Making A Six String Multi Scale Guitar: Making The Neck

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Reminder set. See you then Chris. Let the learning begin.

[@davidslee101]

Thank you so much for this video. I think you're the only one on KZbin that has shown the actual cnc process for a guitar neck. The whole process of flipping the wood over was something I couldn't figure out how to do until you explained how to use tabs. If you're running low on video ideas, I'd love to see how you would do an archtop guitar on a CNC where you carve the bridge and the bracing right into the top of the guitar. I think you could potentially get a better sounding guitar since the whole top is one piece of wood that resonates instead of having a top that has the bracing and the bridge glued onto the top.

[@trance9158]

Another informative video. Love it.

[@MrAaroncissell]

Thanks for the great videos. O dod buy one of your bass plans to give a go at building my own. They are nice plans and I am not having any issues with them.

[@WhiteLakerrt16]

Always informative videos, I’m interested in starting to build from scratch. Ever since I was in the hospital and dying but was saved by a very young surgeon I have been trying to do things that I’ve always wanted to do. It like a second chance for me .

[@brianbolduc6143]

Thank you for the video!

[@mrDmitryOrlov]

when making custom guitars, it was possible to make a through neck, wheel at the heel to adjust truss rod, etc

[@thomasbreene893]

Hi, Chris. Another great installment in the series! I've watched most of your CNC building videos at this point, and I appreciate how you explain the various factors and approaches. Hope you don't mind questions about specifics: but, did you only use three different bits for that session? Like a downcut end mill for the truss rod carve, then the 1/4-inch ball nose for the other stuff, both the rough pass and the finishing pass, but two different lengths? Also, what is your approach in terms of an X versus a Y parallel finishing pass? I noticed you used the X finishing pass for the back of the neck. Is there a methodology to this depending on the piece? Also, did you use any pencil finishing pass, or was that just added to the finishing pass g-code using MeshCAM using the same bit?

[@HighlineGuitars]

I used a 1/4 inch downcut and a 1/4 inch up cut extra long bit. No ball nose bit.

[@thomasbreene893]

So wait, is that long bit just a regular straight end mill, and if so, did you go to a ball nose for the finishing pass?

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@thomasbreene893 I just use a regular end mill instead of a ball nose end mill. I don’t think using a ball nose is worth the effort to swap the bits and run the probing operation again. I’ve done a lot of testing with both types of bits and I just don’t see any advantage of using a ball nose. With a regular end mill, I can get a surface that’s ready for 220-320 grit.

[@thomasbreene893]

@@HighlineGuitars I thought I remember you using ball nose bits in the past to do parallel finishing. Are you finding that a regular end mill produces similar or better results? The neck contour sure looks smooth and clean!

[@thomasbreene893]

Sorry, disregard. Didn't see your second explanation. Thanks!

[@NicoViergever]

You mentioned the safety tabs before. And, although I have no experience with these machines at all, I am sure it makes sense. But would it not be possible to let the CNC remove those tabs safely in a final run?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No. The bit, which is spinning at 20k rpm, will fling the neck across the shop and cause damage and potential injury. If the neck was fixed to the waste board with double sided tape, tabs could be eliminated, however, I have found that approach to be very unreliable.

[@MuhammadJabari-ik3gd]

What software do you recommend? 🤔

[@HighlineGuitars]

Rhinoceros 3D for CAD and MeshCAM for CAM.

[@zeusapollo8688]

If you include programming and set up is it the same amount of time to do all the work by hand? I realize that each build shares code and set up but for this example of a one off build would the time be similar?

[@HighlineGuitars]

From start to finish, I can CNC a neck about 3 times faster than I can make one by hand. Also, my neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, and back are much happier.

[@zeusapollo8688]

@@HighlineGuitars i do one off woodworking and often find that by the time i set up all the power tools and find the extension cord I can make the cut and get the piece out with hand tools. I was just curious about the time spent on the computer code and setting up the cnc to make one custom item vs hand carving as it looks like you still have a degree of hand finishing each piece

[@zeusapollo8688]

How hard would it be to move your shop and cnc to another country with cheap and available tropical hardwoods? Not to mention cheap labour. Would this make any economic sense if you were looking at producing your own line of guitars?$$

[@HighlineGuitars]

Only you can answer that.

[@zeusapollo8688]

@@HighlineGuitars informative

[@HighlineGuitars]

@@zeusapollo8688 You are welcome!