Latest News
FAQ
Frequently asked questions, answered here
Custom Bailey for Skerryvore-truss rod
Mar 16th
…Installing the truss rod…
I was asked recently how I install the truss rod. There are many types of rod design each suiting a different style of guitar. The method outlined below is for necks with ‘parallel’ headstocks only.
This is not the easiest type of rod to install. It fits into a curved slot in the back of the neck with a fillet of wood glued over it called the ‘Skunk stripe’- I chose a prize piece of snakewood which will look great when the neck has been carved and polished.
I designed a ‘truss rod slot’ jig for doing this which we always use for this type of neck (parrallel headstock). We use the same method on the ‘build your own’ course- You can see it in action on our DVD.
There are easier ways to do this, but my method enables me to install a rod into a pre-shaped neck rather than needing a large ‘square’ piece of wood neccessary to route it with an edge guide, which is more wasteful. Also If the truss rod should ever need to be removed I can just re-jig it and route out the fillet.
The method detailed below is not for the faint hearted- it relies on drilling holes which align perfectly with the curve of the slot, or the truss rod may not work. To make it easier you can make a drill guide to hold the drill at the correct angle, or get a friend to help ‘spot’ if you are drilling straight.
-
- Router, hammer, clamps, drills, truss rod jig. The neck is at the front with 2x10mm pins on top of it
-
- Materials for making the truss rod: A truss rod nut, 5mm round bar, and 8mm square bar
-
- 2x10mm location pins are used to fix the neck into the jig
-
- The truss rod jig is used to as a guide for the router to make the slot in the back of the neck
-
- The neck sits between two rails to help keep it in place. The location pins stop it from moving while routing
-
- The depth is carefully marked so the nut comes out above the surface of the headstock, but not too close to the top of the fretboard
-
- The location pins are tapped into place- the hole in the heel is drilled solely for this purpose. Another pin fits into the hole for the g-tuner
-
- The assembly is clamped ready for routing the truss rod slot
-
- The fretboard was already radiused so I used a block under the headstock to hold it flat
-
- The router copies the shape into the back of the neck
-
- You can see the curve in the jig -this is also copied into the neck
-
- Routing in progress- an extractor takes away the dust and chips
-
- The neck is removed to reveal the truss rod slot
-
- The headstock is routed to the correct thickness leaving a ‘step’ which is easy to drill into
-
- Holes must be drilled for the truss rod nut and the 5mm bar
-
- Drill and auger bits- 3/8″ for the nut and a 5mm for the round bar
-
- First a 3/8″ hole must be drilled for the truss rod nut- here I am marking the depth
-
- Then a 5mm hole is made to meet up with the truss rod slot
-
- A hole cutter is used to make the curve from the top of the headstock to the top of the fretboard
-
- I put the large drill back in just to show the angle needed to join up with the curved slot
-
- A short length of the 8mm bar is threaded onto end of the rod. The rod just pokes through and is then centrepunched to prevent it ever coimng loose
-
- A straw is placed over the rod to prevent any glue getting on it
-
- The other end of the rod is threaded so the nut can be adjusted
-
- A fillet of wood is glued over the rod and held in place with spring clamps
Frequently Asked Questions
Feb 20th
FAQ’s- We are here to help!
Please feel free to contact us if you have a question but make sure to check that is not answered here or anywhere else on the website first. You can also leave a comment here containing your question if you are logged in.
What kind of guitars do you make ?
Anything from Electric, Acoustic, Archtop through to basses. This includes Mark’s custom shop and the ‘Build your Own Guitar/Bass’ course.
Can I try/buy a Bailey in any shops?
No – we only sell direct from our workshop and we don’t currently have any dealers
Do you make custom guitars and how much are they ?
Yes. Depends on the spec – read how to order and use the get quote page, or design a Curve section(Virtual GB) to get an idea. If you don’t see what you want, contact us
What if the guitar goes wrong or needs fixing?
In the first instance, please contact us as we will look at the guitar & identify the fault, then discuss the best way to resolve. All Bailey guitars come with a guarantee against faulty parts or workmanship. We do our own warranty repairs and ask that any issues however small are dealt with by us. Taking our guitars to unauthorised repairers may affect the guarantee.
