Microtonal Guitar Neck: June 2025 Build
Listing includes finished neck in tuning of choice, tuners, a slotted nut and free installation on body of choice. Optional truss rod cover available at no extra cost.
I developed a passion for alternate tuning systems for guitar many years ago. Since then, I've been lucky to work directly with the microtonal guitars of Glenn Branca and Arnold Dreyblatt, and compose music in many different tunings systems. When the pandemic hit, I realized it was time for me to begin pursuing luthiery full time. I am very pleased to begin offering strat, tele, or Jazzmaster style microtonal necks here on the JLJ Instruments home page.
Fretting Pattern/Tuning System:
All tunings are possible. I am willing to do any EDO up to 41, Kite, any JI, and 12EDO + JI.
I can fret any EDO up to 41EDO, with fretting accuracy within a thousandth of an inch using a digital jig that I developed. If you are interested in something not listed in the options, contact me. I'm very open to doing something custom, such as custom JI or some other system I didn't list.
If you select the custom JI option, contact me to discuss details.
Fretwork:
I install all frets using an arbor press for as consistent and uniform a job as possible. All frets will be leveled, including a fall away in the upper octave. They will also be crowned and polished. I crown all my frets using StewMac Z files. See photos for details, but the neck you receive will have professional fretwork and no buzzes.
I use Stewmac Medium/Higher and Medium/Highest frets, but other types are possible.
Neck Heel:
Based on what type of neck you want. I can do any Fender style.
Neck and fretboard wood:
These are 2 piece necks made from hard rock maple and your choice of a few types of fingerboard wood. The lumber is all sourced from a local lumber yard near my home in Maryland, USA. Sustainability is important to me, and I will only use wood that is ethically sourced, and not at any risk of extinction.
Fretboard and Side Dots:
My guitar necks are made with custom wood fretboard dots that are made in-house. I can also use glow in the dark dots, or whatever you might want. The actual wood used for the dots is usually off cuts from the neck itself, but I have used more exotic woods like bocote and cocobolo too. Side dots are white plastic. I have developed my own dot patterns for each tuning system, however, I'm open to something custom if that is what you wish.
Truss Rod:
Necks come with heel adjust truss rods by default, such as the hex nut or spokewheel rod. If you'd like a fretboard overhang, we'll have to do a headstock adjust rod. All the rods I use are hotrod truss rods from Stewmac. Contact me if you want something specific, otherwise I'll give you a headstock adjust hex nut rod.
Nut:
Each neck includes a slotted bone nut. The nut will be installed and setup for a medium high action, perfectly ready for your tech to tailor to your specific guitar and playing style.
I compensate my nuts closer to the 1st fret for better intonation across the neck. This is similar to a technique that PRS guitars uses.
Radius:
Radius is your choice. 7.25" to 20".
Neck Profile:
I use by default a slightly thinner version of a 60s strat C profile. If you'd like a custom profile, select that option and we'll discuss it via messages. I can do most of the standard profiles to a high degree of accuracy. They are all hand carved so there is some variation.
Finish:
Polyx oil
If you select any of the custom options, we will discuss via email.
Listing includes finished neck in tuning of choice, tuners, a slotted nut and free installation on body of choice. Optional truss rod cover available at no extra cost.
I developed a passion for alternate tuning systems for guitar many years ago. Since then, I've been lucky to work directly with the microtonal guitars of Glenn Branca and Arnold Dreyblatt, and compose music in many different tunings systems. When the pandemic hit, I realized it was time for me to begin pursuing luthiery full time. I am very pleased to begin offering strat, tele, or Jazzmaster style microtonal necks here on the JLJ Instruments home page.
Fretting Pattern/Tuning System:
All tunings are possible. I am willing to do any EDO up to 41, Kite, any JI, and 12EDO + JI.
I can fret any EDO up to 41EDO, with fretting accuracy within a thousandth of an inch using a digital jig that I developed. If you are interested in something not listed in the options, contact me. I'm very open to doing something custom, such as custom JI or some other system I didn't list.
If you select the custom JI option, contact me to discuss details.
Fretwork:
I install all frets using an arbor press for as consistent and uniform a job as possible. All frets will be leveled, including a fall away in the upper octave. They will also be crowned and polished. I crown all my frets using StewMac Z files. See photos for details, but the neck you receive will have professional fretwork and no buzzes.
I use Stewmac Medium/Higher and Medium/Highest frets, but other types are possible.
Neck Heel:
Based on what type of neck you want. I can do any Fender style.
