My preferred button location on a square heel is in the center of the heel, as in this photo. Bottom of the heel tends to tip the guitar forward (as Todd was compensating for), and I just don't like the way the button looks in the heel cap.
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| Author: | JRessler [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:32 am ] |
| Post subject: | Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I use a tapered neck heel and am considering changing the shape. What shape neck heel do you use and why? If you make laminated necks, does that make a difference of what shape you will use? If you do not use a neck tenon, how does this influence the thickness of the heel. Pics would be helpful. |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:48 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Heel shape is for the most part is aesthetic but will play a part in the mass therefore have a sonic effect on the guitar. It dos not mater if the neck is a laminate 5 piece or a solid one piece neck, the heel's shape is not dependent on either factor. Now a bolt on butt joint neck will need a heal with a cross section that can accommodate the threaded inserts and take the load of the bolts. |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Straight for a cutaway, so the hand doesn't bump into a ledge when playing up the neck. Also IMO this looks better with a cutaway; taped with cutaway looks like two designs got tossed together. Obviously there are many who disagree. Tapered w/o cutaway, mainly for the looks. |
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| Author: | Bob Garrish [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I'd say, for the most part, it's aesthetic. If I was making a cutaway, I'd use a heel that matched the cutaway side in profile which would mean a straight heel or a tapered heel if I could bend the side to blend into it. I just don't really like the look of the 'corner' sticking out past the heel as much as a smooth transition. There are a few guys using tapered heels and blending the side in, though I can't remember many names offhand except for Michael Collins (the Selmer guy) |
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| Author: | burbank [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 12:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I think there's something very elegant about a tapered heel, but I'll use a straight one for a cutaway that's on the drawing board. |
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| Author: | Kent Chasson [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:33 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I like the looks of tapered heels with or without a cutaway. The exposed ledge of a cutaway with a tapered heel doesn't bother me or most players I've worked with and talked to for two reasons. One, most people rotate their hands as they play up the neck and don't hit the ledge. Two, most people play with a strap. Since my favorite strap pin placement is about half way up the heel on the treble side, a tapered heel gives you room for the strap pin. With a staight heel, the pin and strap can protrude into the cutaway. Of course, there are ways around that too. So I tend to push the tapered heel but I offer a square one on cutaways if a player wants one because the player is what counts. |
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| Author: | Howard Klepper [ Wed Mar 05, 2008 5:58 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
My preferred button location on a square heel is in the center of the heel, as in this photo. Bottom of the heel tends to tip the guitar forward (as Todd was compensating for), and I just don't like the way the button looks in the heel cap.
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| Author: | Bob Garrish [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:14 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
While off-topic, if I haven't said this before then : Howard, you make one sexy guitar. |
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| Author: | crich [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 2:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
My Larrivee not only has a tapered heel on a cutaway but also the fingerboard sitting a good quarter inch in from the edge,not flush. He also does a very deep cutaway, beyond the 21 st fret. But neither the taper or "ledge" ever bothered or hindered my playing. As stated above, you rotate your hand as you move up the neck. Clinton |
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| Author: | Michael Dale Payne [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I have a client I have been doing fret work for for years. every guitar he has is a cutaway. yet I never have to touch frets past the 5th fret. Whats up with that?   I think it was Mark Farner who said I can play the world on the first three frets |
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| Author: | burbank [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:47 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
I've seen that too. L MichaelP wrote: I have a client I have been doing fret work for for years. every guitar he has is a cutaway. yet I never have to touch frets past the 5th fret. Whats up with that? I think it was Mark Farner who said I can play the world on the first three frets Like "needing" 4 WD when you live in New York City. |
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| Author: | Rick Turner [ Thu Mar 06, 2008 4:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Yes, you need 4 WD in New York...and a monster truck. How else are you going to get over all those cars that are in the way? |
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| Author: | charliewood [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Howard! Too nice - too too nice!!! Cw |
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| Author: | Ricardo [ Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:57 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Could we see some more pictures of heel designs with cutaways? 
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| Author: | j.Brown [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
crich wrote: My Larrivee not only has a tapered heel on a cutaway but also the fingerboard sitting a good quarter inch in from the edge,not flush. He also does a very deep cutaway, beyond the 21 st fret. But neither the taper or "ledge" ever bothered or hindered my playing. As stated above, you rotate your hand as you move up the neck. Clinton Why do some of the manufacturers leave the fretboard far away from the edge of the cutway? Is it to keep from getting too close and "just" missing the mark, thereby making it look like a mistake? This has always bothered me a bit. |
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| Author: | j.Brown [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 8:43 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Howard Klepper wrote: Straight for a cutaway, so the hand doesn't bump into a ledge when playing up the neck. Also IMO this looks better with a cutaway; taped with cutaway looks like two designs got tossed together. Obviously there are many who disagree. Tapered w/o cutaway, mainly for the looks. I couldn't agree with you more, Howard. |
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| Author: | Dennis Leahy [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 10:26 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Ricardo wrote: Could we see some more pictures of heel designs with cutaways? Here's one:   I don't see the compound curve as a clash or blend of designs. Looks elegant to me, kinda like a hint of what you see in a wooden boat. (This neck is adjustable, thus the binding sitting proud of the neck heel.) Dennis |
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| Author: | Blanchard [ Sat Mar 08, 2008 11:12 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Neck Heel - tapered or straight & why |
Here's another one with the tapered heel flush to the side. 
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