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So, I know Tacoma does it. I've spotted one or two pictures of guitars from other builders also. My latest guitar has a neck built like Colin S. has showed us. As I was building it I kept thinking of the Tacoma neck joint and how easy it would be to set the neck angle.
So, anyone here using this style neck?
What are the drawbacks to this system?

Steve

Tacoma only uses that style neck on their "Wing" series. (or at least they used to before FMIC killed Tacoma). The bracing is quite different on them, with alot of attention paid to keeping the neck block from rotating. The neck/body join is at the 15th fret. You can see the bracing on the second page of this catalog.
http://www.tacomaguitars.com/resources/pdf/tacoma05Catalog.pdf
To my ears those guitars sound similar to a ladder braced guitar.

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

I would think the drawbacks are the need for a much larger neck block. I would think it might impede on the tops vibration some what because of the larger block to top glue area. I don't see it offering and increased playability either. And last but least i just don't think it looks good...Mike

Chris V has the right idea. Is that David Myka's? I used a neck block like that on my latest. That is similar to what Colin S uses. I'd link to his post if I knew how. I was thinking an adjustable neck, I'm already using an all hardware joint and a fully supported fretboard.
Mike, I'm with you on the looks. Playability would improve in one aspect if it was an adjustable neck as opposed to the set neck. How much extra vibration can be impeded that is'nt already being taken up by the A braces, UTB and the fingerboard?

Steve

Not sure how they are braced, but the Taylor Big Baby uses a similar neck without a traditional heel, For the money they play/sound very nice.

Mike

Yes this does remind me of the bolt on neck fender acoustics that had used a fender style neck plate and extra long neck screws. Did they also make a glued in neck similar to this? I don't remember them...Mike

Spooky, I was just thinking about this today, if it was possible and had ever been done. My question is answered. Not sure if I like the look of them.

Small world indeed!

OK, here goes.....

I've been stealthily working on a version of this idea for almost the past year! I'm almost ready to show my final prototype - I should have a nice playable MJ guitar built with it by the Guitar Festival in August - I'll bring it along with me for show/tell although I don't have a booth. Like others before me, I use carbon fiber tubes to transfer the string tension from the neck plate into the sides of the guitar at the waist and provide anti-twist properties to the neck plate. My neck plate is thin/small compared to traditional neck blocks. There is no external heel at all. Also, since my neck/fretboard floats over the soundboard, the upper bout now adds significantly to the sound of the guitar. The neck is "bolt-in" using two 1/4"-20 allen cap screws. The neck angle can fairly easily be changed to suit any player's desires. The design uses much less wood than a traditional mortice/tennon or dovetail neck joint, hence is much lighter. It's also easier/faster to make and less expensive on materials. My early prototypes sounded pretty good. Here's a few photos of the CF tubes and neck block during glue up. I'll post some more photos and perhaps a sound clip in a week or two.







You can click on the photos to see/download the hi-res versions of them.

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

Nice start to a guitar there Dave. I've used the small neck block with buttress rods in previous builds. I've been happy with the results. The two holes in your neck block have "bolts into the heel" written all over them. I look forward to seeing more pics when you can post them.

Steve Klien has been making guitars this way for years !
Check out his site & get his DVD if still available.


Mike

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Mike Collins

Thanks for the info Mike. Not the best views on those pics on his website but I should be able to find more with some searching. Mr. Klein is putting out some very interesting work there. Quite the customer list also.

Mike - I took a look at Steve Klein's website but I can't see much evidence that he uses a heel-less neck - am I looking in the right place? In a couple of the photos, I could maybe convince myself that there's some neck shape change (to rectangular) just before it enters the body, but none of the pictures that I could find are clear on this. The couple of pictures showing the inside bracing show a fairly substantial neck block inside the instrument - nothing like I'm doing. I'm still fairly sure that my design (which you haven't seen yet) is "new".......we'll see.....

Steven - if you look closely at the two holes, you'll see they actually have 1/4"-20 threaded T-nuts installed in them. There are no holes in the outer shell of the guitar

Cheers,
Dave F.

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Cambrian Guitars

"There goes Mister Tic-Tac out the back with some bric-brac from the knick-knack rack"

I see the inserts now Dave. Can't wait to see what you've got going there. I did some drawing on my new neck attachment design. It will be on my next box unless the pending commision comes through.

Here is another way to do it. This is a German builder, Gottschall.