Official Luthiers Forum!

Would making the pocket deeper for a Strat or Tele design
be good enough or would it still need a tenon for strength?

I have built one Tele style with a set neck and I did extend it.
It seemed like most any benefit it may have had was removed
by the pickup cavity.

Not having to extend it with a tenon would sure make it easier as
I usually use a top of figured wood.

Thoughts appreciated.

Thanks Chris.

I couldn't find the thread but I did
see two guitars at your site- "in progress" -
that are good examples of why I'm questioning set necks.

The photos are confusing to me because they show the neck
extending past the fretboard and I don't understand.
Is it trimmed off?
Will the pocket be routered in body without the top on to fit the full
length and then the top routered to fit around the neck/fretboard and then
glued on? ( which is the way I did...it was very hard to get a perfect fit- the top fitting
around the neck/fretboard...but I did and the reason I'm looking for an easier way- just seemed wrong)

I was also questoned about this when I saw the neck setting alignment jig. It also showed the neck with tenon
and I just couldn't believe the glued on figured top would be routered away for that tenon...I'm missing something.

I've built several where I chppoed the neck off at the end of the fretboard, with no extra tenon.
I think it depends how far into the body the neck will go. Mine were around 3".
I'm building a new one now, and I have the end of the fretboard about 1/2" past the edge of the body, so I'll have to use an extended tenon, and then go through the chore of making the top plate match as you did.
Dan

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Dan I found one thing that will make it easier for me- in Frank Cousins thread about the
bass fretboard.

Having the oversized top. The first one I did had the top and body sized and the one
I'm working on now does. The next one won't.

Thank you Chris. The pictures are fine examples. I have a better understanding of
variations and why.
I installed P-90s that I wound so I had top inbetween the fretboard and pup-had I not trimmed the top to
body I would have had some play for getting the top/neck fit easier.

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm doing a bass with a similar kind of cutaway, although the pocket is longer and deeper. It will also end at the fretboard.

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http://www.tinyhouseandland.com

I have made set necks out of "bolt on style parts" that were a very tight perfect fit,( I could lift the guitar by the neck with no glue yet). Hint, chamfer the tenon corners inside the joint so the glue has a place to go(hydraulic pressure can prevent proper seating).
10 years old now, without a hint of joint trouble.

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How long is that in luthyears?