How do I use the Virtual Guitar Builder?
Visit the Design Online page and scroll down for instructions.
Why do I sometimes get an ansaphone when I call ?
We don’t have a receptionist and it is impossible for us to answer the phone at all times especially if we are in the workshop – we get alot of out of hours calls , but often work at weekends so the ansaphone enables us to take calls over any 24 hours and we respond to queries as soon as is possible. Please leave us a clear message with your name and phone number and we will get back to you. Alternatively you can email us and we will reply when we are back in the office. If the office is shut for more than a couple of days the message will say so.
Where are you based?
We are based in Ayrshire in a beautiful workshop in the hills. It’s about 1 3/4 hours from Carlisle. We are 20 mins. from Ayr train station and 8 miles from Prestwick airport and can arrange to coll. We don’t advertise our address but if you want to visit to arrange a tour or consultation don’t hesitate to contact us!
Where are the courses held?
In our workshop – see previous q.
Are there any limits to what I can make on a course?
Time is the greatest limit, but if you have a spec which will take more time we can arrange extra sessions and work out the costs separately. Some design requests may not be possible, but we can discuss these before start/book.
What kind of finish an I have on a course?
An oiled finish is included and a satin finish is also possible for an extra fee. If you prefer a gloss finish you must leave the guitar with us once the wood work is complete and return 12-16 weeks later to assemble the guitar. There is a charge for additional spray costs.
Can I find my own accommodation?
Yes of course! None of our courses are residential but we do have a great deal with a local family run B+B, 2 mins. from the shore and walking distance to all amenities in Ayr. The rooms are en-suite and include an amazing breakfast. and if you book through us you get a special deal. You can opt in or out of B+B on the booking form.
Can I bring my family when I come on a course?
Yes, the B+B en-suite rooms are double and they have family rooms available. There is also a wealth of self catering accommodation in and around Ayr. Your family are welcome to visit the workshop and use our facilities but we cannot have permanent observers in the workshop as there just isn’t room.
How old do I need to be to come on the course?
The minimum age on any course is 18 if you want to come alone. If you are 16-18 you can come on the course alone but we are not responsible for you whilst on or off our premises. The youngest course attendee was just 12, but 12-16 year olds must be accompanied by an adult who is also booked on the same course and will take responsibility for overall supervision. We will provide extra support for younger builders, and may have to restrict the spec and some tasks to meet health and safety requirements, but we can discuss that with you.
How do I get to the workshop if I am on a course?
We have space for four cars if you choose to drive. Public transport is not great where we are so we suggest :
1 We can collect from the B&B or train station on arrival day
2 If any of the students has a car we ask the group to share the driving/petrol each day
3 If no-one has a car we ask students to share the cost of a taxi (£3-5)here in the morning and we take them back when we are finished
The B&B is 10 mins. walk from Ayr Rail Station, and 5 mins. from the Bus/Coach station. We are about 4 miles from the centre of town
Is the workshop fully accessible ?
We have tried to make our courses as accessible as possible, and we have a portable ramp for the front door. However our workshop is not purpose built and we know there are some issues so we ask you to contact us to discuss any needs you might have. We will work with you to enable a full build to happen, and we have many options to offer a potential builder with any disability.
Can you cater for special dietary needs and allergies?
Yes – and we always ask about that before you come. We cater for vegetarians anyway, but we make sure that all our students can eat and drink whilst they are here. if you have any concerns please contact us
Please note that we are in a rural location and there are variety of animals surrounding us – if you have a serious allergy to cats, birds or dust AND ANY KIND OF LUNG COMPLAINT/ BREATHING DIFFICULTY you must notify us. Also, you will need to tell us if you are taking any medication that might affect your ability to use power tools.
What methods of payment do you take?
Through the shop we have Google checkout, PayPal
We can also take payments over the phone and in person for most debit and credit cards although there may be an additional charge for some credit cards.
If you want to pay balances by internet transfer please contact us directly.
Do you do repairs ?
Yes but we would need to see the guitar before we can give a price for any repair or upgrade work.
