Making Tele Neck

[switchman]

Are you going for the full Vintage 50s 1 pc neck with skunk stripe and the single acting truss rod?

Those are tricky. To cut the curved channel you need to make a curved support for the router to ride on. Also need a way to keep it dead center with guides. Plus lining up the holes drilled from the end. Then filler strips to hold the curve in place. I've made plenty of necks and never could be bothered do one of those, except at one shop where we had a CNC and steel drill fixtures. Always did a 2 way rod flat bottom channel for my own.

The bit diameter should match the rod diameter usually a 1/4" ball end bit. I think it was a typo above at least a 16000 RPM router (not 1600) and for smaller bits higher speeds is better 20-24K.

 

[switchman]

you can make those supports with a 3D printer

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah, I'm not set on vintage accurate, for now I just want something functional. I'll look into the flat bottom. I was planning on a one piece neck with a skunk stripe unless that makes it more difficult?

 

[switchman]

One piece is definitely more complicated. Here's a 2 way at Stew-Mac with a shot of the end. Its all straight no routing or drill at curves or angles. SM is so so expensive now good grief like twice everyone else unless you catch a sale. They build in to price that they give you instructional videos and such.

 

[Chistopher]

Ah, I didn't know that. They are 50% off rn, should I pull the trigger on one or two? How do I know what length I need?

 

[switchman]

You want the 18". It should be a little shorter than the length from the front of the nut to the end of the heel. Tele necks that's about 18-7/16" +or- a 1/16", depending what era or model or which unofficial blueprint you follow.

Its too funny I said twice as expensive then its 50% off. Used to be a fixed price catalog now they're like an old department store.

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah, its pretty goofy.

Guess its time to stock up on YouTube tutorials for truss rods

 

[ehdwuld]

I really like sopke wheel truss rods
They are easier to implement
As you don't have to get a long drill bit back into the channel from the headstock end

Just one slot under the fretboard or all the way down the back to the heel

No missing meat at the thinnest part of the neck

But its your project...

 

[Mincer]

I really like sopke wheel truss rods
They are easier to implement
As you don't have to get a long drill bit back into the channel from the headstock end

Just one slot under the fretboard or all the way down the back to the heel

No missing meat at the thinnest part of the neck

But its your project...

I always thought that these wheels were the best way to adjust a truss rod.

 

[Chistopher]

I always thought that these wheels were the best way to adjust a truss rod.

Agreed, but those guys cost too much for the practice runs

 

[switchman]

Agree the spokewheel is definitely easiest to adjust and without a special tool. No chance of stripping the adjustment nut. Only downsides are having it so visible can encourage people to tinker maybe without knowing how, or just the look might not work with every guitar style, like a bound fretboard. Its perfect for a lock nut super thin neck - avoids routing the area beneath the nut .

 

[Chistopher]

I never thought of lock nuts playing into it

 

[ehdwuld]

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[Chistopher]

Are you allowed to just put a spoke on a normal truss rod?

 

[ehdwuld]

Yes

They have adapters for the end of the older "take the heel off truss"

There is one that has a hex wrench fitted in that just gets trapped by the neck pocket

 

[switchman]

I never thought of lock nuts playing into it

Wizzzard necks are so thin behind the nut. Then the lock nut models where its machine screwed in from the back take more wood away. Then the access for the truss rod nut takes even more wood away. Scarf joints help but still the design is prone to cracking there. Using a heel end truss rod spokewheel or not leaves more wood at the nut end less chance of cracks.