getting the body geometry right and mating the neck

[Oldsoldier]

I'm progressing through my first Martin Kit Build of a 000/14 Fret guitar. After screwing up my first neck trying to get the proper angle, alignment and elevation, I started over with a new neck and I'm a bit gun-shy at this point. I put in the new neck without the fingerboard and it was all but flush with the top of the guitar. (See attached photo with notes) With a straight edge along the neck and extended to the bridge location, the straight edge was more than 1/4 inch above the top, and the centerline alignment was perfect. After cautiously removing some wood on the upper cheeks of neck with a sanding block (haven't touched the tenon) the straight edge is 7/32" above the top at the bridge location. The neck alignment- centerline is still right on, and the elevation appears to be about 1/32" below the top. With the unfretted fingerboard in place, laying perfectly flat on the fingerboard, the end nearest the sound hole is about 1/16" above the top. When I press it down flat on the top, the end nearest the nut rises about 1/4" above the neck at the nut location. The fit of the neck heel against the body is not bad at this point without any fine dressing. It appears I need to remove more wood from the upper part of the cheeks to bring the neck up. How am I doing and any tips on how to proceed?

[tippie53]

your doing good feel free to call me but take small nibbles .

[Oldsoldier]

John, that's encouraging. I learned a lot in watching your videos several times (and my wife did too!).--Jerry

[MaineGeezer]

It certainly sounds as though you are close. Although there seems to be a school of thought that the fingerboard should sit flat on the top, the luthier I'm learning from maintains that the geometry caused the top radius requires a thin wedge under the fingerboard extension tapering from maybe 1/16" at the heel to zero at the end of the fingerboard next to the sound hole.

I gather from this difference of opinion that there is no one "right" way to fit a neck. Do whatever your particular guitar requires.

[Oldsoldier]

Thanks for your comments and the drawing, Mainegeezer. Hopefully, as I continue to sand down the upper part of the cheeks the fingerboard extension will fit flat on the top. I'll post an update on my success (or lack thereof).--Jerry