Neck and fretboard wood:
These are 2 piece necks made from hard rock maple and your choice of a few types of fingerboard wood. The lumber is all sourced from a local lumber yard near my home in Maryland, USA. Sustainability is important to me, and I will only use wood that is ethically sourced, and not at any risk of extinction.
Fretboard and Side Dots:
My guitar necks are made with custom wood fretboard dots that are made in-house. I can also use glow in the dark dots, or whatever you might want. The actual wood used for the dots is usually off cuts from the neck itself, but I have used more exotic woods like bocote and cocobolo too. Side dots are white plastic. I have developed my own dot patterns for each tuning system, however, I'm open to something custom if that is what you wish.
Truss Rod:
Necks come with heel adjust truss rods by default, such as the hex nut or spokewheel rod. If you'd like a fretboard overhang, we'll have to do a headstock adjust rod. All the rods I use are hotrod truss rods from Stewmac. Contact me if you want something specific, otherwise I'll give you a headstock adjust hex nut rod.
Nut:
Each neck includes a slotted bone nut. The nut will be installed and setup for a medium high action, perfectly ready for your tech to tailor to your specific guitar and playing style.
I compensate my nuts closer to the 1st fret for better intonation across the neck. This is similar to a technique that PRS guitars uses.
Radius:
Radius is your choice. 7.25" to 20".
Neck Profile:
I use by default a slightly thinner version of a 60s strat C profile. If you'd like a custom profile, select that option and we'll discuss it via messages. I can do most of the standard profiles to a high degree of accuracy. They are all hand carved so there is some variation.
Finish:
Polyx oil
If you select any of the custom options, we will discuss via email.
Listing includes finished neck in tuning of choice, tuners, a slotted nut and free installation on body of choice. Optional truss rod cover available at no extra cost.
I developed a passion for alternate tuning systems for guitar many years ago. Since then, I've been lucky to work directly with the microtonal guitars of Glenn Branca and Arnold Dreyblatt, and compose music in many different tunings systems. When the pandemic hit, I realized it was time for me to begin pursuing luthiery full time. I am very pleased to begin offering strat, tele, or Jazzmaster style microtonal necks here on the JLJ Instruments home page.
Fretting Pattern/Tuning System:
All tunings are possible. I am willing to do any EDO up to 41, Kite, any JI, and 12EDO + JI.
I can fret any EDO up to 41EDO, with fretting accuracy within a thousandth of an inch using a digital jig that I developed. If you are interested in something not listed in the options, contact me. I'm very open to doing something custom, such as custom JI or some other system I didn't list.
If you select the custom JI option, contact me to discuss details.
Fretwork:
I install all frets using an arbor press for as consistent and uniform a job as possible. All frets will be leveled, including a fall away in the upper octave. They will also be crowned and polished. I crown all my frets using StewMac Z files. See photos for details, but the neck you receive will have professional fretwork and no buzzes.
I use Stewmac Medium/Higher and Medium/Highest frets, but other types are possible.
Neck Heel:
Based on what type of neck you want. I can do any Fender style.
Neck and fretboard wood:
These are 2 piece necks made from hard rock maple and your choice of a few types of fingerboard wood. The lumber is all sourced from a local lumber yard near my home in Maryland, USA. Sustainability is important to me, and I will only use wood that is ethically sourced, and not at any risk of extinction.
Fretboard and Side Dots:
My guitar necks are made with custom wood fretboard dots that are made in-house. I can also use glow in the dark dots, or whatever you might want. The actual wood used for the dots is usually off cuts from the neck itself, but I have used more exotic woods like bocote and cocobolo too. Side dots are white plastic. I have developed my own dot patterns for each tuning system, however, I'm open to something custom if that is what you wish.
Truss Rod:
Necks come with heel adjust truss rods by default, such as the hex nut or spokewheel rod. If you'd like a fretboard overhang, we'll have to do a headstock adjust rod. All the rods I use are hotrod truss rods from Stewmac. Contact me if you want something specific, otherwise I'll give you a headstock adjust hex nut rod.
Nut:
Each neck includes a slotted bone nut. The nut will be installed and setup for a medium high action, perfectly ready for your tech to tailor to your specific guitar and playing style.
I compensate my nuts closer to the 1st fret for better intonation across the neck. This is similar to a technique that PRS guitars uses.
Radius:
Radius is your choice. 7.25" to 20".
Neck Profile:
I use by default a slightly thinner version of a 60s strat C profile. If you'd like a custom profile, select that option and we'll discuss it via messages. I can do most of the standard profiles to a high degree of accuracy. They are all hand carved so there is some variation.
Finish:
Polyx oil
If you select any of the custom options, we will discuss via email.