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I hate to peer inside a box to see the holes for neck bolts.
How do ya'll conceal them?

Hmmm... Just having to deal with this myself. My holes are counter-bored, so I'm just going to create a quick graphic with my logo surrounded by a border, and stick it on with spray adhesive...

-Mark

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When I saw the subject line, my first thought was "maybe a scarf or a turtle-neck sweater..."

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Why hide them? They are just a honest part of the construction, they show how the thing was built. It also make it easier for future repairs if the repair person can tell right away how the neck was attached. If you don't want to see the neck bolts, make a dovetail.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Yep since John has been making my necks for me I have started adding a label on the block to hide the bolts. others use a dowel cap to fit the countersink made from some nice rosewood.

One of the advantages for me with the label is the damaged label is a tell tale indicator of someone messing with the neck bolting and may void my warranty. I warranty the neck set on my guitars for 10 years providing I am the only one to do work on the neck. The label is my integrity indicatorMichaelP39073.4780092593

For Arnt:
I have used dovetails in the past but now use bolt-on. Maybe you like to see them....I don't. Just asking for how others do this, sorry if I stubbed your toe.Gasawdust39073.5513310185

You could effectively build the bolts into the block by laminating a thin piece of wood with appropriate recesses for the bolt heads to the inside of the block (insert the bolts first , of course!). Drill holes in this piece the size of the adjusting wrench. Instead of bolts you'd see only two small holes.

Tom, I'm with you. I don't like to see the bolt holes, the bolts, washers, anything.
So, I countersink my bolts with a 5/8" hole drilled about 5/8" in. (I think...if memory serves.)
Then I take 5/8" mahogany dowels and cut 2" long plugs.
The inside of the plug is itself drilled out with a 1/2" drill for about 1/4", leaving a 1/16" wall thickness on the end that slides over the bolts. On the end that sticks out into the inside of the guitar, I sand some finger grips into that end, which has the effect of making it look like an old-fashioned cigarrette holder.
This is a bit of whimsy on my part, and it never fails to attract comments. But the holes are covered, and the plugs are easily removed for neck adjustments. The fit is tight, and they hold themselves in place snugly.

This is not an original idea with me. I first saw it on an old Franklin guitar, and so liked the idea I've been doing it since.

Steve

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Tom, that's OK; this is not religion, it's just a couple of bolts after all! I still wonder why you don't like seeing them, but that's just me. My main point is that on of the great things with bolt ons is that you can easily remove the neck later; by covering them up you are making it harder again. I think this should be mentioned in a discussion about covering up the bolts.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I just use some of the flat head furniture bolts that screw on with a allen wrench. They are brass so I like the way they look and I dont try to cover them up at all.
They look like this


Homeboy

Arnt'
I agree, it's not religion, but I dare say some would even argue that point with you. I have, and maybe you have too, seen some neck and heel blocks, for instance, with marguetry inlays applied. Now that is taking things to the extreme, IMHO. Don't know if I will go the route of covering the counterbore holes I presently employ but I thought I would ask for suggestions just the same.
I like the idea of some type of removable plug.....I'll have think on this one a while.

Tom

It's like the Richard Rogers school of architecture where the method of construction is visible and part of the design. I have to agree with Arnt, I don't bother covering them they're an honest part of the construction. But I do use the flat headed type like Homeboy shows. And I hate bits of paper stuck inside my guitars!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

[QUOTE=Colin S] And I hate bits of paper stuck inside my guitars!

Colin[/QUOTE]

Unless they are lute rosettes (or is that roses?) and even then you prefer wood I suspect

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

I still don't cover them up but I believe it was Mario (I could be wrong) who told me about a customer who was talking to him sometime latter and was comenting about how neat it was to have the guitar designed so you can change the neck angle by just adjusting the bolts inside Since then he has been putting his lable there. I am thinking I might start doing that as well.

Interesting discussion! I agree with Arnt in regards to not needing to
really hide anything. I just counter sink mine, over an inch I think. You
can't see the bolts without a mirror. However, Micheal's idea about using
a lable as a "tamper detector is excellent.

long

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I cover mine with a label but there is really no need to do it...

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

If you cover those bolts up, some repair guy down the line is gonna look in there and see no bolts and try to steam that thing off. He's gonna be less than happy when he gets the fingerboard up and sees that mortice & tenon there.
If you cover them, just do it in a way that is thoughtful of someone working on the guitar later.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I haven't covered any yet....

but, the "out of the box" thinking that plagues my life kicks in here.......

what if......

counterbore say 10mm deep.

the head is maybe 3mm thick?

plug with a 7mm plug with a centre hole to allow access for the allen key.

no glue to hold the plug in, just friction.

when you loosen the bolt the plug will be pushed out of the hole......

OK, it depends on how tight your mortice & tenon is too I guess.......

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[QUOTE=Dave White] [QUOTE=Colin S] And I hate bits of paper stuck inside my guitars!

Colin[/QUOTE]

Unless they are lute rosettes (or is that roses?) and even then you prefer wood I suspect

[/QUOTE]

Layered parchment roses are allowed on baroque guitars, but not lutes, they must be carved into the top. I don't mind labels on classical/Spanish guitars, but I just don't like them in Steel Strings, I guess It's my Martin thing.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.