Official Luthiers Forum!

Considering buying one of these to assist in the building process (I don't do repair work at all).

Do any of you use one for new builds, and if so, is it worth it?

Thanks!

I don't use one, for new builds or repairs acoustic and electric, and will probably never buy one.
A friend did offer a loan of his to try once.
I do both without, and successfully according to 5 years worth of satisfied clients and word of mouth business.
I fret after attaching the finished neck/body and leveling the FB.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

What do you use to hold the neck while leveling frets? Or do they usually line up well enough that you just need to touch up a couple spots?

One of the things I've struggled with is getting very slightly different results once the neck bends under string load.

Heck, I even have trouble getting the fretboard satisfactorily level due to the slight flexing of the neck while sanding.

I bought a used one a few years ago (one of the old wooden models), and I have used it on a few guitars. I like what it does. If someone stole it, would I replace it? I'm not sure. A person can get great results without it. I think it is probably easier for me to use it than to not use it. If you want to buy one, you might look for a used one. The new ones are pretty expensive.

I can definitely say this: My most recent build is the first time I have done what Colin describes above (i.e., fretting after the whole guitar is put together and the fingerboard is leveled and arched). The guitar is still settling in, but with absolutely no fret work so far, the frets are the most level I have ever had on a new guitar. After I let it settle in a bit more, I will barely need to do anything to the frets. If you are doing a new build, I think that is the most significant change you can make in order to wind up with a great fret job in the end, rather than investing in the neck jig. I like my neck jig, but this change in process helped me a whole lot.

I support the neck with a cork lined "V" section neck support firmly held in a guitar repair vise for both FB levelling and frets.
I use a section of router mat between neck and support especially when levelling the FB to stop sliding about.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

I radius and fret the board after it’s attached to the body as well.

I have a bag filled with birdshot that is more or less the length of the neck that sits on a riser block. This absorbs the hammer shock. Upper frets are done by holding a smaller bag of birdshot through the soundhole.

Not something I would ever consider as I find it quite easyy to achieve great results without one. A little too Rube Goldberg for me but I'm no pro. Just my humble opinion of course.

have one don't use it.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Learned to level frets from Dave Collins, one of the best luthiers in the business. Don't need the Erlewine jig, in fact, it would be in the way.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Never used one, probably never will need them.

If you are not doing repair work then there is no reason to have one at all. Truss rod gives you the adjustment you need.

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com