Drilling for Neck, Bridge & Wiring
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Finishing ('Workhorse' Lacquer Finish) >>>
A hole to connect the neck
pickup rout
with the control
cavity is first drilled ...
... followed by the hole to
connect
the bridge pickup
rout to the control
cavity
- the picture
shows the extended
drill shaft
used to
allow access to these
tight spaces
The neck screw hole
positions are
first marked
by offering up the
neckplate to
the back
of the body, then
the holes are
drilled
back to front
The screw holes seen from
inside the
neck pocket
after cleaning up
Masking tape is applied to
the neck
heel to represent
the thickness of the lacquer
yet to be applied, and
the neck is carefully
positioned in the neck
pocket
The neck screw holes are
then
carefully marked
through onto the heel
The hole positions on the
heel are
firmed-up with
a centre punch
The screw holes are drilled
resting
the neck on an
inclined template (the
same
one used for routing
the neck pocket) so
that they precisely match
the neck angle - note
also the masking tape
depth stop which takes
the drill tip just into
the rosewood fingerboard
and no further!
The four necks drilled and
ready for
temporary fitting
Once the neck is screwed
firmly in place,
the neck
edges are projected
onto the body
front with
a steel straight edge
and fine
pencil line
The bridge pin hole positions
are
then marked using
known dimensions from
the
nut and centred relative
to the projected lines
After removing the neck,
the bridge
pin holes are
drilled to the correct depth
Both holes drilled and
gently bevelled
Finally, the bridge earth lead
hole
is drilled through
to the control cavity