Official Luthiers Forum!

For those that use the dovetail neck joint... do you vary the length of the tenon to match the next fret down from the body join? For example, on a 14 fret neck, do you vary the tenon length to line up with 15th fret (which would vary slightly for different scale lengths) for a future neck reset? Or do you use a standard length?

I have been lining up to the next fret on my last five guitars, but prior to that was using a standard length of 3/4", which is a bit long for a 14 fret, 25.4" scale...

Chuck

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I never did .. 1/2 inch tenon, and a 5/8 slot .. so you get a gap to inject steam into inthe future when required. simply drill at an angle ...

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

What Tony said. I do 1/2" for the tenon and 5/8" for the slot. The exception is when I do a bolted Dovetail. I make them fit tight(5/8" and 5/8") so the bolt doesn't pull the tenon from the slot. It take a little more work to fit it, but future re sets are easier. Obviously no steam is needed to take them apart.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Mine have a 3/4" mortise and a 5/8" tenon. unless I get a neck blank the comes up a little short, then I do what the others are doing. I think a 1/2" tenon is about as short as you'd want to go though.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I'm glad to hear there's at least 4 people still using dovetails.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

well Woody .. that was when I DID them .. years ago .. I couldnt be bothered any more, I personally dont see the point.

and then there were 3 .....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Followon question -

For those of you still using them - how do you cut them? Using a router, a backsaw, table saw, or other? I've been using the router method, and I think I need a better mousetrap....

I guess I'm the fourth.

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Jimmy Caldwell
http://www.caldwellguitars.com

I use a router. I have my neck jig built to a 1 1/2 degree angle. I measure the body to make sure it's actually 1 1/2 degrees and shim the neck in my jig if necessary. I can usually do this with a small amount of fitting.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

Makes sense - where I seem to be having trouble is not so much the neck angle, but in the cut itself - I get a fair amount of chatter on the neckblock which seems to cause a cavity with sides that are not completely straight or smooth - fitting the neck into the neckblock then requires a lot of tweaking, etc. and on more than one occasion I've had to reglue shims onto the "tenon" (is it called a tenon if it's a dovetail? I dunno)

What router and bit do you use? Thanks

My dovetail tenon is 3/4" with the mortise slightly deeper.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

The "chatter" you're talking about is probably either a bit problem or a router that's not strong enough. I use a CMT 818.658.11 bit with a 5/8 template guide. It's a 5/8" dia. 7 degree bit with a 1/2" shank. My router is a very old, very big one my Dad used. He's a retired building contractor. I'd compare my router to a 7518 Porter Cable. It took some practice on scrap with my jigs, but, unless I mess up, after routing everything I have the correct angle, a good fitting joint and the FB surface is about .030" proud of the top of the guitar. This give me a little room for flossing for a perfect fit.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I use a router too and do the same as Woody and adjust the neck by shimming in my jig. I use the Stew Mac bit and find that if I go too fast, it will chatter also. So I just keep telling myself to go slow.
I route the dovetail mortise in the body first, then check the neck angle for amount of shim for my jig, and before I route the tenon on the neck, I route a tenon on a scrap 2x3, check the fit for proper neck angle and if OK, I route the tenon on the neck. If not, I add or subtract the amount of shim as necessary in my jig and make another test cut and check the fit. When I am happy with the angle I will route the tenon on the neck...this allows me to start out with the fit a little closer and less adjustment time...works for me.

Chuck

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Thanks! That helps.

To me Dovetails are a sign of tradition. I still use Dovetails and use the same as above .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I recommend you look at the Woolson jig. You set your upper body against the jig and it sets the angle for cutting the tenon. Worked slick for me.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA