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I'm building my first guitar (from GenOne plans of 1937 Hauser), and I think I may have cut the neck angle wrong. I'm using a dovetail joint rather than a Spanish heel.
Do steel string necks tilt back from the soundboard and classical guitar necks tilt forwards? If so, is this to have higher action at the 12th fret without the saddle being too high? If so, then I used steel string construction and my neck angle is wrong. I suppose I can adjust the dovetail on the neck, but it will put the 12th fret marginally past the neck/body join.

I know nothing about classical guitar construction, but I don't understand why the neck angle would be fundamentally different from a steel string guitar. You have the nut; you have the saddle. Strings go across them. You set the neck angle so the strings are a playable height at the 12th fret, with final adjustment made by tweaking the saddle height.

John (Blues Creek Guitars) has posted some videos on YouTube explaining how to set the neck angle.

Gen one plans are terrible they are wrong in many ways

I would not use them

the most important thing that you can do is shim the dovetail and yes you can forward your neck angle so
your string height improves.

now this is also a design enhancement opportunity Once you have your neck angle fixed , use shims but do not
glue them in. As you make adjustments clamp tight. Once you are happy with the angle , you can now make a piece of contasting wood and make a plate to sit on the heel between the body to bring all back to line on the body joint.

this way it looks like you planned this and that little detail will look neat.

I have no experience with classical guitar building, but I am confused about whether you are using the classical plans to make a classical or steel-string guitar? In answer to one of your questions, I believe I have heard that some classical guitars can have necks that angle up, even with a wedge under the fretboard extension. (Others with more experience may add more to this.) But the plan you are using does not seem to indicate that. I also found another plan for the same guitar if it is helpful to you:

https://www.scribd.com/document/3811713 ... auser-Plan#

Bruce W.

Classical guitars use a different neck angle as the nylon strings don't have the same stress as a steel string so in a way think of a harp they use a higher action height and with the angle pushing the head stock up so the string pulls more up on the top.

can't say this enough gen 1 plans are not accurate. CF Martin has been trying to get the to stop using their name and they can't find the location of the home office per se.

Is Georgia Luthier Supply called Gen One now?

yes they are going by a few names
it is sad these rip off companies are out there

I hate to say this, but maybe we should keep a list of unreputable companies.

If Genone isn't reliable, who is a trusted source for CAD plans?

cad guitar plans is made off tracings I had provided to Waldron insruments years ago. They were digitized and drawn up

Dam Macrostie
Guild of American Luthiers
Grielie guitar plans ( free )