Official Luthiers Forum!

I have an Epiphone FT-565 (Japan production, early 70's) in my shop that has some neck set issues. Does anyone have any information on what type of neck joint is used on this guitar? There are no mechanical fasteners on the outside and finish was applied over the joint. What concerns me is that there is a bolt running from the heel through the neck block that is secured with a nut and washer. I don't see why a bolt would be used if it were a traditional type joint. My instincts are telling me to pass on this one.

My guess is that the bolt was added by a non luthier when the guitar first needed a neck re-set. Looking at pictures of the FT-565, there shouldn't be a bolt running from the heel to the neck.



See, no bolt from heel to neck. JBreault39001.4633564815

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Joe Breault
Merrimack, NH
Perpetual novice

It should be a dovetail joint, but if you have a bolt in there now it may have been coverted to butt mount, as in the dove tail mortice was filled with stock and the tenon was cut off the neck.

Joe, In your second picture there is something visible near the top of the neck block. That is where the bolt is located in this one. This bolt is countersunk into the neck block and in my opinion looks much cleaner than I would expect a non-luthier to accomplish; especially given that its location on the neck block would make it difficult to achieve through the sound hole. Michael, I had considered the possibility of a conversion. Removing the nut does not loosen the neck joint at all.