How would you handle this neck issue?

[kfowler8]

I just finished showing the neck tenon for my LP build. When I dry fit it, the neck top is perfectly flush with the top side of the body (switch side). However, the bottom side of the body (horn side) is slightly lower than the top of the neck. Maybe 1/32nd inch or 0.5 mm. What should I do here?

1. Do nothing.

2. Do nothing for now. Fill gap with glue/dust mix after neck is glued on.

3. Or, shave the tenon down so that it' flush with the bottom of the body. Then shave the top of the body down flush with the tenon.

[Freddy G]

I would glue a veneer to the top of the tenon and then level it flush with the body.

[kfowler8]

Originally Posted by Freddy G

I would glue a veneer to the top of the tenon and then level it flush with the body.

Freddy, I'm not quite following you. The tenon is square. The is issue one side if the neck mortise is higher than the other.

[Freddy G]

Oh I see...sorry, I misunderstood.
OK then in that case I would re-level the body so that the tenon is proud by the same amount on both sides then shave the bottom of the tenon down so that it's flush.
I think it's important to keep the relationship between body and neck square.

[kfowler8]

Originally Posted by Freddy G

Oh I see...sorry, I misunderstood.
OK then in that case I would re-level the body so that the tenon is proud by the same amount on both sides then shave the bottom of the tenon down so that it's flush.
I think it's important to keep the relationship between body and neck square.

Got ya. Sounds like #3 above.

[AxeBuilder]

How about some pics?

[bruce bennett]

check the mortise depth on both sides, make sure they are the same. if they are off its likely the top carve around the mortise needs a tweak or two.

if the tenion is square all around then something is off between the body and mortise.

if the mortise depths are correct then I would glue a thin a shim to the bottom of the tenion and resand it till everything is perfection.

[kfowler8]

Originally Posted by bruce bennett

check the mortise depth on both sides, make sure they are the same. if they are off its likely the top carve around the mortise needs a tweak or two.

if the tenion is square all around then something is off between the body and mortise.

if the mortise depths are correct then I would glue a thin a shim to the bottom of the tenion and resand it till everything is perfection.

Bruce - I suspect it's the mortise. I bet my box jig is a hair off when I cut the neck plane. The tenon looks good as the bottom is flush with the mortise.

Thanks for the help guys

[bruce bennett]

Originally Posted by kfowler8

Bruce - I suspect it's the mortise. I bet my box jig is a hair off when I cut the neck plane. The tenon looks good as the bottom is flush with the mortise.

Thanks for the help guys

your tenon can still be a hair off as well.. 1/32 isn't much and if your going to chase that dragon, then you'll have to chase him ALL THE WAY.

First check the FULL depth of the body on both sides of the mortise. you may find a slight thickness difference..
Then check the back of the body to the bottom of the mortise...because any thickness issues can become compounded here.

I've even routed a body with a box jig, only to discover that a tiny build up of sawdust had gotten under one side of the jig and created a slight tilt in the mortise. grrr.

anyway, if both of these sets of numbers come out the same,
then your next stop would be the top of the mortise. remove any needed material only from the top surface.. once all those numbers jive, then you gotta go back to the tenion and make sure its bottom surface is parallel to the necks reference surface ( where the fingerboard will glue to) once that lines up,
the your sides have to be squared to the top and bottom of the tenion.



easy as a slice of sawdust pizza!

( thats something my daugther used to make while playing in my shop as a little kid.
she would get a few round "speaker hole cutouts" and use them as plates and then she used all the different colors of sawdust found on the floors and machines to make a "Dust Pizza" obviously totally useless.. but they looked great! and she was entertained for hours.)