Neck cheeks

[Paul C]

Do you guys carve your heels before fine tuning the neck angle?

[Dave Bagwill]

I do, for the reason that taking off wood that you know for certain you don't want in the way is a good thing, and gives you a more accurate neck angle set.

[ken cierp]

Not really sure I understand the question -- but, the neck angle is something that is part of the basic design -- usually 1.5 +/- degrees the upper bout of the instrument is sloped accordingly (complimentary angle), because sound board doming can vary slightly, optimum action is achieved by use of different thickness bridges and tweaked saddle height. BTW this is the way many prominent makers and the major factories do it including Martin. I can tell you that most of the other theories, methods and procedures found in books and on the internet will drive you crazy! Once you understand and adopt the above principles -- guitar making becomes much easier.

[Tim Benware]

No. I use a jig to rout the neck tenon (DT or M&T) and my chosen angle (1.3* in my case). My steps are roughly this:

1. cut the scarf joint
2. cut the heel pieces (you can laminate the neck at this point too if you chose)
3. glue up the scarf joint and stacked heel
4. rout the truss rod channel
5. rout the tenon and neck angle
6. Add the head plate (and back plate if desired) and go to carving/shaping

[Dave Bagwill]

I misunderstood the question, my bad. I read it as 'dishing the cheeks'.