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Another Neck/Scarf Question

Okay. I cut another neck today. I measured down 5.5" from one end. I flipped the stick over and measured 8.5" down from the same end. I then turned the stick on it's side and connected the lines. Not sure what angle this is but anyways. I stuck it in a clamp and with my jig saw, cut the scarf joint. Then I clamped the two pieces together like the guy in this video did at about the 3:00 markand smoothed it all with the belt sander.

This makes for a smooth connection and I think it will work. Here is my question. On my first neck, I stuck the short end on the bottom of the neck to glue. Someone mentioned that the little piece belongs on top. After reading and looking at pictures, it looks like people do it both ways. If I put it on top, it makes the head piece look nicer since there isn't a line running through it. Which is the proper way? Headstock on top or bottom?

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on April 24, 2012 at 10:05am

If you put it on top, then put a fret board over the top it covers the line. Look at store bought guitars, this is how they do it on scarfed headstocks. But either way will work

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 24, 2012 at 10:09am

Seems to me the strongest configuration is the little part on top with a separate fret board. It's the way I've done all one of my scarf joints so far.

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Permalink Reply by Andy Eight Spades CBG on April 24, 2012 at 11:06am

Either will work. Some people laminate a thin piece over the top of the headstock when they do it like you did the first time so you can't see the line running through it. Just depends on what you like. I always do mine with the headstock piece on top and then a seperate fretboard.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Pruett on April 24, 2012 at 3:07pm

I've found both to be very strong - as folks have said, one way the fret board covers the joint, the other way just needs a veneer over the face of the headstock to clean things up.

So remember - no rules!! (Except for that one about sand it one more time...)

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on April 25, 2012 at 6:43am

I do it both ways, sometimes I have a line, sometimes not. Also, I usually cut the scarf length wise and then laminate the cutoff, or a contrasting piece of wood, on the bottom to get tuners lower.

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on April 25, 2012 at 6:43am

I do it both ways, sometimes I have a line, sometimes not. Also, I usually cut the scarf length wise and then laminate the cutoff on the bottom to get tuners lower.