Is a scarf joint weaker than a one piece neck?

ChuckCorbisiero · #1 03-17-2013, 04:30 PM

Question for the luthiers. I'm being told scarf joints are to be avoided when buying an Arch Top Jazz guitar. What's the deal?

Jake deVilliers · #2 03-17-2013, 06:12 PM

Where's the scarf joint located? Got pix?

Jazzdogg · #3 03-17-2013, 06:22 PM

All scarf joints aren't created equal...

ChuckCorbisiero · #4 03-18-2013, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

Where's the scarf joint located? Got pix?

Where the neck joins the body at the heel. It's hard to see but the neck is laminated to the heel instead of being one piece.

Jake deVilliers · #5 03-18-2013, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckCorbisiero

Where the neck joins the body at the heel. It's hard to see but the neck is laminated to the heel instead of being one piece.

That's not a scarf joint, that's a stacked heel! Many guitars and basses use a stacked heel with no issues whatsoever.

The scarf joint is ofter found at the peghead end; classical guitars use a stacked heel and cut and rotate one thin board with a scarf joint at the peghead. Its very strong and makes better use of the available lumber. One piece guitar necks favour factory construction by semi-skilled labour but are very wasteful of materials...

ChuckCorbisiero · #6 03-18-2013, 04:00 PM

Thanks Jake. Sorry for the ignorance. I think it looks like a " C ". I've seen it on Classical guitars and some Archtops. I couldn't get a shot that was back enough. So I don't know about this one. The 2nd picture shows one right? That's not this one though.

Jake deVilliers · #7 03-19-2013, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChuckCorbisiero

Thanks Jake. Sorry for the ignorance. It think it looks like a " C ". I've seen it on Classical guitars and some Archtops. I couldn't get a shot that was back enough. So I don't know about this one. The 2nd picture shows one right? That's not this one though.

Yup, that's a scarf joint. On guitars they're traditionally positioned right at the angle of the peghead, and the peghead veneer goes over top and adds more strength.

Something like this: http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum....php?t=1190224

ChuckCorbisiero · #8 03-20-2013, 01:32 PM

Just got it. The joint is visible on the back of the peghead where you said it might be. It's a gem. All maple though with rosewood fingerboard. It doesn't feed back much. Just a LAMINATE L5 copy by Washburn but it does what I want it to. Thanks for the help Jake.

Jake deVilliers · #9 03-20-2013, 10:21 PM

Hey Chuck, no problem! Its nice to have a jazz guitar around the house.