KMG 00-12 Walnut - Daniel P's Build

[orison]

I'm excited for you Daniel P!

I ordered my first kit today.. It's a dreadnought. I wish you well in your build!

[Daniel P]

KMG IA Binding Router attachment installed on my Colt - easy when you follow the directions:
http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/portattach.html

I just drilled right through the IABR, and through the black plastic and metal base of the Colt with no issues.

[Daniel P]

Here are a few photo updates from the last few evenings' work.

Marking the truss rod slot in the top.




It looks a little rough in this photo, but I assure you the process was very clean and truss rod slot in the top cut nice and square.

[Daniel P]

Cutting relief in the neck cheeks - marked out the area to relive, carefully leaving untouched the 3/32-1/8" up the outer edge of each cheek.

[Daniel P]

Everything has gone so well so far - but tonight in the true test of geometry, things appear just slightly off.

You'll see as the MDF straight edge approaches the sound hole there is a slight gap. As well there seems to be a slight rotation to the neck - its just a hair lower on the treble side than the bass.

I've read the pages on neck set, http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/NECKSET.html, and think the next steps would be to determine the necessary correction with note cards as outlined on that page, and lightly sand the top.

One challenge is that I do not appear to have more rearward travel for the neck - if necessary is it acceptable to trim the bottom on the tenon to let the neck drop back just a hair more?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

[ken cierp]

Yes you can shave the tenon make sure clean/clear the entire circumference. Look here in the
KMG instruction manual "part 2 fitting the neck to the body" -- it depicts and shows how to correct that exact situation.
http://www.kennethmichaelguitars.com/NECKSET.html

[Daniel P]

Thanks Ken - calculated the adjustment needed with note cards as outlined in your instructions, and am slowly sanding down the top to correct the angle. Working very well.