A new Dred guitar build started

[Kevin in California]

I have been making progress.
Head plates front and back have been glued on and the headstock is shaped, except for the curves that will meet up with the fretboard. I pore filled the front ebony plate using Ebony Timbermate pore filler. I've also pore filled the EIR body. I've liked this product the best for porefillng if I'm not doing the shellac and sawdust method.

I used some of the last piece of Macuaba from a guitar I made in 2011 to make the back plate. It will look WILD under the finish.

Today I routed the tenon on the neck using my Simpson jig. It's not super accurate but it always works out for me.

Tomorrow I'll route the mortise in the body.

[John Parchem]

Looking good! I am in about the same place but I suspect you will quickly pass me by.

[Kevin in California]

I don't know John you move along pretty quickly on your builds.

Today I routed the body mortise.
I also did most of the carving of the neck heel, and fit the neck to to the body. I also trimmed the heel and glued on a EIR heel cap.
I'm close to attaching the fretboard to the neck. Trying to decide, once again, should I fret the board before gluing it down or after it's glued down?
I've done it both ways and don't really know which I prefer. A quandry!

[John Parchem]

I like after as it gives one last opportunity to level the fret board when everything else is finished. I have also cheated and changed the fretboard plane a little bit for last minute setup adjustments.

I like the alignment tool on the routing jig.

Also I noticed after 13 or so years we been on the forum you have only 40 more posts than me.

[Kevin in California]

Thanks John
I did go ahead and glue on the fretboard and leveled it again and am now ready to hammer in the frets. I too think it's the better way to go.

You know I was thinking about you this morning and remembering we both starting building about the same time. You were on the Cory site in the beginning weren't you?
I started my first guitar in 2008.

Interesting on the post numbers. Over the years we've been pretty consistent posting. I had a couple years there where I was just too busy to post consistently and only built one guitar during that time.

I'm on #20. I think you've built more than I have....probably cuz you retired before I did.

[Kevin in California]

I have the neck fit to the body with the heel partially carved. I'll get pictures tomorrow.

I am now doing a screw down fretboard extension on my guitars so today I routed the pocket on the body that a block glued to the underside of the extension will fit into.

I use 2 T nuts installed on that block, then come up with screws inside that insert through the neck block extension under the top and screw into those T nuts pulling the fretboard down tight. This will be the 4th guitar using this system. I like it. More pics to follow as I complete it.

[Kevin in California]

Fretboard is fretted and glued to the neck.

I got my screw down fixture made today and fit to the neck pocket. Everything fits fine but I need adjust the holes in the pocket a bit so the screws line up better in the extension block. I ran out of time today so I'll fix that in the morning. Then on to neck carving