guitar". :notworthy

I will. Maybe Wednesday

I can't wait.

I knew you fer a fuckin' nut-groover when I first laid eyes on ya.

Fuckin' nut-groovers, man...

On a side note.... I bought another guitar

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...776db7c276.jpg
And promptly took it apart
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...af4a1ab290.jpg

Get this :

I paid $106 for this guitar. Shipped, taxed and inside a pretty decent gig bag. They used cheap components, to be sure, but the finish is perfect, the neck is flat and attractive...they even dressed the frets nicely. Crazy. No idea how there could be any profit in this.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f88d283fb1.jpg

It played fine, but had a pretty bad hum. So I figured I'd try adding some copper shielding tape and see if they really work.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4f9df419a4.jpg
Did the back cover and one loop to surround the ground wire. And then the inside of the pick guard.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7ca57738ca.jpg

The pots are tiny, and the switch is odd looking. I'm planning on re-wiring the whole thing and using it as a kind of practice piece.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...169573ae63.jpg