MIMF

Hello Everyone and Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for the positive feedback on the first binding. Like every step along the way I hope to improve each time and it is especially helpful to get feedback and constructive comments from the luthiers out there, many of which I can only hope to be near as good at building. I just wish one of you lived near by.

This is just a quick solicitation of thought for the neck joint, yet another big step in creating these instruments. I have looked at several techniques and have decided to try the method which uses plexi templates. I am happy to say that instead of paying $75 for mine, I bought a large piece of 3/8" clear plexi for $15 and have built my first set of templates based on the ones out there. Now I only need the wooden components to piece this contraption together. I like the instruction that O'Brien has on Youtube using the LMI parts and pieces and will model this one after that using Home Depot hardware.

I am looking for ideas and suggestions on how 'you' handle this seemingly daunting task. Like binding, one slip up here can ruin a lot of work and if things aren't centered big trouble can follow. For these first guitars, I had planned on a simple mortise and tenon. No bolts, no pins, no dovetailing.....we'll see how it goes.

Thank you all,

DJ

having a spline that fits in the truss rod slot can be a good way to center the neck in a tenon jig.

Be very careful when using the tenon template that you don't flex the 'finger' with the torque of the router. I think a solid template of metal would be an improvement. The same basic design is also used for a dovetail joint, but the finger and slot are tapered and you use a dovetail cutter. What I am trying to say is a dovetail joint is as easy to cut as the straight mortise and tenon, plus it is much stronger. Both joints will require some hand fitting, though the dovetail is a bit more tricky you will learn sooner if you try sooner.

Although it is possible to ruin the guitar body or neck by making a "slip" it is rare that it can't be fixed in some fashion. The collective knowledge of the MIMF participants includes most of those mistakes and the options for fixing them. It is nice to get it right the first time, but even better to have people who can help when you don't. Relax, and enjoy the ride!