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I noticed that the Stewmac mortise template is about 1.5mm wider than the tenon template, i.e. the resulting fit between the mortise and tenon is not as tight as I would have expected. I have not used them on my build yet and did some preliminary testing to make sure my jigs are working correctly, which they appear to be.

Does anyone know if the mortise should be larger (1.5mm) than the tenon? I would have thought they should be just about the same width for a close fit. I'm thinking my templates may be defective.

Thanks,

- Ric

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Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com

Until you get the hang of neck joints, you might like a bit of play in that mortise/tennon joint. It will allow you to compensate side to side adjustments to make sure your strings fall right where they should. If the joint is too tight, you'll have a heck of a time adjusting this (in fact, you'll end up shaving material from the tennon to give it some "flex).
It's not at all critical that the tennon is tight in the mortise, in fact, many guitars don't even have a tennon and mortise. The only reason I use it is because it gives more meat for the threaded inserts to grab.
Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info Paul. Much appreciated.

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Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com

Welcome to the forum Ric!

what do you mean by wider? at the widest part of the template?

remember that you have to adjust the cut of the tenon to fit the mortice by sliding the template in your jig.

[QUOTE=crazymanmichael] what do you mean by wider? at the widest part of the template?

remember that you have to adjust the cut of the tenon to fit the mortice by sliding the template in your jig. [/QUOTE]

The width of the channel cut for the mortise is about 1.5 mm than the width of the tenon.

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Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com

are you referring to a dovetail m&t or a straight version?

if it is straight then the mortice should be slightly wider. if you want to adjust it, use some tape on the template guide or the guide bearing.

[QUOTE=Pwoolson] Until you get the hang of neck joints, you might like a bit of play in that mortise/tennon joint. It will allow you to compensate side to side adjustments to make sure your strings fall right where they should. If the joint is too tight, you'll have a heck of a time adjusting this (in fact, you'll end up shaving material from the tennon to give it some "flex).
It's not at all critical that the tennon is tight in the mortise, in fact, many guitars don't even have a tennon and mortise. The only reason I use it is because it gives more meat for the threaded inserts to grab.
Hope that helps. [/QUOTE]

Paul

does this mean You could flush mount a neck?

taylor did it for 20 years or more.

[QUOTE=Ric Hollander] Thanks for the info Paul. Much appreciated.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Serge!

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Ric Hollander
Kings Park, NY
http://www.hollanderguitars.com

[QUOTE=rich altieri] [QUOTE=Pwoolson] Until you get the hang of neck joints, you might like a bit of play in that mortise/tennon joint. It will allow you to compensate side to side adjustments to make sure your strings fall right where they should. If the joint is too tight, you'll have a heck of a time adjusting this (in fact, you'll end up shaving material from the tennon to give it some "flex).
It's not at all critical that the tennon is tight in the mortise, in fact, many guitars don't even have a tennon and mortise. The only reason I use it is because it gives more meat for the threaded inserts to grab.
Hope that helps. [/QUOTE]


Paul

does this mean You could flush mount a neck?[/QUOTE]

Yup! As said before, Taylor did it for a long long time and many other builders use this type of joint. Pwoolson39036.3707175926

I have these and noticed the same thing. I talked to the tech guys at Stewmac and this is by design, for the reasons that Paul stated. I suppose it makes sense, but just doesn't feel right to me, so I've decided to go with a simpler butt joint and hanger bolts...

-Mark

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Pullman, WA

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