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Head back plate
http://w-ww.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=56837
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Author:  Juergen [ Sat Oct 19, 2024 9:07 am ]
Post subject:  Head back plate

Hello all together!
I want to make a neck with an head back plate that extends 15 to 20 cm on the neck.
Has anyone done that? And if so can you give me some advice how to prepare the neck especialy the transition from head to neck for a perfect glue joint?
Juergen

Author:  Alan Carruth [ Sun Oct 20, 2024 5:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

I've done this a number of times. The key is to make the transition smooth and avoid introducing any twist between the flat back of the head and the flat incline on the back of the neck. Once you've got that surface right it's fairly easy to bend the back strap to fit and glue it on. Since most of the surfaces are flat you can use flat cauls to clamp them down, and only need a curved caul over the bend. The 'knee' gets clamped first, and then the flats on either side, working out from the bend in either direction with clamps. This can look really nice with a three piece neck where the back strap matches the center lam. It also adds a lot of strength at what is usually a weak point.

Author:  Brad Goodman [ Sun Oct 20, 2024 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

I use a backstrap on most of my paddle head guitars.

When I make the transition from the back of the head to the next shaft, I take a little extra off so that the backstrap doesn’t add any additional thickness to the neck itself.
I use a thick piece of cork as a caul and piece of wood on the flat part to clamp it down.
Image
Image


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Author:  Mark Mc [ Mon Oct 21, 2024 4:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

Like Brad said, work out your thicknesses, take a bit off the thickness of the neck blank and add it back with the thickness of the backstrap. Do this before carving the neck, while the blank is still flat. When you later carve the curved neck profile it will naturally give a tapered shape to your backstrap extension. It can look really cool to make a three piece neck and then put the same wood as the centre strip on as a back-strap and blend them in together.
Attachment:
C38685E7-2EB5-4B48-BE31-FFF38D4350A0-3942-0000045263C41694.jpeg

Author:  Brad Goodman [ Mon Oct 21, 2024 5:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

Mark Mc wrote:
Like Brad said, work out your thicknesses, take a bit off the thickness of the neck blank and add it back with the thickness of the backstrap. Do this before carving the neck, while the blank is still flat. When you later carve the curved neck profile it will naturally give a tapered shape to your backstrap extension. It can look really cool to make a three piece neck and then put the same wood as the centre strip on as a back-strap and blend them in together.
Attachment:
C38685E7-2EB5-4B48-BE31-FFF38D4350A0-3942-0000045263C41694.jpeg


Yes, exactly....

I am confused by your photo, unless it is an illusion-it seems that the truss rod acess is on the back of the neck?

Author:  Mark Mc [ Tue Oct 22, 2024 3:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

There is a hole all the way through, giving access to the truss rod under the nut. I don’t have a picture available to show it better, but here is one of Bruce Sexauer’s guitars that gave me the idea. I layer CF under the head plate to provide some extra strength. It might not be a look to suit a very trad style guitar but my neck is for a modern style electric.
https://sexauerluthier.com/LP20/297/2doneheadfront.jpg

Author:  CarlD [ Tue Oct 22, 2024 8:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Head back plate

I have a Washburn Prairie State from about 2021 that has that same feature.

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