Official Luthiers Forum!

Does anyone here use a spline joint in their classicals like Greg Byers? If you do, what is the size and grain orientation of the spline?

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

I've done it, but not recently. I didn't know that Greg was doing it that way.

When I did it I was trying to use wood for necks that was too short for the traditional Spanish heel. It worked out really well and I would not hesitate to do it again.

I don't remember the details of size or grain orientation. If I did it again, I would make the spline as big as I could without risk of cutting into it while shaping the heel, and I'd probably make it with the grain running in line with the neck.

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Expectation is the source of all misery; comparison the thief of joy.
http://redrivercanoe.ca/

Years ago, Bob Mattingly, a left coast luthier, devised a system for making classic guitars with the neck made separate from the body, and attached with a spline joint. He taught that method to Jim Long, who taught guitarmaking classes at Orange Coast Community College for 20-some years, and Greg Brandt, who has been making guitars professionaly in LA for about 30 years. You can contact him via his website.

I took the OCC course in 2000, and have made classic and steel string guitars using spline joint joinery ever since.

Alternatively called a loose or floating tenon, the grain orientation is the same as the neck. We cut the mortise using the StewMac template to a depth of 1/2" in both the neck and the neck block. The shape of your heel will determine whether this will work for you. Make a full-scale drawing to see what tolerances those dimensions give you.

Hope this helps.

I think that Bob Ruck is still joining his necks and bodies with splines of Baltic birch. I believe it was 6mm in thickness. And, if I remember correctly he was gluing them with original Titebond.

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michael propsom
www.propsomguitars.com

Thanks for the replies guys. LPMc how wide was your spline?

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Ken Franklin
clumsy yet persistent
https://www.kenfranklinukulele.com

I use a spline on my elevated fretboard classicals. I use 1/2" Baltic birch ply. I cut the mortises in the heel and the neck block about 3/4" deep. As others have said make sure the mortise is compatible with your heel shape.

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Matt Jacobs

"Don't tase me bro"

Never heard of this type of joint, is there any pics on the web to describe what it is?