angled neck

Steve wootten November 5, 2012 at 11:10am

i think i can stick my paddle in the water for this one since after the first 3 or 4 cbg's i built i started thinkin that the amount of "string break" at the nut would increase alot if i could just figure out how they do it ... so i started playin arround with some "scrap" wood an in a very short time i had the answer... ready for this??? lay your neck blank on the work bench on its side take your miter box saw to it at a slight angle an cut!!! ps you do not use the miter box just free hand it with that kind of saw it is the one i use because it happens to be the sharpest one in my shop actualy thats about all there is to it i usualy mark the line that i want to cut useing my square in 2 places 1 on the side an then on the face of the blank (this helps me to keep my cut more or less straight) ps the more often you do this the easier it gets . after i cut it i position the pcs where they go (this will take a little thinking) but not much im just slow sometimes after all the cutting is done i usualy have to take a rasp to it to get the best fit that i can then glue it up with some good wood glue (i use elmers carpenters glue )the water resestant one an then i tape the pcs. together working one pcs of tape from the right side then the left dont be cheep with the tape it is cheep ... i guess thats about it this method works well for me some of you out there will im sure be useing a band saw but i find that i get better results doing it the hard way ...hope this helps ya pls post some pics when you get a chance im not able to post pics yet im still learning how to use this darned "puter" thing lol good luck

MichaelS Country Boy Guitars November 5, 2012 at 10:52am

That depends on how good your glue joint is, either way my 3 strings 24" scale dose not have enough force to break my necks. The strings will break way before that angled head will.

Tim LaFave October 30, 2012 at 8:11pm

I found this website helpful in learning how to build a neck with a scarf joint; http://liutaiomottola.com/construction/NeckBlank.htm. Hope this helps!

Bad Finger (Eric) October 30, 2012 at 4:55pm

Do you want to angle the neck, or the headstock?

Angling the neck is as simple as adding a spacer between the neck and the box lid on the head side. No cuts required. This will allow you to use a taller bridge.

Angling the headstock to get a greater break angle over the nut is done with a scarf joint or carving. Scarf joints seem scary until you actually do one. I cut mine with my chop saw then block sanded by hand. Nice invisible glue joint. I cut it so the fretboard covered the joint and strengthened it.

MichaelS Country Boy Guitars October 30, 2012 at 4:43pm

I use a 2" thick board and cut the angle into the neck, no joint to break that way.

OldNick > MichaelS Country Boy Guitars October 30, 2012 at 7:08pm

Actually, a scarf joint is stronger. A solid neck (of the same thickness) will fail before a scarf joint. Seems illogical, but scientifically proven nonetheless.

OldNick October 29, 2012 at 11:33am

I made a jig to cut the scarf joint on my table saw, and another jig for sanding it. I never had good results trying to do it on a band saw.

nick

wormil October 28, 2012 at 9:03pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlRBNCa_odI

jamie bark October 28, 2012 at 9:00pm

Me too. There is some info on here for making the scarf joint, but i need more of a step by step I think... still surprised that they are just glued and clamped in most cases? I would think string tension would be too much... gonna have to review the links again I think- maybe it will make more sense.

bruce renn October 28, 2012 at 8:08pm

bill take look at its in the free plans ,A Guide to Advanced Cigar Box Guitar Making

bruce

Build a Cigar Box Guitar 101

angled neck

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