Flattening the body at the neck joint.

[Mike Bradley]

I have read the KMG section on fitting the neck to the body, which recommends using a flat sanding board to flatten the area where the neck meets the body.
My Stewmac 000 12fret plans show a very slight radius around the neck end of the body, requiring the neck block to be radiussed in the same way to accommodate this.
Am I right in thinking, I build in this way, and then flatten with the board, or does the neck block stay flat to create a flat area anyway?
Of course, keeping the neck block flat would widen the flattened area, probably too much and alter the body shape very slightly, so I'm guessing this is not the way to go.
Thanks Mike

[ken cierp]

Life is too short -- flatten that small area and carve out the neck heel relief described in the manual and you'll save yourself some unnecessary grief.

A rendering is not an assembled guitar.

[Mike Bradley]

Thanks Ken, I understand what you say, so I'll continue with the neck block I've already radiussed.( I was just wondering whether I should flatten it, that's why I asked the question.)
Mike

[ken cierp]

The neck blocks we make and supply in our kits (all styles) do have a contour, that facilitates glue up of the rim. Just the same the mating surface is leveled to aid in the critical neck fitting process.