Anti-ski-slope

[ruby@magpage.com]

I am on my third guitar and still don't completely understand how to keep the neck being lined up properly while gluing on the top and back My first one turned out almost perfectly and I don't know why, the second one I had to thin the top just a hair to get things to line up, but this third one, the neck is pointing too low by a good margin and needs to be tipped back.

When I trim the neck to get it lined up, there will be a tapered space under the fretboard that could be resolved one of 2 ways:
1) bend the fretboard down and glue it to the top
2) install a wedge that fills the area

I would like to go for the wedge and have been told this is not uncommon on older guitars that need a neck set. Does anyone have pictures of one of these guitars so I can see what it will look like? I will be putting a hand applied Cremona Brown finish on the top, so the wedge will have to be colored to match.

Also, has anyone figured an easy method to make this wedge?

And more basically, how can I get the neck to line up better - and more reliably - in the future?

thanks

Ed Minch

[tippie53]

this is not that difficult but takes planning back in the rim stage. I am sure you are familiar with my you tubes on this. I have now taken this one step further. I don't fret the guitar until the neck is on the guitar. Before fretting I can true the board to dead flat , then fret . That takes all the variables out of the equation. I use a deep throat C clamp to press in the extension frets.
Then hammer in the rest. Call me any Time Ed I will be happy to walk you through the hole process.