A quick question for you set neck people

tjclem · #1 06-01-2006, 03:37 PM

I have only done bolt-on necks sofar. I have a bass I am building that the neck has to be pressed in to place it fits so nice. I haven't drilled neck bolt holes yet. Is there a reason I can't just glue it into place and create a "set neck" Sorry if this is a stupid question. I don't know if it is or if there is something I am overlooking?

Thanks ...tom

wilser · #2 06-01-2006, 05:06 PM

Nope, no reason, as long as you have enough wood left on the heel to carve a seamless transition, it should be ok.

But come to think of it, the transition doesn't have to be seamless. I mean, that PRS guitar on the Smithsonian in washington, d.c. is pretty obvious where the joint is. Anyway, follow your instict and do whatever looks good for you.

Diego · #3 06-01-2006, 05:08 PM

No reason not to do it. Just add some glue, fit the neck nd clamp it. Then you can work out the heel to make the neck-to-body transition smooth.

tjclem · #4 06-02-2006, 05:37 AM

Thansk guys I will need to add wood to the heel and route deeper in the neck pocket. How deep do you guys go and how much wood do you normally add?

wilser · #5 06-02-2006, 07:47 AM

it really depends on the body thickness, neck thickness at the heel, weather you want a transition block or not and your bridge height.

I usually like to use a transition block because it looks good. So I normally start with a 1" or 3/4" thick neck blank and a 1.5" or 1-3/4" body thickness. What I do is glue in a 1/8" to 1/4" transition block to the neck then measure the bridge saddle height when they're set at their lower position and subtract that from the overall (including transition block and already profiled fingerboard) neck thickness. That result will be how deep you'll make your neck pocket.

That's the way I do it ...I'm sure someone else has a way that works better for them.

tjclem · #6 06-03-2006, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilser

it really depends on the body thickness, neck thickness at the heel, weather you want a transition block or not and your bridge height.

I usually like to use a transition block because it looks good. So I normally start with a 1" or 3/4" thick neck blank and a 1.5" or 1-3/4" body thickness. What I do is glue in a 1/8" to 1/4" transition block to the neck then measure the bridge saddle height when they're set at their lower position and subtract that from the overall (including transition block and already profiled fingerboard) neck thickness. That result will be how deep you'll make your neck pocket.

That's the way I do it ...I'm sure someone else has a way that works better for them.

Thanks that is what I am doing..t