Official Luthiers Forum!

I have seen many different styles of neck blocks and I've not been able to find out the theory or the reasoning behind them.

The blocks I've used on my first 3 guitars are what I would call an upside-down "L". Why? Because they were supplied to me that way.



I've seen blocks that just look like a rectangular block of wood, I've seen upside-down Ls and I've even seen what I would call a "C" shaped neck block.

Can you tell me the reasoning behind this.

I'm looking at purchasing a neck from Hanalei Moon or CNC and the blocks they provide are just that - blocks (with a mortice cut in them)



Thanks in advance for the info!

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P A U L B U R N E R
Burner Guitars

The intent of an L shape is to provide more reinforcement for the fretboard extension when under string tension. The L shape reduces the need for a upper transverse graft and the bulk of the upper transverse brace.

A C shape is the typical mortise type neck block provided by most neck manufactures. I would recommend the use of an upper transverse graft with this style block to eliminate the top splitting along the grain for the stress of the fretboard extension.

Chris at HM will make a custom neck block if you ask but like John Watkins uses a C shape as default or standard neck block.

The L shaped block in your picture appears to have a recess to allow you to use an upper transverse graft despite the fact it is an L shape. It also has holes for top alignment dowels

The block in the top photo is a Martin style neck block. It is recessed for the "popsicle stick" brace and has a channel for the Martin style truss rod. The extension provides additional support for the fingerboard extension as Michael has said.

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John Ressler

Just in case some may not know. A popsicle stick brace is a nick name commonly used for an upper transverse graft. A flat wide graft brace used to reduce the chance of along the grain splitting of the top at or near the edge of the fretboard extention due to the downward force of the fretboard extension under sting loading.

Which is funny because like Kathy M. shows on her website, I used popsicle sticks for the side bracing. There was a topic i read about popsicle bracing on here recently, and that's what I thought they were referring to until I got into the thread a little bit more.

Darrin

Yep That is why I never refer to a UTG as a popsicle brace. I does not look like one nor taste like one