Neck to body join on a bouzouki

Brian guitar man · Aug 1, 2011

Hi
I'm making a carved top bouzouki and I'm at the stage where I'm joining neck to body. I'm using a neck join that Bob Benedetto uses for his archtop guitars, but I've, well, got it wrong, to put it politely. Before I go and start the neck again, can anyone suggest anything that would help in terms of a routing jig for a dovetail mortise and tenon joint? I'm losing faith in myself here and need to start seeing some light at the end of this tunnel.
Just advice on making the jig would be a start, but if anyone knows where I can get one ready made, all the better. Most sites I've checked feature jigs that the makers have made themselves.
Regards for now

Brian

Mike Wingate · Aug 3, 2011

Why not make up a jig in MDF and buy a dovetailed router bit if you have router. Here is your starter for 10.
STEWMAC.COM : Acoustic Neck Joint Routing Templates

Saw and chisel are an alternative. I generally make a jig/template if I am to make multiple items. There are loads of similar jigs on the internet and youtube, but you need to practice. I favour bolting the neck to the neck block. Good luck and enjoy.

Phil P · Aug 3, 2011

Hi Brian and welcome!

Stewmac is an excellent site, but I'll give you another place to look, Wealden Tools in the UK who maka a sliding dovetail cutter for guitar building as well as providing a handy sheet on using these cutters.

Good luck with your guitar building

Regards

Phil

Mike Wingate · Aug 5, 2011

That's handy for us.

jw2170 · Aug 5, 2011

G'day Brian

Welcome to the router forum.

Thank you for joining us

Brian guitar man · Aug 6, 2011

Bouzouki neck join

Hi James,
Thanks for the welcome.
I hope to learn lots on this forum, and anything I can contribute, I hope, will help others.

B

chopnhack · Aug 9, 2011

When its complete will you play a tune for us? Everybody say OPA!

mark greenbaum · Aug 9, 2011

Most luthiers make these mortise dovetail joints by hand with saw and chisels. Using a router complicates the work. If you're only making one, that is. If you're going to make 5, make a jig of plexiglass and use a router like Stewmac.com shows.

Sutherland Guitars · Mar 13, 2012

Go to Stewmac.com or lmii.com I think its Stewmac has the jigs you need. That's where I purchased mine

mark greenbaum · Mar 19, 2012

I believe most acoustic guitars like Martin, etc., use a tapered dovetail joint. You would have to make a very accurate template for the bushing on the router to guide the bit precisely, and then the neck tenon would have match & mate precisely too. Or the neck would not fully seat, or might be skewed or angled incorrectly. My 2 cents, YMMV.

Mike Wingate · Mar 24, 2012

I am making a strumstick and the long neck is drilled, and split to form the sides. An all in one, no neck joints.http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/wingate_52/Strumstick/PICT0468.jpg

Mike Wingate · Mar 24, 2012

A little more progress.http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p244/wingate_52/Strumstick/PICT0477.jpg

Neck to body join on a bouzouki

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