Official Luthiers Forum!

I have a pre-mortised, bolt-on neck that I have glued my neck block in for. First guitar. The block is about .08" off perpendicular over the course of its height. Is that a problem? I am hoping not, 'cause I don't know how I could fix it!

Thanks for the wisdom,
Peter

Peter: It's a problem!!! Unglue the block and reglue correctly.You'll have to use something like a cloths iron or heat lamp to soften the glue and work a pallet knife or thin putty knife between the block and sides. This would be my prefered way to correct it.Some folks may suggest straighting the mortise and gluing cheeks to the tenon. I would not be in favor of this but it could be made to work,depending on other conditions.Sorry about your rough start. Keep pressing on and don't give in.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

I would say it depends on how far along you are.....

If you just glued the block to the sides and don't have anything else assembled -- fix it now. Use a clothes iron and some water and a flexible metal hamburger spatula or cake icing spatula to get it apart. Scrape all the glue off to bare wood and do it over.

If the top and back are already glued on and you noticed it now... It's not the end of the world. You can make other adjustments so it will all go together right.... The process of setting the neck squares the whole thing up to the body -- the neck tenon itself doesn't do it..

Thanks

John

Tom and John, thanks for the feedback and advice!

Would you say it is more difficult to remove the neck block now or square up the neck later when I set it?

Thanks,
Peter

Thanks everyone for the advice and pictures. Off with the block it is. My first mistake to fix.

Peter