Neck Pocket Outline Marker for Heel

Hi all,

I'm just starting my first tele build - so far I've got an almost complete router template and a drill template for the neck screws.

I've been trying to figure out the best way that I can go about working from here (ie the order that I build things). What I figure is that I should cut out the body and rout the neck pocket first, and then build the neck with a heel that matches the pocket perfectly.

My question: is there anything that I can use to put around the edges of the neck pocket to "stamp" the heel of the neck with so that I can get the pocket outlined on the heel perfectly?

Also (off topic) has anyone purchased pre-slotted fretboards from Exotic-Woods in Burlington, Ontario? Are they well built/machined?

Thanks!

Clamp 3 fairly wide pieces of wood around your neck which is held down on the template wood, and then remove the neck. Use a pattern bit to run around the inside walls of the 3 pieces, cutting out the neck pocket template. You might want to familiarize yourself with the 2012 build challenge threads at the top of the main page, as all of this stuff is done in those threads one way or another. I'd do all the routs first and then cut out the perimeter. You'll have more support for the router that way.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-home-depot/283103-**-making-neck-pocket-template-**.html

That's a good thread, check it out!

Hi all,

I'm just starting my first tele build - so far I've got an almost complete router template and a drill template for the neck screws.

I've been trying to figure out the best way that I can go about working from here (ie the order that I build things). What I figure is that I should cut out the body and rout the neck pocket first, and then build the neck with a heel that matches the pocket perfectly.

My question: is there anything that I can use to put around the edges of the neck pocket to "stamp" the heel of the neck with so that I can get the pocket outlined on the heel perfectly?

Also (off topic) has anyone purchased pre-slotted fretboards from Exotic-Woods in Burlington, Ontario? Are they well built/machined?

Thanks!

I'd actually build the neck first, before making the template, as the others have suggested. I use the 3 block method on every guitar (on a suitably sized bit of scrap mdf), so they are guaranteed to match the neck I've made. Might not be best practice if the neck ever needs to be replaced, but I tend to keep my head in the sand about such eventualities. :wink:

Build your body and neck to the conventional specifications and they should fit together.