Butt joint for nylon string guitar

[Dave Bagwill]

I was joking with Brian Burns (a luthier friend) a couple of days ago when he asked why I don't build classical guitars. Well I love classical guitars, but no way do I want to start carving Spanish heels, so I told him if in his professional opinion I could build a classical with a butt joint at the neck, he said 'Why not?" He is such a purist that I was really surprised.

Do any of you classical/crossover makers want to chime in with your opinion/experience? I'd like to build a classical, but not with that Sp. heel.

[John Parchem]

I have never done a classical with a butt joint there is no reason it would not work. I would still put in one bolt, to hold it together while gluing and help with the alignment during gluing. (I am building my harp ukulele this way). but... many very good classical guitar builders are making guitars with a bolt on mortise and tenon joint. Also more of them are putting in truss rods and carbon fiber neck reinforcement.

Given the acceptance of those changes, a classical can be built just like a steel string with the only changes being a classical bracing pattern and bridge design.

[Dave Bagwill]

Thanks John. I was planning on using bolt-on materials no matter what kind of joint I use. That's encouraging information.

[ken cierp]

I've constructed a few classicals -- bolt-on necks. One thing the classic purist issists upon is a French Polish finish on the sound-board. Lacquer on the back, sides and neck FP on the top is common these days.

[TonyinNYC]

Classical guys are tone snobs. But if you didn't tell anyone, chances are they would never know what kind of neck joint you used. Only bluegrass guys can hear the difference. They can hear if you used hide glue too. Bahahahaha!!!

[Dave Bagwill]

A little off-subject, but I was reading one guy's elated review of the guitar he had ordered and received from a luthier. Primo Brazilian back and sides, adi top, wonderful fit and finish. But - he said - 'and the very best part - hot hide glue'.
He said that. The best part of a $7k instrument was the hot hide glue. Somebody did a real sales job on him.

Wayne Henderson - Titebond and super glue. That's all I have to say about that.

[ken cierp]

Maybe he was planning on needing a lot of repairs --after all it will come apart very easily -- that's the logic, so I'm told -- should stop this now.