Acoustic Guitar Construction

Thanks H!
So what I just now did, before the shop hits 100° F today, was rough out the cheeks using a dragon rasp, to remove some wood, then a small chisel to finish up. Looks fine, I'll just stop stressing about it.
Why am I stressing? Because I'm making this for a guy who knows some things about guitars, and I won't be surprised if he does remove the bolt-on neck and take a look. So I think I will sign the cheeks and french polish them.
Not.

When I have to do it I use a chisel. It is a bit rough. Mostly I cut the cheeks at 3° on a table saw which naturally provides relief.

I've been using a dremel with rasp #199. Here's a pic with a piece of aluminum tubing over the shaft to prevent friction burns on the edge and keeping the cut shallow. The Taylor pic looks like a closeup of that type of rasp. Here's a pic of a neck heel with the recess cut out leaving a narrow edge for flossing. It was cut out before fretboard attachment and heel cap glued on. I'm liking butt joints more and more, so much easier to make the cheek recess with a router.

Okay, I took the bait. Dremel 199 on its way. Nothing about this task is easy. We've all tried and have been frustrated by any number of attempts to make this do-able. I'll be a big spender and spend six bucks, see what happens.

Thanks. Learn something every day.

Thanks Carl, that's just what we needed! I too will put out the $6, right now.

edit: Done!

So I got that little dremel bit - and love the darn thing. Thanks for that tip, Carl.
I find myself using it for many little tasks other than cheek dishing, but for dishing, it is the bomb.

Been using the little rasp. Wonderful use for six bucks.