I bought a set of plans from Pete Howlett in the UK. I always take the plans to kinkos and do a few full sized copy. This allows me to keep the original and cut up a set to make the acrylic templates that I like to have. I also made a bending form to fit in my fox style bender.
The plans called for a slotted headstock. I have nice jigs for full sized guitars but they are no good for this instrument. Instead I made a wood template the way I always see in the books to make a slotted headstock. I used a 1/2" forstner bit to get the ends just right, then I switched to a 3/8 bit to safely cut the middle out. I used a rasp to finish the slots. I will probably use this wood template with a flush trim bit in my router to do it on the real neck.
I roughed out the mold and I decided to use koa for the back and sides and cedar for the top. My koa set is for a guitar, so I though I would cut out a set of koa binding and put them in with a black fiber side purfling. I will use the thuya burl you see in the photo for the headstock and peg board veneer and possibly the rosettes. Also you can see in the picture that I will make a rosewood fretboard and a rosewood bridge.
