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Just thought I would post pictures of my neck pocket jig. There have been quite a few of these on here, I think I took a little bit from each one. Its really simple and works really well. I have different sized stock for each end to set the neck angle, so no fancy hinges or anything, just some trigonometry.

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John Thiessen
http://www.iszacguitars.com

I like it!

Here is another. This was an old cabinet that had some good plywood to reuse. I have updated the rails and attachment fittings. The rails are 80/20 from Mc-carr, 6 foot of 1" square for $20, pretty reasonable. It works to taper a neck or thickness a headstock. Like wise a nod to the previous thread, I have Fillipo's neck holder in there, and have toyed with Virgil's centering method.

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Those aluminum channels are brilliant....has me thinking about upgrades

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John Thiessen
http://www.iszacguitars.com

Very cool - it looks like it serves its purpose well - the concept of Myka's jig is really making it's rounds.

As for comfyfoot's aluminum rails, I personally would be slightly concerned about the router bearing running against aluminum rather than wood - I DID run into a slight problem with mine with the aluminum strips on mine with the bit chomping into it, that was about an inch above the pocket when I came in for my first pass... the bit should have been slightly LOWER so JUST the bearing was on the aluminum. I believe Filippo ended up flipping his rails around because of similar problems. I would also be weary of the strength of those rails to support the weight of a router without getting a bow. I am curious as to whether you actually used this on a guitar or a test piece already??

As with any jig, you should use extreme caution with this, wearing safety glasses, etc. Routers are NOT user-friendly and may not always take kindly to homemade contraptions (like this one).

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"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

The 80/20 stuff is pretty nice, stiff and straight. There is certainly a risk of bumping the rails, but aluminum does not mess up the carbide bit, and with 2 flat sides you get a one or 2 goofs that can get rotated to the bottom. I do think this system is better suited for a collar then a bearing, but it is nice that I can choose. Lining the aluminum with wood is easy enough, the channel is thick enough to tap threads into. I do recommend using the 80/20 track nuts, they slide in there nicely with out binding, but the bolt has to be the right length, 1/4 x 20 hex and carriage bolts fit in there as studs with minimal filing, but bind when you want to move them.

I have used this so far on some neck arm tapers and thicknessing headstocks and a test for a neck pocket that went well. Just to make sure I was stiff enough, I through the old Hitachi M12v on there, there are no stiffness issues even in the middle. I imagine the channel with 2 solid sides will be a bit stiffer then with all 4 open for t slots.

One of my goals for this machine is being able to use this without having to pick up the router, I did have a 12 year old use it for a uke neck. He pushed the router back and forth and had fun, the router never left the jig.

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

Nice jigs. I might have to steal some of these ideas. ...Mike

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Another day, another dollar.

Be sure to search for the different jigs made within this forum for some cool ideas ( http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=29117&hilit=Neck+pocket+jig+myka%27s I pimped mine out a bit. hehehe

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"Talking about music is like dancing over architecture".
See the most insane first guitar build: http://www.virgilguitar.com
http://www.youtube.com/VirgilGuitar

I'm finally going to get off my ass and make my own of these as soon as I get the time.