First time neck build, using cherry

Ok, I need some suggestions. I want this neck to look good, not just be functional. The ebony fretboard already has frets, it's not a blank, and the fretboard has no nut slot cut, as it previously butted up to the nut and had an angled headstock. So how do I make this look good on a telecaster/ snakehead neck. I'm open to something less traditional (like what Reverend does). I just don't want it to look like a hack job. Maybe it would simplify things to put the truss rod adjustment at the heel. Please let me know your thoughts, thanks.

 

Thanks a lot, for the recommendation. Should I use super glue?

 

Awesome, thank you both. I'd prefer to have no truss rod cover, if possible. I'm planning out my truss rod cut now, and will use my table saw with a shallow depth cut made in two or three passes to get the proper width.

 

I printed out the headstock template, and put it on the blank. I put the then placed the truss rod on top just to try and get a visual of where I need to make my truss rod channel. This is a 24 fret board, but I'm going to cut it down to a 21 or 22 fret. I figured I should verify that it's a 25 1/2" scale length like most Fenders. That's what I recalled it being, but it was 1994 when I ordered it. Glad I checked..... it looks to be an even 25". That could have ruined my day! No problem.... 25" scale it will be. Here's the mockup:

 

So, with the rod I have.... is this a double action rod or single? Also, does the flat side go up or on the bottom? There's a bit of the plastic wrap missing on the rod from when I removed it. Can I just tape over that? adjusting end

nom adjusting end

missing plastic wrapping

 

Thank you.... I realized after I posted that I could look at the donor neck to see how it came out, and it was indeed, exactly as you described.

Here's tonight's progress:

Marked and drilled to the correct depth

Chiseled the sides of the route channel

Then used the smallest chisel to remove the waste



And the truss rod fits!




Here's the headstock template glued on, and then drilled around the perimeter.

All cut out!

And the headstock shaped... I might keep the extra but at the end, or make some sort of devilish horn? We'll see....

 

Here's the progress this afternoon... got the neck sides cut down and shaped, and got the neck blank cut down to the proper thickness as well. I still need to glue the fretboard on and thin the headstock as well.

 

Thank you! Yes, that would've been frustrating. So I've got to glue up the fretboard, and I'm thinking through the issue of aligning the board correctly on the neck. I know the proper way to do it is to pull a fret at either end and drill a small hole and use a brad to keep it straight. I've never pulled a fret before so I'm A little skittish, though I've got that other rosewood fretboard that I can practice on. I still need to cut off the last two frets, but I think I'll wait until it's all glued up before sawing off the last bit of the neck. I need to drill the access hole as well for the truss rod. I'm not sure that it matters if I thin the headstock before or after attaching the fretboard, but I think it'd be easier if I do it before attaching the fretboard.

 

And, the headstock is thinned.
Mockup with the fretboard (not yet glued).

Now I've got to read up on how to properly shape the back of the neck. I read something where lines are drawn and you file up to those lines, but I've got to find where that was.

 

Thank you all for your suggestions. I think the staples method is a great idea, sort of a variation on the method used in the video. That's probably what I'll do, as it looks like it'll work and be well hidden.