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I'm just wondering what advantages you all see of the Woolson over the Simpson jig?
I mean at $130 and with the body mortice jig included and it's compact size?
http://www.jsimpsonguitars.com/jigs/neckjig/

Just as I was going to sign up for the plans, the same question entered my mind, for $130, a steal and a deal, but if I had the grand, I would blow it on the Luthiers tools jig.
Good point Chris

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I have a set of Woolson plans, but bought the Simpson jig a few weeks ago instead of building. Jon's seems to refine the Woolson jig.

Bob

You can always do some mods to Jon's too like adding dial indicator to the rail and such like on the Luthier's tool jig if you feel the need.
I also had the plans for the Woolson from a friend and was getting ready to cut up some ply when I saw Jon's. I liked his design much better and at that price I thought why build one? Jon does a nice job with them too. And I'm pretty picky.

After seeing the 1st posts about the Woolson jig plans I came across Jon's Jig on Ebay and purchased one as I figured by the time I got together all the parts and a plan it was hardly worth making one for the price as I would rather be building guitars. For someone like Chris who is always making his own jigs to comment on its quality, and I agree with him on this, it is well worth the price

Fred

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Ignorance I suppose. Regardless, I'm broke at the moment.

Very timely question Chris. I've had the Woolson plans for a couple of years and never built it. There're no instructions on how to use it on the plans and search never turned up any photo documentation for me. I emailed Jon a couple of days ago about his and sent him a paypal for it yesterday. Can't wait to get it and give it a try and see if this gives me a handle on one of the trickiest parts of building.

Joe

ps - I particularly like that his jig now includes templates for both mortise and tenon, and dovetail! Way to go Jon!

I bought Jon's jig too. I've got two guitars almost ready, just have to bind them. So I haven't used mine yet. Have any of you used yours yet and are you happy with the results?

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Chris,
You ask why, I'll tell ya why.
The Woolson plan has been very well received, paul has been an out standing member of the olf and he went to great lenghts to provide these plans to us.
If you want to promote your alt plan or jig send me an email and we can take
Talk. For now we are taking orders for pauls plans and not trying to diss them.

Please do not pimp your alt plan In a clear effort tom discredit pauls outstanding plans..



Thank you for understanding

Lance.

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Geeze Lance, you came down pretty hard on Chris for asking a very legitimate question on his own thread. I saw no attempt to discredit Paul's jig, no attempt to disrespect Paul and no mean-spirited attempt to pimp another method. I took the purpose of his thread as a legitimate discussion about making a decision based on comparing 2 similar methods. Perhaps Chris should have disclosed whether he receives any financial benefit for discussing the Simpson jig. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he is not compensated.

I built Paul's jig years ago and like it a lot. But I'll tell you truthfully, if I were in need of a jig today, I'd be grateful for someone informing me about the Simpson jig. I consider Paul a long time and close friend and have the greatest respect and admiration for him as well as for his contributions to our forum in the early years. And knowing Paul, I'll bet you anything that he'd be right there in the middle of such discussion rationally and objectively debating the pros and cons of the 2 jigs...and never once feel disrespected nor demeaned. What was demeaned here was intellectual curiosity and honesty IMO.

I looked at Chris' attempt to generate a discussion as a legitimate intellectual exercise...your reply appeared to be an attempt to censor and demean his contribution and I thought it was disrespectful. I believe that Chris is owed an apology.

And BTW, Chris...thanks again for sharing all of your excellent jigs and taking the time to produce your excellent videos!

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"Lance Kragenbrink"]Please do not pimp your alt plan In a clear effort tom discredit pauls outstanding
plans..
[/quote]

Well thats charming isnt it???
34 free tutorials over two years from a great jig maker/builder and C P suddenly needs to "pimp" a plan????
Thats not even his ?????????????/I dont think so and a very churlish suggestion.

And BTW, Chris...thanks again for sharing all of your excellent jigs and taking the time to produce your excellent videos!
Again!!

"pimp", come on really, "pimp", with all the tips, tricks, and jigs he has posted for all of us to use for free and you think he is trying to "pimp" someone else's jig. Incredible.

I thought that this forum was about sharing information of interest to guitar builders, so what is wrong with Chris trying to make comparisons between the alternative jigs available? Chris, as has been said, has probably been the most sharing member of the forum for the last few years with the jigs and tutorials he has posted, at no small effort to himself.

I think that Lance owes Chris an open and full apology for his remarks, they are not worthy of him.

Colin

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So far as I can see, I'm the only one that had a negative comment on the Woolson plans. And yes I bought them from you Lance through the OLF 2 or 3 years back. My comment was that the plans had no directions on how to use the jig after you built it, and I had found no photo's of it's use in my search's. So I never went to the work of building it not having a clear picture of the jig's use in my head.

No bashing, just my critique of a plan that many have lauded as a great jig. With Jon Simpson's video of his jig in use I now have an understanding of how the Woolson jig would work.

