Official Luthiers Forum!

I was wondering about the dimensions you use for the heel block.
I figured I could use a 1.25" thick x 2.75" wide piece (= Martin OM) for the block where the neck attaches to the body. But how thick of a piece should I use for the block that attaches the fretboard to the body? I am planning to use baltic birch ply.

If you by any chance have images of your heel blocks for a double-mortise-and-tenon neck joint, I'd really appreciate those as well.

thanks a lot, Christian

Hi
For my tailblock I use baltic birch. Never to be seen and very strong.
For my neck block for the double mortice and tenon, I use mahogany for the main block and baltic birch
for the fretboard extension. The 2nd mortice is routed into it.
Below is the inside of one of my 12 strings which shows the blocks.
The mahog is glued to baltic and then glued to the sides like any neck block. When I glue in my top the
soundhole end of the baltic birch is glued to the upper transverse brace. This brace is left flat and square so
the baltic birch extension piece fits perfectly against it. Then I have a very strong section in the upper bout.
It wont sink above the sound hole.

The 1st pict is of the fretboard extension mortice being routed. The pict is not of me but of the customer who was buying this guitar for his son and I had him do a little of the work on it. He was thrilled to be part of the construction.

_________________
Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com