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How do you locate (or register) the FB on the neck?

David L

I have the center of the neck marked out and the nut position marked out on the neck. I also have the center line clearly marked on the back side of the finger board. I build an indexing guide out of a neck template I have, but any long bit of plexiglass would work, with a center line and a couple of holes that I use as drill guides for 1/8" dowels.

I line the top of the guide on the nut position of the neck and line up the center lines drill two shallow holes. I flip the guide and do the same thing on the back of the finger board. I press in two 1/8" dowels in the neck cut them to size so that when the finger board is pressed on it lays flat.

It is really nice as I can take the finger board on and off while carving or setting the neck angle and always have it perfectly indexed.

I know others line up the center lines of the finger board to the center lines of the neck, and drill 3 very small holes through the slots and use brads to index. As with most of my proceedures I learned this from Rick:)

There are so many ways to do this. Using that template that is shown does work , another method and one that I use is to center the board on the neck with the 12th for 14th fret positioned where it needs to be.
I use a small brad nail with a 1/16 in drill bit. I drill through the board under a fret or pearl marker cutting the brad short so it will register the board when clamping. You need to use the technique that works best for you.
john

Use small brads as drills and drill in number 1 and 12 fret slots with the board accurately located on neck. Use the same brads as the locating pins. Remove after gluing.
Tom

yep, that's the way I do it too. Works easy and nice.
Herman