Joe

Geeze, A lot seemed to happen while I was sleeping.
No, I don't get any compensation from Jon Simpson. But I don't have any problem with telling everyone if I think a jig or tool is well built and a good buy.
I could have also stated the Title Question to say "Why the Fox or Woolson Jig" since they are also alike and I don't think Charles Fox would have taken any offense to the question of comparison.
But I really don't care if you call me a Pimp. Old girl friends have called me worst then that and that actully is pretty funny.
I have more things to worry about them someone calling me names, really.
I also have to say thanks to all of you for the nice words towards me.

Yeah you right using the word pimp is pretty mean and that just is not right, chris I do appolgize for that.
I think what got me steemed and maybe more than I should have let it was the comment
In another thread

" Jon Simpson's jig is a much nicer and a smaller jig then the Woolson that he sales for only $130 and comes with the body morticing jig too.
Why waste your time building the Woolson jig?
http://www.jsimpsonguitars.com/jigs/neckjig/


My comment was posted in the wrong thread. That said, bad day or not I had no right being
That way....

Sorry Chris...
Lance

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Well, prehaps if I would have worded that post a little different would have been better. After posting it I decided to post this discussion to see why or what the thoughts were on it.
If you like you can go ahead and delete that other post as I don't want it to offend anyone as that wasn't my purpose as with any post I make.
Water over the bridge, Lance.

Filippo wouldn't these jigs also assist in getting the correct back angle even though there isn't a tenon? I'm using an adjustable neck joint now but I still want to start at the correct back angle. And the fact that the next few I plan on building are going to be no thrill players with M&T joints. And a Torres for me.

I have a "Little Blue" Martin that has a flush mount neck but with only one bolt because it's just a small heel. I know there are many others using that joint too. But from what I can tell it's the same as the M&T minus the T on the neck and minus the M on the block and the neck angle has to be set so I would think the neck jig would still be of use for establishing the angle.
Does the Torres surprise you? I've had the GAL plans for a while now. I just have to finish up my lastest side tracking jig and get back to my on going build and a few other neck and FB processing jigs.

Or a table saw or chop saw for that matter.
I see these jigs as a way to not have to transfer measurments from the top to another saw and then making sure the saw is setup correctly. Pretty much a time saver with a lesser margin of error and a little more fool proof which I always like . I guess that's pretty much the same idea for all jigs and tooling. So I can still see these jigs being helpful even to a butt joint bolt on neck.
The cool thing about these jigs are they set up right from the top IMHO.
I remember reading about these jigs or a modification of the StewMac jig over at MIMF several years ago where someone had added the vertical tilt adjustment and possibly a horizontal adjustment in case the truss rod channel was a little off center. I'm not certain if they had the alinement rod or not but I think so. For all I know it could have even been Paul Woolson. I'll have to check out the library over there and see if I can find it.
The one thing I also like about the Simpson design is the alinement rod is inline with the center of the neck, the same for the Luthier Tool jig. Thus allowing for a much smaller footprint and allowing it to be hung on the wall and out of the way when not in use. Which I like having a small shop where open floor space is a problem. I'm sure there are many in the same boat.

Here's a discussion on the neck jig. It didn't have the alinement rod and it starts out with Bill Moll's jig and then Ken Buswell shows his design and then Paul Woolson ask some questions. It sounds like it was before Paul came up with his design. Does anyone know if the alinement rod was Paul's idea or was it barrowed from Charles Fox or visa versa?
If any of you are considering building your own and like the Luthier Tool design this discussion will give you ideas of how to make the Skew adjustment and even how one might possibly modify the Simpson jig if you want the skew adjustment. I think it's also pretty cool to see just how these jigs have evolved and how others have contributed and shared their ideas to Lutherie.
You will have to register to view MIMF's library. The title of the library discussion is, "Fixtures for cutting the neck tenon, both dovetail and straight" and it's from 2002.

http://mimf.com/library/neck_tenon2.htm

"Just based on a reading of the Simpson directions, I'll take the Woolson jig...no fretboards and reads directly off the body."

Todd , I believe the use of the FB and the Bridge and saddle set to 1/2" above the top is just a short cut tip around the math preformed on setting up the Woolson arm pin and location. I'm sure the same tip can be used on the Woolson jig as well and a pin can be used on the Simpson as well or a dial indicator added to either like on the Luthier Tool jig. Plus that tip would also eliminate the need for the shims on some domed tops that you mentioned in the other discussion. As far as I can see they all do the same thing but are just a little different design. Although the Luthier Tool registers the body holder / mortice template jig with the neck jig at setup for a quick or all in one set up too. At least that's what I got from reading the instructions on it and looking at all the pictures of it.
Neat little time saver and well thought out design feature but I don't know if the cost offset is worth it for the non professional.

Just my .02 on this...

I think whatever method you choose Simpson, Fox/Woolson, Luthier Tool etc. each of the systems take a little work to get the hang of it. I used the Woolson system for a while then moved up to the Luthier Tool solution because I felt it was a more complete solution. But even then it wasn't magic. I had to work with it to learn how to get the best results.

My suggestion is to pick one and stick with it until you get the hang of it. I suspect that this is very much like binding systems. They take a little getting used to. None are perfect, but they all work if you spend some time with them.

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