Step 2

Layout of the back of the headstock volute.

Step 3

Top of the neck requires no layout other than the centerline.

Step 4

Another shot of the back layout with the model of the finished volute as a guide.

Step 5

The 8 degree angles sled for holding the neck for working with the band saw.

Step 6

The first cuts from the back side of the neck blank following the lines of the volute.

Step 7

Same thing on the left side of the volute.

Step 8

Now the neck is on the band saw table 90 degrees from the fingerboard face of the neck. I am cutting the wedge for the headstock plate to slide into.

Step 9

Back on the 8 degree angled sled for cutting the shoulders of the headstock where it will fit up against the end of the neck blank.

Step 10

Same cut from the opposite side showing the two leftover pieces from the previous cut.

Step 11

The finished cuts for the birds beak with sanding block to clean it up.

Step 12

Coarse sandpaper attached to a scraper to clean up the inside of the bird's beak joint.

Step 13

The box for routing the headstock plate "dovetail".

Step 14

The box and a headstock plate ready to get clamped into the box and routed.

Step 15

The headstock blank locked in place ready to route.

Step 16

The acrylic routing guide on top of the box.

Step 17

The headstock with the completed routing.

Step 18

Finished plate ready for rough fitting to the bird's beak on the neck blank.

Step 19

The plate and the birds's beak rough fitted and the joint tested for fit.

Step 20

The plate has now been shaped and final fitted.

Step 21

View of the wider tongue that supports the plate from the top.

Step 22

The final fitting is completed and ready to carve the volute.

Step 23

Hand carving the volute to its final shape, all done with the headstock plate off.

Step 24

The completed neck (foreground) and a comparison neck (background) from a mid-1960's Martin showing the faux volute which is carved out of the solid on the one piece mahogany neck.