Start Chopping

Old Rickenbacker basses have these cool Walnut "wings" on the headstock, this Carvin neck has a big lame square. First order of business - wingify the headstock, cut the body end of the neck down to proper body width, and cut out the headstock shape.

My pal and head engineer at the mighty Felt Bicycles bicycle company, Jeff Soucek, taught me proper skills with our milling machine downstairs. So with my actual 4001 measurements and tracings in hand, I clamped up the Carvin headstock in the Mill's steely jaws. OFF WITH THE WOOD!

Walnut gets a shave.

The Body end of the neck gets about 5/16" shaved off

Clamped up overnight

Lil' bit of Spray mount keeps my tracing in place

Dremel gets it close

Spindle Sander get it's near perfect!

I prefer the slightly Larger, more cartoony look of the early 60's Ric bass headstocks, so that's definitely what I am going for here. The shape aint done, but it's pretty close.