|
Brian's Guitar from Conception to Birth
or How to Build a Guitar in 62 Easy Steps! |
|
44
Recess the Output Jack Plate |
Another nice (optional) finishing touch is to recess the output jack
plate. Hey, it’s a custom guitar; why not? The routing method which
we used to make the guitar created a jack slot which was just a
little too deep. I suppose we could have drilled a hole to avoid
this patch, but we would have needed to drill a 1" diameter hole
accurately into the end of the guitar, which would not have been
that easy either.
|
 |
 |
 |
Test fit the output jack and size a small patch of the same species
and grain direction as the back body panel. Take your time to get a
tight fit. Leave the exposed end a little proud of the surface, then
you can sand it perfectly flush later. Glue and clamp it up. Leave
it to set up for an hour, preferably two. Then remove the clamp and
sand it flush.
  The
next step is just like inlaying the fretboard; we’re just inlaying a
plate instead. I bought the neat Dremel routing base, I might as well get
some mileage out of it. Mount the jack plate to the jack and test
fit the assembly. Center it up and scribe around the plate with a
sharp Exacto knife. Chuck up a 1/16" diameter router bit in your
Dremel and set the depth to match that of the jack plate. Carefully
rout out the area being mindful to keep the base as flat as you can
on the curved surface.
|
  I
like to get very close to the scribed line with the router, then I
can finish it off with a small chisel which I can register into that
scribed line. Clean up the bottom of the recess perfectly flat with
your chisel. Test fit the plate periodically to make sure you have a
nice, tight fit. Once you’re satisfied, predrill for the mounting
screws and fit the assembly. Then remove the hardware and store it
in a safe place.
|
The
next step is just like inlaying the fretboard; we’re just inlaying a
plate instead. I bought the neat Dremel routing base, I might as well get
some mileage out of it. Mount the jack plate to the jack and test
fit the assembly. Center it up and scribe around the plate with a
sharp Exacto knife. Chuck up a 1/16" diameter router bit in your
Dremel and set the depth to match that of the jack plate. Carefully
rout out the area being mindful to keep the base as flat as you can
on the curved surface.
I
like to get very close to the scribed line with the router, then I
can finish it off with a small chisel which I can register into that
scribed line. Clean up the bottom of the recess perfectly flat with
your chisel. Test fit the plate periodically to make sure you have a
nice, tight fit. Once you’re satisfied, predrill for the mounting
screws and fit the assembly. Then remove the hardware and store it
in a safe place.
