starting to set my Dovetail

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Brivis
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:30 pm
Location: Limerick, PA

starting to set my Dovetail

Post by Brivis »

Im ready to start setting my neck. I have a few questions. Im not sure whats going on here but With no adjustment at all im sitting flush to the top so im a little fearful to do anything. I also have significant rocking top to back and side to side. I attached a picture i took the guitar is bound now i just snapped this one quick to show the height. I was watching John videos(like a 10000 times) when im measuring the height difference with my straighedge(14fret neck) are my 2 points the bridge and neck/body joint or bridge 12th fret? i was confused.
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tippie53
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by tippie53 »

I understand your position can you call me tonight and we can get you on your way. this isn't a big deal and won't be a hard fix.
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Brivis
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:30 pm
Location: Limerick, PA

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by Brivis »

will you be available friday? Ill be going out for my B-day tonight Woo Hoo. BTW the binding machine I recently purchased from you worked AMAZING. I got the router all fixed up free of charge
tippie53
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by tippie53 »

call when you can I am usually here and if not let a message and we will just play phone tag
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Haggis

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by Haggis »

Hello!
I have the same problem with the dovetail joint. It´s flat to the top and it´s moving in all directions. I believe that I have to build up the female part of the joint with thin shims. I trying to get it tighter using shims that I cut out using a plane. By soaking them (they are curly first:)) and putting them under pressure they get flat and workable, and I can add material flat to the surfaces of the joint.
However, this is just me trying to come up with a solution.

John: Am I doing this the wrong way? Perhaps the male part needs to be fixed?

/Häggis
tippie53
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
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Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by tippie53 »

use an iron to flatten plan shims
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Brivis
Posts: 17
Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2011 4:30 pm
Location: Limerick, PA

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by Brivis »

What's the best way to attach the shims when I'm ready? Should they go on the neck or block and what kind of glue?
tippie53
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by tippie53 »

Once I am finished with the set I start with gluing the shims in the neck block and glue them all in at one time , shims and then follow with the neck
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
Haggis

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by Haggis »

When building up the dovetail using shims. I wonder how much I need to build it up? If I get to much material in there then it would be a tough job getting the neck flush to the top once i got all the angles correct.
Is it enough/to much with 1/2inch?
How do you clamp the shims? Is superglue the best choice?
thanks
häggis
tippie53
Posts: 7118
Joined: Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:09 pm
Location: Hegins, Pa
Contact:

Re: starting to set my Dovetail

Post by tippie53 »

when shimming just glue them in with tite bond or whatever you glue in the neck with . Glue them all at the same time
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
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