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Anyone know what these made in Japan Taks from the 90s have for a neck joint? The saddles are darn near flush with the bridge and my straightedge is below the bridge by about 5/64's. It's looking like its time for a reset, but I seem to remember hearing that Takamine dowelled their necks?

I'm not sure on the exact type of neck joint. But you could always do an exploratory drill at the typical spot. Just start the hole going backwards with the drill bit before you go to the right. If there's a hollow there then it's likely a dovetail.

If you go to the left for a few seconds before you drill down you run a much lower chance of causing chips in the board. It sort of burnishes the hole and gives a cleaner result. And if it's not a dovetail you'll have less to hide in the end.

I have an early 90's EN-10 myself. I don't believe it's a dovetail joint but rather an epoxied dowel joint, similar to this.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/for ... p?t=358364

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I usually quote all these mystery guitars as bolt on conversions.....

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Thanks Rod, I'd seen that one too. I wonder why they do that, it seems so short sighted. Is it really that much simpler than doing a bolt on mortoise and tenon, especially when you're talking about the scale of manufacturing they do?

Thanks Brian, that makes sense. That way everyone's prepared for the possibility and if you're lucky and the neck comes off normally then its a bonus.

Not quite.... I quote them as a bolt on and do the job that way from the outset. The client gets the best job possible at the best price and I utilize my time efficiently and do not waste any non billable time figuring out what kind of messed up joint or glue some mystery Asian maker used in the modern age.

But either way you must pull the extension and that will tell you what type of glue they used though not the type of joint so if you think you can steam it out you can always call the client.....

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