Official Luthiers Forum!

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http://www.ericschaeferguitars.com

This method is fine, but appears only to even be needed because of the author's building sequence. I install the truss rod and glue on the fretboard before I glue on the head plate. That way, with the fretboard end in its final resting place I place the nut I will acutually be using against the end of the fretboard, and then place the square head-plate against the nut and glue on the headplate in everything in exact place. Now there's a perfect fit of the fretboard, nut and headplate without the need to cut the head-plate at all. (You may ask, "how do you get the correct angle on the nut end of the headplate?" I set my disk sander to the the headstock angle and then touch the headplate end against the sander before I glue on the plate.)

I recognize that there are many many possible sequences for building and no sequence is without its challenges.

Ed

I do the same thing, except I don't glue on the fretboard, only set it on its register pins. With the fretboard off, I have more options for shaping and handling the neck. The angle at the nut end of the head plate is easy to get with a sanding block, too.

Ed

My one fear with the jig shown is over cutting and leaving a small cut in the neck. I am sure you manage it cleanly. I wait to glue on the headplate until I have properly positioned the fretboard, not glued just positioned with location pins and clamped. With the fretboard in place I position a nut spacer against the fretboard. I use a belt sander to put the correct angle on the nut end of the headplate. At this point I can glue on the headplate with the correct angle on the nut end in the correct location. No cutting or trimming on the neck and always square to the fretboard.

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http://www.Harvestmoonguitars.com

I just use my tablesaw. I make sure I keep a squared edge on one side of the neck;
Place the neck on a scrap of plywood to keep the headplate off the table, raise the blade while spinning slowly by hand to where it just touches the neck, then back off a skosh. Put the squared side of the neck against the miter and just push through to cut.
Easy peasy and nice and square in both planes.