fitting the dovetail

[tim crain 54]

I am at the stage of fitting my neck and had a couple of questions about fitting the dovetail. In the Kincade book he mentions checking the high spots by using chalk but does not explain how to do it. I would guess that chalk is applied to either the faces of the pin or the tail, fit the pieces together and where ever the chalk is transfered is your high spot. Does it make any difference whether it is the pin or tail that is chalked? What kind of chalk? Sidewalk chalk, chalk line chalk, school chalk?? My other question is in regards to the neck set, with the neck fitted onto the body and a straight edge laid on the neck, what distance should I be looking for between the straight edge and the top of the guitar at the bridge location? I will post some pics in the construction log to show where I am. Thanks in advance, Tim

[ken cierp]

My advice is to get this book before you procede:

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=35


And also read most the threads in this forum section -- it will be time and $$ well spent.

[ken cierp]

When I was young and crazy and made guitars with dove tail neck joints. I used a material called "Articulating Paper" you get it from a medical supply. Its what dentist uses when looking for high spots on a filling etc. Place it in the joint and it leaves marks on the high spot, better than chalk which tends to smear a little.

[tim crain 54]

Thanks Ken, I will Look into both.

[John Link]

Yes, dovetails are for crazy people. Or is there some sonic advantage to rag-tag, not quite tight joints at the body neck connection? I guess the latter is Martin's contention. Unfortunately, Tim has no choice but to keep on with it. Good luck. That dentist stuff does have a high degree of precision.

The Taylor factory, which seems to have every CNC machine known to the human race, does not use the dovetail. If anyone could do it tight, they should be the ones. But they seem to recognize that tight today does not mean tight next year, and correcting a dove tail joint after it is made is something of a bad dream that even a CNC machine can't address.

I have a 1965 Brazilian Guild F-312 with a dovetail that I have devised a way to convert to a bolt on, without altering the appearance of the dovetail. It should make someone who believes in dovetails happy.