Shaping the Guitar Neck with Hand Tools

In this segment I use rasps, scraper blades, chisels and sandpaper to shape the neck of my dreadnought guitar. The work around the volute was particularly slow and difficult, but it came out fine.
I don't usually use templates or pattern gauges when shaping my necks. I have found over the decades that running my hands along the neck and heel to check for shape, symmetry and evenness work just as well as a template and I can alter the profile of the neck to suit my customers' wishes without having to make other templates.
I always wait to shape the neck until after I have installed the frets because I feel like the added mass during fret installation probably cannot hurt how the frets will seat in their slots when they are hammered in place.
www.zimnicki.com

[@bradleydewey9083]

I couldn't handle the zero tolerance mistake pressure of carving the neck after it was glued to a finished guitar with countless hours of meticulous labor already in it, plus materials. Then again, I don't have over 40 years of experience, a calm artisan demeanor, and hands of a surgeon.
Inspiring effort and result, in today's automated world of 3D printing and CNCs.

[@zimnickiguitars311]

Thank you very much, Brad!

[@mvecellio1]

Very nice. I like the transition between the neck and the peghead.

[@zimnickiguitars311]

Thanks very much. That transition took a very long time.

[@fatdaddo]

Beautiful work! I didn’t realize you craved the neck after installing the frets, but it makes sense when you explain the reason. 😎

[@zimnickiguitars311]

Thank you!

[@alsguitars5127]

I always cringe watching you carve a neck on a finished guitar. No room for errors ever. No pressure.

[@zimnickiguitars311]

No pressure at all.