Acoustic Guitar Construction

What tools do you use for this procedure?

I use a very sharp 1/4 chisel -- I like to get pretty close to the edge and also I make sure of clearance at the tenon end. I have used a Dremel for roughing.

Ditto Ken. I like my sharp chisel for that end-grain.

I have used a dremel, but I use a chisel now. Somogyi shows a jig ha made for this purpose in his book. It is just two pieces of wood, angled a bit and covered with sand paper, that you rub the neck cheeks on. I can't find a pic online of one, but it works pretty well.

I use a chisel to provide the relief near the tenon.

Do you chiselers also clean up with sandpaper, or are you able to get smooth cheeks in that stubborn endgrain just with your chisels?

Chiseling is what I do, but it sure isn't easy, even with a scary sharp chisel. I liked it better when I cut the tenon out on my table saw and I could do compound angles, and cut that relief in on both sides...no need to relieve the area. That works so well I've considered going back to it, and just routing out the mortise on the body with the jig.

Kevin