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Re: Neck Angle & Fit (M&T Joint)
Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:24 pm
by Mad Rose
TonyinNYC wrote:I agree with Ken, but at the same time if you are getting the correct gap above your bridge, go for it. The problem becomes greater when you over analyze things and become paralyzed to move forward!
Thank you Tony...it's my nature!
Re: Neck Angle & Fit (M&T Joint)
Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 11:05 am
by TonyinNYC
Happens to the best of us!!
When I built my koa dread, I somehow got the neck block twisted when I glued on the top. I probably used too much pressure when gluing it on. That REALLY messed up my neck angle and I spent quite a while getting it right.
I have completed 5 guitars so far following the KMG instructions and 4 of them came out with nearly perfect neck set angles right out of the mold. But that Koa dreadnought gave me fits! I realized after the fact that the neck block twisted a little towards the tail block when I was gluing on the top which caused a straight edge placed on the un-fretted fret board to dive into the soundhole!!
Well, I am not that experienced of a builder, so getting that right was a real challenge for me. Especially being used to having the neck set be perfect on my previous 4!! I eventually corrected it, but my fear now is that the guitar will require a neck re-set sooner than normal. Fortunately, I don't glue my necks on, or my fretboard extensions, so it wont be that hard of a job, but lesson learned. Now I make sure I clamp that neck block in place before I glue on the top or back to remove the possibility of twisting.
I should also add that it was not until I was building my second guitar that I fully grasped the reasons why the neck needs to be a certain way. On my first, I simply followed the KMG instructions with not much thought given to "why" I was doing things, I only cared about "how" I was supposed something to build my guitar. I'm not a dumb guy, I just didnt care about the "why" I only cared about finishing the guitar so I could play it. When I realized I wanted to build more guitars, I began to understand the "why" so I could make them play and sound as best as I could.
Hope some of this helps!
Tony