Learn The Art Of Guitar Neck Carving

This first section outlines the course structure and discusses key points about how you should approach this course in order to help you get the most benefit from it. Next, we explore Tom’s set-up, tools and materials, and his favorites for hand-carving the guitar neck.

In this section, you will learn about the five key elements and how they each play an essential part in creating a visually beautiful and great feeling guitar neck. We’ll also be covering neck profile templates, building a database, how to make your own templates, and other critical techniques and aspects to help ensure your design will succeed in execution, comfort, and elegance.

In phase one, we will finalize the measurements and layout of the neck as we begin the rough carving process. We will bring the neck closer to the desired dimensions using a mindful and intentional technique to help reduce stress, encourage confidence (even for beginners), and reduce the potential for mistakes. We discuss what tools Tom likes for this phase and why, and we work through each of the five elements of the neck design and prepare the neck for a smooth transition into phase two.

In phase two, we begin to shift our approach and thinking from “rough carving” to “refining” the neck. Tom thoroughly demonstrates and explains this mindset shift, which requires different tools, less aggressive tools, and working with finer tolerances as we gracefully ease the neck down very close to its final dimensions. We also address each of the five key elements in greater detail in this phase and prepare the neck for a seamless transition to the final stage of the process in phase three.

As we transition into this final phase, we begin to shift our technique and tool selection to match the finer tolerances needed for this stage of the neck carving process. Tom explains and demonstrates his approach, tricks, and techniques on each of the key elements as we bring the neck to its final dimensions. Sandpaper, bocks, and other materials and methods are used to smooth the wood’s surface and refine the neck’s profile and key elements, resulting in a guitar neck that is both elegant and extremely comfortable to play.

In this section, Tom shares his final thoughts and important notes about this course. He discusses how it can help you improve your overall luthier skills, be more creative, reduce stress, make fewer mistakes, and, most importantly, get better and more consistent results when carving your guitar necks.