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I am finishing up a D28. Dovetail neck. I've wondered about this for a while. Should I mount the neck before or after finish/buff? This is a general question, not one related to any specific guitar type.

Thanks!

Mike

Hey Mike;
I've never done a dovetail neck, but I do know it's a pain to finish / buff an instrument with the neck attached.

If you are doing your own finishing you might find that a guitar with the neck on is harder to spray.Also where the neck meets the body is a bit hard to get right because you are spraying into a corner. For me the bolt on neck has so much going for it. Tradition dies a very hard death. Just my opinion .
Tom

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

I did my 1st 2 builds with the neck on before finishing but now do it after. It is so much easier to do all of the final sanding, filling, and finish processes with the guitar and neck apart.

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

I finish with the neck installed. (Pore file with the neck uninstalled though....)

Although it is undoubtably easier to finish and buff with the two parts detached, I don't find that much of a hassle to do it when the neck is attached to the body. What I like about this method is the final look of the neck joint; the guitar looks more like a single unit, as a whole, when just a tiny build-up of finish lays at the neck joint. Even the best fitted neck joint, when finished separetly, looks (to me) like assembled parts, thus making the work looking a tad like a factory guitar.

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Alain Moisan
Former full time builder of Acoustics, Classicals and Flamencos.
(Now building just for fun!)

Separate for me. I screw a hanger bolt into the dovetail tenon to attach a handle for finishing. After finishing I remove the bolt. Doesn't Martin use an insert in their dovetail neck for finishing? (I think I've seen pictures)

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

Definitely separate ... you only have to remove one neck thats been finished on the guitar to realize that its not a good idea. I have recently had to refin a couple tops on finished gutiars, bolt on necks - took the necks off with no finish damage at all. Try that on a sunburst finished J45 .. good luck.

I like the way a finely fit neck looks thats been finished separately .. looks clean and tight. Sloppy factorys finish with the necks on to hide the fact the joint sucks ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Ok, gonna go separate. New for me. Btw, Tony, ur sig line is hilarious!!

Mike

Ok, gonna go separate. New for me. Btw, Tony, ur sig line is hilarious!!

Mike

I'm doing a dovetail, and my last was attached. This one I'd like to do separate, cause to me it was a pain. Anyone have any pics or info of how to make a holder for the dovetail tenon and the mortised body?

Sean

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change isn't synonymous with improvement
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