651-439-9120
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FIG. 24
FIG. 25
FIG. 26
INSTALL THE NECK
INSTALL THE STRINGS
Now you can install the neck into the body. It should be a
tight fit. There are 2 cap screws left in your kit -- one longer
than the other. The long one needs the washer. Screw that
one into the hole closest to the top edge of the body and into
the hole in the tang. (fig. 24) It should thread itself into the
t-nut in the tang, but you may need to wiggle the neck a little
to get it started.
Screw the last short cap screw into the lower hole until it
contacts the metal plate on the tang. This will be used for
tilting the neck forward and back, but the upper screw must
be loosened before you can make that sort of adjustment.
Find the center of the fretboard at each end, as shown in
diagram. (fig. 25) Put masking tape on the wood for mark-
ing these centers. Notice that the line between these two
centers will be off-center in the middle of the fretboard, but
that’s OK. We are allowing room for the short 5th string.
Lay a long straight-edge between these two center points
and down to the bottom of the body. Mark where the line
ends at the bottom, and extend it over the edge and down
an inch or so on the side of the body. Use a ruler to draw a
perpendicular line on the side of the body, and to mark 5
points spaced about 1/4” apart, two marks on either side of
the center point, as shown in drawing. (fig. 25)
Punch into the wood with an awl at each point, and use the
1/16” drill bit to drill pilot holes for the tail pins. No special
angle is required -- just drill straight into the thick wood to
a depth of about 1/2”.
Then you can remove the tape and use a hammer to tap the
tail pins in so the heads are about 1/8” above the surface of
the wood.
We have included a needle
file in the kit for filing narrow
grooves in the nut to hold four
of the strings. Space the strings
roughly 5/16” apart, and make
the grooves very shallow at first.
Work the file at angles to ease the
string over the top of the nut.
(fig. 26)
