This video is fairly long as it details making and installing the fretboard. However, I think you’ll find it useful. As always, send your comments and questions.

People always ask me how I slot my fretboards. This should explain my technique:

In my opinion, making a guitar neck is almost like sculpting a work of art. Not only are they visually appealing, but there’s a tactile quality that comes form how they feel in your hands. Here’s how I start shaping the neck:

The body for this guitar will be 1-3/4″ (44.5mm) thick. Right now, it’s over 2″ (50.8mm) thick. This is how I corrected it:

Watching this video will probably make you think that anything is possible if you have a big band saw and a belt sander. I truth, you can do a lot of this work with simple tools like a jigsaw. I build a lot of guitars, so I’ve invested in the big machines to speed up the process. I still like to do a lot of shaping and sanding by hand, but I prefer to rough out the curves initially with the band saw. Check it out:

If there was a theme to each of these videos, I’d say this one would have to be “Creative Clamping.” Each step of the guitar building process where glueing is involved takes a lot of careful planning. Check it out:

No music, no voice over, just the sound of saws, sanders and the occasional barking dog. Not a step-by-step, how-to video, but it’ll be like you’re there, watching my progress. If you have any questions, post it in the comment box below and I’ll try and answer.