Official Luthiers Forum!

Hesh (and anyone else),
I have a question about centering the neck during the fitting process. I understand how to "floss" cheeks (as outlined in Hesh's tutorial) and have done this successfully with dovetails. However, I am currently working with a bolted M & T and find that the flat surfaces where the tenon contacts the mortise are too snug to allow the neck to "tilt" far enough to attain a centered alignment. I'm hoping for some advice on how to remedy this situation.

My instinct is to create relief by removing a little material from one side of the tenon (in this case the treble side), so that the neck can move into proper alignment and then shim the bass side until the tenon is snug again for the final glue up. I am concerned that this is either flat out wrong-headed thinking (my speciality), or that I am at risk of moving the bolt out of alignment with its threaded insert.

Having never fitted this type of neck before I'm hesitant to move forward without confirmation. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
George :-)

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George :-)

Your instincts are correct. remove from the oposite side of tenon. absolute snug tenon side wall fit is not a absolute requirement. but i like it to be semi snug so I take my time and remove only what is needed and make a wedged shim to fit the side moving away from mortise wall

Good job George you nailed it with your instincts!

What Michael said is what I do too. I just use a flat sanding block on the side that needs relief which may only take a few strokes of the block.

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Ann Arbor Guitars

Excellent! Thanks for the support. I'm so glad that I'm learning to pause, consider and solicit input from my more experienced brethren before charging ahead. Time to make a pot of tea and proceed slowly and carefully. This guitar is for my daughter and it's turning out really well so far. I'd hate to screw it up now.
Thanks again,
George :-)

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George :-)