neck angle pocket/tenon

[daav]

Did a search but no luck, I am just curious and i prepare for my first build. Why is it the custom to route the neck angle in the pocket in the body rather than put the angle on the tenon or neck heel? Probably something obvious, but I am curious.

Dave

 

[Tone_Terrific]

Did a search but no luck, I am just curious and i prepare for my first build. Why is it the custom to route the neck angle in the pocket in the body rather than put the angle on the tenon or neck heel? Probably something obvious, but I am curious.

Dave

With bolt ons an angled neck pocket allows string/bridge alignment and height of strings above the body to be set without shims and works with any neck.
But you have to get it right.

 

[BWGuitars]

For a fresh build, there really is no reason to angle the body instead of the neck tenon. That's a decision you can make based on which way is going to be easier for you to machine the wood.

 

[testing1two]

This is speculation and I assume we're talking about set-necks here, but my guess is that you angle the pocket because if the slot is incorrect for any reason, you can simply plug it and try again and the neck will conceal any evidence of repair...which could apply to the original build or a neck reset down the road. But, if you get the angle wrong on the neck tenon, you have some tricky work ahead of you and some finish work to conceal it.

 

[John Coloccia]

I angle my neck tenon. I started doing that last year. The only reason I can think to angle the neck pocket is on guitars that have the fingerboard flush with the body. It's very easy to set the angle once and route the body AND the pocket at the same time, ensuring a perfect fit. Other than that, I can't think of one good reason.

I started angling my neck tenons because of the heel design I'm using. If I angle the pocket, it makes the heal look funny.