NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD

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Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 22 2014

NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD

Greetings Everyone!

I am an aspiring luthier and for a few years now have been reading and doing research on guitar building.

I'm a bit puzzled about using the solera and the spanish method of building a guitar... mainly in gluing the fretboard to the neck after getting the "neck angle".

Here are my questions and your answers are very much appreciated!

1. When gluing the neck and the soundboard on the solera, does the neck and the soundboard run in a straight line? Like something you can check with a straight rule?

2. If the neck and the soundboard don't run in a straight line (compensation, where the cut on the heel to glue the top is angled (to maintain the neck angle) after being glued in the solera,
- How will the bottom end of the fretboard be glued in?

I'm confused as you can see... I know I missed out on something big time and my apologies in advance.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 22 2014 19:42:46

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to HK)

These photos might be of some help.

Use a piece of plexiglass with a line scribed into it as a ruler and caul to glue neck and top together. Line up the scribed line with center of top and neck and clamp it into position with glue. But watch it for a few minutes to make sure it does not slip or wander under clamp pressure.

I got this idea from Anders a few years back. Before that used a metal meter stick. This way is easier.

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If you are asking if you have to incline the mortise on the neck heel that accepts the top, well good for you for paying attention to details. Most of the time a flat morticed area where the top nests will suffice, but you could give it a tiny bit of incline in sympathy with the neck angle. But the danger is going too far and setting the neck to far forward.

The fingerboard will fit on the neck and top and depending in your neck angle will need some planing on the underside of the fingerboard between the 12th and 19th fret. After your guitar is assembled you will be able to see approx. how much planing will be needed by laying the fingerboard blank on the neck and soundboard. The part of the fingerboard that extends over the body will show a gap under it if you have a lot of neck angle.

The first few guitars are usually about figuring out the process.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 23 2014 3:00:08

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to HK)

HK
You say you have studied a couple of years, but it seems like you havent used foroflamencos search option.
This subject has been discussed many times over the years. So start there and take your time.

Just some thought about your questions and others might be doing things differently:

The slots for the sides are cut 90 degrees before gluing the neck to the soundboard.
The neck angle is set in the solera which has a 2 - 4 mm offset for the neck depending on how you build. I can never remember if angles are possitive or negative, search the foro.
Make sure that the back fits very well before gluing it. Especially the angle of the foot. And dont use to much pressure when gluing the back.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 23 2014 6:52:41

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 22 2014

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to estebanana)

Thank you for the reply estebanana.

It was my initial assumption (your answer) however I haven't seen this done on videos I watched on the net when using a solera and I wanted to confirm it. A little bit of angle on 2 opposing materials that are glued on could create some stress on the jointing surfaces.

Could this be the reason why some guitars develop a crack on that area?
Would planing through the part of the top be another option to make it flush with the neck surface instead of planing the uderside of the fretboard from the 12th fret onwards?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 23 2014 18:06:21

Posts: 3
Joined: Sep. 22 2014

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to Anders Eliasson)

Thanks for the reply Anders.

I'll try to spend more time here in the forum. I did try to search for neck angle, but sometimes it veers of topic and making me more confused. I thought putting out my exact question would be the way to go.

Your tips here are well appreciated and I know there will be more queries from me down the road.

Thanks!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 23 2014 18:14:51

estebanana

Posts: 9352
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to HK)

quote:

ould this be the reason why some guitars develop a crack on that area?
Would planing through the part of the top be another option to make it flush with the neck surface instead of planing the uderside of the fretboard from the 12th fret onwards?

Often times the top cracks if the fingerboard is not seasoned and shrinks. Since it is glued to the top if it shrinks it pulls the grain apart adjacent to the fingerboard.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 24 2014 1:13:08

Anders Eliasson

Posts: 5780
Joined: Oct. 18 2006

RE: NECK ANGLE, SOLERA and the FRETBOARD (in reply to HK)

quote:

I'll try to spend more time here in the forum. I did try to search for neck angle, but sometimes it veers of topic and making me more confused.

Welcome to the internet. The place where you find more misinformation than information. If we go on with this thread, you´ll probably end up getting confused again. I normally do.