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I'm new to building acoustic guitars and not sure of the best way to attach the neck to the body.Do i groove out the sides of the spanish foot and slide the sides into it? Or just bolt or glue the neck to the body after making the body? I need advice on this subject.Thanks,Mark

I suggest you start with Cumpiano's Guitarmaking book. He shows the construction of two very different instruments: the classical where you let the sides into the neck, and steel string where you bolt on the neck. Very different instruments and differences start at the beginning of construction.

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make sure to look at Cumpianos web site to get the revised, hardware based neck,plans. (i liked this method because if things dont come together right you can unbolt it and try again)

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I guess i should have clairified that i'm building a steelstring.My gibsons aren't bolted on though.So how is it glued on?I don't want to bolt on the necks.I have a book by JIM Williams but it doesn't show very clearly how to attach the neck. I think he does slot the neck for the sides on both classical and steelstring guitars.

Route a straight mortise & tenon (bolt on assmbly and no glue to join) or dovetail m & t (gluing join) or even easier to do and just as strong, bolt on butt join. Only thing need to use some glue on is fb extention to body, unless do a bolt of that. Guess if wanted and like lot of cheap guitars could epoxy it straight onto body ( I wouldn't, but can be done and is) Do which ever one your most comfortable with . Think pics here and lot of info out there on how if don't know.

one way is to make a dove tail slot, then add shims to get the neck angle correct.
the other way would be to mortise and pin.
check out this link before you make any decisions though http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/Articles/S ... block.html
i also found this link discribing dovetails
http://gicl.cs.drexel.edu/people/sevy/l ... luing.html

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Why don't you want to do a bolt on neck? There are hundreds of thousands of great guitars out there that have bolt on necks.

The traditional method would be a dovetailed mortice and tenon neck joint which is glued on (usually with hide glue). It's certianly a bit more difficult to do the first couple times out versus the bolt on neck joint but not impossible.

You really just need to decide which method you want to do. The bolt on is a very viable option and is very stable. Also it's much easier to remove the neck if needed to correct a poorly set neck angle or a neck requiring a re-set from years of string tension.

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The way you attach it is after cutting the dovetail m & t, you fit them together and keep adjusting with chisel, abrasive and some shims until it sets in right, and you have things lined up and angled right for the bridge. You then use glue to keep it secured. Not epoxy but hide glue or one of the others like titebond. Just because your Gibson(s) dont t have a bolt on isn't a reason not to do it. I have done both, I do bolt on as a preference. I am going to go with butt join soon. I had some necks I had made some years ago at John Mayes shop in OKC and I had in storage and needed to use up. Ah good times, with a good guy and friend. Nothing wrong with the dovetail and I guess you know how much skill you do or don't have or comfortable with. But doing something just because some you have aren't that way, well I guess each their own.

Jim uses the Spanish method in his book...ie the sides are let into slots cut into the heel block. This method is usually used for building classical guitars but it can be used for steel strings. My first guitar was an OM built largely using Jims methods.
See section AB on page 23 in his book for description of the method and photos 17 and 18.

For instruction on gluing the sides into the slots see page 38...its covered in a fair bit of detail. Take care to only apply glue to the inside surface of the side.

Some pics of my first build. My sides are fitted into an overwidth slot and then wedges are driven down behind the end of the side (I also apply glue). This method I think is used by Romanillos on his classicals.

Thanks Kiwigeo, That's what i was looking for! I'm not new to building guitars,as i have built many electric guitars with set necks.So gluing up an acoustic won't be a problem for me.I just prefer to have them all wood.I do the same with my flutes,all wood.They are more natural that way to me.I respect those who don't as well.Thanks to all that responded as i have learned alot here.Mark