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I'm going to use bolt-on necks on my next guitars.
When do you cut the mortise in the heelblock: before or after assembly of the soundbox?
I can do it either way, but thought I'd get some input before making a jig, as there are surely problems I'm overlooking.
Thanks
John

Once the box is closed I rout the mortise and drill the holes. I like to do this after the inserts are drilled and installed in the neck tenon.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks, JJ-
Do you use dowel centers to locate the hole positions in the body-indexing from the neck?
John

I did it when I fabricate the neck and block but when I use John Watkins necks he does it for me

I completely machine my block before I install it.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

I've done it both ways and I like routing it out after assembly.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

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I do it off the guitar on non cutaway instruments on the table saw as shown
on my web site. I rout a solid block in the guitar on cutaway instruments in
order to insure that the edge of the neck and cutaway are in exactly the
same plane and the neck is exactly centered on the top.

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

I also do it before assembly.Jim_W39052.8332523148

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Jim Watts
http://jameswattsguitars.com

I do it after assembly with a 3/4 router bit and a jig

I'm switching to a dovetail joint...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

i do the dovetail mortice and tenon and i still do it after assembly.

I do mine after the box is together and the binding is on.
I use my endgraft/edge vice from Chris at Luthiers tools
I have 2 templates for this vice. One for my endgraft and one for the neck mortice.

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

I rout it out before I glue the block in.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I'm with those who do it before glueing the block in.

Thanks, everybody, for your input.
It sounds like either procedure can work fine with the right setup.
I think I'll machine after assembly for now, since that allows me more options for changing my mind!

Cheers
John

After assembly, using a router with a spiral cutting bit and Robbie O'Briens mortise cutting jig. I've used it on both cutaways and non-cutaways and it works great.
My barrel nuts and bolt holes are all done just using a small ruler, no dowell line-ups.
-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

There is no part of a guitar called a "heelblock." There is a headblock and a tailblock; the headblock is also called the neck block. "Heelblock" is ambiguous and confusing because some might, not unreasonably, think the heel of a guitar is at the bottom of the body, not the top.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Set straight there Howard He is right you know

LMI uses the term "heel block" to refer to the block of wood one carves the heel of the neck from, when constructing a neck from 1" QS stock with the head and heel joined on. This seems like a good use of the term.

We do have a little anatomy problem, though, calling the base of the neck the "heel". What else to call it, though, I don't know.Todd Rose39059.4856134259

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

[QUOTE=Todd Rose]
We do have a little anatomy problem, though, calling the base of the neck the "heel". What else to call it, though, I don't know.[/QUOTE]

"Adam's apple"?

Back on topic--I don't use a mortise or tenon.
That saves a lot of work right there.
Just run the brass inserts into the heel of the neck, as I think Mario once mentioned he does. (Apologies to Mario if my memory is faulty.)

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Apparently there are a bunch of different definitions out there, and I don't want to get in a bunfight about this! (Loved the humor, or is that humour?)
Glad to see that practically everybody could tell what I was talking about, in spite of problems with terminology.

From the Taylor website (I know, I know, they're only a megalomerate guitar factory...)
HEEL BLOCK: a piece of hardwood affixed to the inside of the guitar where the neck joins the upper body, for the purpose of providing structural support and reinforcement; also "head block" or "neck block".

Gotta go now and work on the design for the Mohawk coif for my next electric guitar!
John

Thanks Todd. Good discussion. And thanks to all for not mentioning the linguistics class you took and how language is alive and always changing. I took that class, too, and it doesn't mean that some usages aren't better than others.

I'm fine with the LMI thing. I was thinking of it when I posted--that is a common construction method in Spain. All the more reason not to call the headblock by the same name and really confuse things. As for Taylor, they want to have it all ways: same piece is both head block and heel block? They don't need to care because the guitars are built by workers who only read 1's and 0's.

Todd, I'll take your word for it about how people use "peghead profile," although I can't remember seeing or hearing it. I prefer to call that part of the guitar the headstock; who uses pegs on a guitar except for a few flamenco purists? It's a leftover from the violin world. Coif? Too French, and reminds me of law school. This needs some work.

"Head plate" does sound like a metal skull repair. I call it the "heastock face veneer," which I admit is a bit lengthy. But no one ever is confused about it.

I never use "back graft." Sounds like taking payments secretly in order to jump someone ahead on the building list. In fact, I don't think I've ever heard it. I use "back strip." It may be stressed, but it isn't really a functional joint. As for the end graft, there already is a common colloquial term: butt wedge.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Odd maybe, but 'graft' always sounds like a repair to me - perhaps subconciously why I've decided to use neither back strip nor tail wedge. I'm striving to reach the point where I'd be happy to emphasise the joint by inlaying a line of purfling to either side of it on back and tail. Think I'm getting there - will see with the three in progress at the mo.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks Howard, I do sometimes wish descriptions were more standardized. I like yours, and I understand what you are referring to.

Thanks

Mike