The positions of the fret slots are mathematically calculated based on the scale length and number of frets desired. The photo above shows how I saw fret slots after their locations are determined. A very thin kerf saw is used for this. This is a traditional rosewood fingerboard.
In the next photo, looking down the fingerboard toward the headstock you can see that all the frets have been installed and at this point they are still protruding quite a bit past the edge of the board. These will need to be cut even with the edge of the fingerboard and filed smooth.
Here you can see that the fret wire has been cut and filed even with the edges of the fingerboard. The frets have also been roughly filed at an angle. Next the frets will be filed to a very smooth finish for the comfort of playing. You can see that the nut has not yet been installed. So after the fret work the next step will be to make a nut to fit the slot.
The above photo shows the body of this Bo Diddly style guitar almost finished. The cavities for the humbucker pickups have been routed as well as the neck pocket. The holes for the 3-way switch, as well as for the two-volume and the two-tone controls have been drilled. Here you can see that I inlaid and glued the black binding around the top and back edges. I am in the process of using a scraper to shave the binding even with the top and sides of the guitar.
In the next photo, you can see that the body has now been painted with several coats of color. The clear coat has not yet been sprayed.
Here all the masking has been removed and the clear coat has been applied which has been allowed to dry for several days. Some of the electronics have been installed and the inserts for the Tune-O-Matic type tailpiece are being placed.
In the next photo, you can see that the Tune-O-Matic tailpiece and bridge are now installed as well as the humbucker pickups, strings, and controls. The only things that have not been completed here are the volume and tone knobs. They are to be chrome.
In the final photo, we have the headstock of the Bo Diddly style guitar. It is equipped with Grover 18:1 ratio tuning machines. I have inlaid my “L” logo which is of Mother Of Pearl. The truss rod cover has not yet been installed in this photo.
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