Guitar Neck

This forum is for general discussion about Aspire
Post Reply
User avatar
sylvan356
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:28 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1 w/Rotary, Aspire 11.5
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida
Contact:

Guitar Neck

Post by sylvan356 »

Has anyone thought of (or accomplished) carving the shaft and heel of an acoustic guitar neck using the rotary (4th axis)? Any thoughts would be most appreciated!

User avatar
Rcnewcomb
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5886
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Rcnewcomb »

I've looked at it with a banjo neck. Results were actually better doing one-sided (fretboard side down), or two sided (left side, right side) machining on the table rather than rotary. With the longer heel of an acoustic guitar neck I'd use the left-side, right-side approach. Doing them on the table means you can make a number of them at once.

Gary Beckwith uses a similar technique making sets of table legs.
I just set up a 2 rail sweep to match the width of the 8 leg blanks.(plus a minor over run)
Set blocks on the table to push the blanks against for registration
Clamped the blanks together and ran machine relief in raster across the 8 blanks. I also clamped dunage (scrap 1x4) on the sides to control chip out
Rotated each blank 90° re-clamped and re-ran the toolpath, repeated for all sides
You will see I left an inch or so on the end to keep the blanks in the horizontal plane, which were removed at the mitre saw later
This is a more efficient way to cut tapered legs than using the indexer
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

User avatar
sylvan356
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:28 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1 w/Rotary, Aspire 11.5
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by sylvan356 »

Randall -
Thanks for your insight. Just what I was looking for!
Sylvan

Will Williamson
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 214
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:45 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Thermwood CS-45 5 x 10
Location: Capac, Michigan
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Will Williamson »

Not to change the subject but, is any one working on mandolin construction?
Will Williamson willmade.com
Williamson Lumber & Millwork Inc.
Capac, Michigan

User avatar
Rcnewcomb
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5886
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Rcnewcomb »

is any one working on mandolin construction?
I have a mandolin restoration project waiting to get on the bench
Attachments
Mando.JPG
MandoIMG_2943.JPG
MandoIMG_2951.jpg
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

User avatar
gkas
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 3:39 am
Model of CNC Machine: Aspire, Axiom AR8 Pro+, Axiom 4.2W Laser
Location: Southern California

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by gkas »

Rcnewcomb wrote:
is any one working on mandolin construction?
I have a mandolin restoration project waiting to get on the bench
Don't get me wrong... I'm not trying to be a wise ass. To my unmusical and untrained eye.. What makes it worth restoring? It looks like something I'd toss when cleaning out the garage or attic. Was it built or owned by someone famous?

User avatar
Rcnewcomb
Vectric Archimage
Posts: 5886
Joined: Fri Nov 04, 2005 5:54 am
Model of CNC Machine: 24x36 GCnC/WinCNC with ATC
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Rcnewcomb »

What makes it worth restoring?
The experience that I gain by doing it. I need to practice on many, many lesser quality instruments before would consider touching a Lloyd Loar signed Gibson F-5.
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

Dclifton2
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 320
Joined: Sat Feb 13, 2010 9:41 pm
Model of CNC Machine: home built shopbot clone. CNC lathe
Location: Port Orange Fl.

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Dclifton2 »

Hi Sylvan, If you have a 3D file of one it shouldn't be difficult. I'll call you latter today.
Don

Will Williamson
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 214
Joined: Sat Apr 26, 2008 2:45 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Thermwood CS-45 5 x 10
Location: Capac, Michigan
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by Will Williamson »

I have been studying, Mandolin Construction, for about a year now, accumulating material. working on my drawings. no results yet.
Will Williamson willmade.com
Williamson Lumber & Millwork Inc.
Capac, Michigan

User avatar
gkas
Vectric Wizard
Posts: 1450
Joined: Sun Jan 01, 2017 3:39 am
Model of CNC Machine: Aspire, Axiom AR8 Pro+, Axiom 4.2W Laser
Location: Southern California

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by gkas »

Rcnewcomb wrote:
What makes it worth restoring?
The experience that I gain by doing it. I need to practice on many, many lesser quality instruments before would consider touching a Lloyd Loar signed Gibson F-5.
That is certainly not the answer I was expecting, but is certainly one of the best. Thanks for the answer.

RebeccaJ
Vectric Staff
Posts: 338
Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 1:30 pm
Model of CNC Machine: Various
Location: Redditch, UK
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by RebeccaJ »

Hey All,

I thought I'd jump in on this thread as we have released a new project that Sean created, showing you how to model a guitar neck in a two sided environment.
It's pretty neat and I'm sure you guys will find this technique quite interesting :)
You can take a look at this here: https://release.vectric.com/making-a-guitar-neck/
Attachments
20180613_152502.jpg
20180613_152509.jpg
20180613_152518.jpg
Beki
Senior Application Engineer - Vectric Ltd.

User avatar
sylvan356
Vectric Craftsman
Posts: 173
Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 5:28 pm
Model of CNC Machine: CAMaster Stinger 1 w/Rotary, Aspire 11.5
Location: Ormond Beach, Florida
Contact:

Re: Guitar Neck

Post by sylvan356 »

Hats off to Sean for making a terrific video. I learned so much from watching it once. Today I will go back and watch it again to try to learn the techniques he demonstrated. I wish he had included the working squares he used to make the round profiles. They seem to be missing in the layers tab. In spite of that, I highly recommend everyone watch this tutorial. You won't regret it!

Post Reply