Thread: Tasmanian Blackwood Superstrat (SS6)

Bit of work today on the neck blank and scarf joint:



Also got the Blackwood clamped to the Mahogany:

Looks good Demonx.

Keeps everyone updated.

I haven't touched this for nearly a fortnight, I've been trying to wrap up another build, but I'll be getting back to this tomorrow.

Have an awesome board and some really nice binding for this one. Pics tomorrow if I remember

Is there any particular stage of the build anyone wants me to photograph/document?

As much as you can. I get a real kick out of build logs. I've seen your quilted maple build on facebook. Really nice!

Here is this mornings efforts:

Picked out my best Birdseye Maple board and ran it through the drum sander:




Once at thickness I work out my board placement and square the nut end, then mark it so I know which is the square corner that I'm now working from:



Double sided tape to adhere to a fret slot template:



After taking time to make sure its squaring to the blade, a few minutes later and we have fret slots:



I then write the scale on the back of the board in case I get mixed up, sometimes I have several builds runnigna t one time, for example at the moment I have four builds, so it just means at a quick glance I know what I'm holding:

Over to the bandsaw I rough cut the board shape:



Few seconds on the linisher (40grit) and the edges are smooth:
Then I make a few passes until the board is the corrent width INCLUDING the binding so it sits flush on my board template:



Here is now sits on the neck, with two very nice strips of Cocobolo binding:
No actual process here, just me being happy cause it looks so nice!



I thin glue and tape the end strip of binding:

Whilst I was waiting for the end strip of binding to get tacky enough to cut, I ran the headstock tang through the bnandsaw and then smoothed it somewhat with a handplane:



Followed by a couple passes over the planer to make sure its "as one" with the neck:



By the time I've done this the end binding is tacky enough that I can cut the ends off very carefully (as the glues still wet) with the bandsaw and file the ends smooth with a small bastard file:



I get all my tape ready:



Then glue the side strips of binding:



That is all for today - I have to get ready for work! (the work that pays the bills)

Lovely work. I am watching this one.

Great work as always man. beautiful fingerboard too.

Thanks guys.

I'm just hoping I don't screw it up! I somehow always find a way to stuff up a build and have to take time fixing mistakes. Fingers crossed this one goes smooth!

Thought I'd start the body today.

I marked the center line and body shape. Even though the timber top is 2 piece, it's really hard to see the join line, so it makes for much quicker lining up if I mark it in greylead



While I ws cutting the body I was thinking how I really need to buy a new blade and a smaller one. This one is so blunt it's burning through the timber rater than cutting through!

At the exact moment I was thinking this the damn blade jammed in the timber and jumped off the wheels - scared the crap out of me.

Luckily no injury (I was wearing safety glasses, but the blade stayed well confined behind the safety covers and I switched it off as fast as I could move.



Off to get a new bandsaw blade...

Back from the shop - bandsaw blade on and setup

Check out the burnt cut from the old blade and the fresh cut from the new blade, makes so much difference it's not funny and for only $27.00 I wish I hadn't put it off for so long!



Body rough cut but I'm out of time for today, I didn't get as much done as I would have liked:

Demonx, those pieces of timber look terrible. Way below par. I think you should send them up to me immediately just to get them out of your shop. I'm sure I can find some way of disposing of them for you.

Originally Posted by petersemple

Demonx, those pieces of timber look terrible. Way below par. I think you should send them up to me immediately just to get them out of your shop. I'm sure I can find some way of disposing of them for you.

I've got a big fire place so just forward them to me and ill take care of them ;-)