Twiggybush Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 Hi , I'm currently building an explorer type guitar and I'm puzzling over the neck joint as I want to use a bolt on neck. The traditional design incorporates a heel on the neck which captures the string pressure. My bolt on has no heel. I'm thinking that if I just bolt it on it will make for a weak neck joint as the pocket is so small. I've seen how The Epiphone explorer GT addresses this situation, but it looks totally different. I could extend the pocket on the upper (bass side) but then I'd have a single cut guitar. I'm kicking tires here and wondering if anybody has thoughts on this. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 15, 2010 Report Share Posted August 15, 2010 pics may help visualise the problem i dont think a bolt-on is best for an explorer, but warmoth do it like this http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Radical/Xplorer.aspx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggybush Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 pics may help visualise the problem i dont think a bolt-on is best for an explorer, but warmoth do it like this http://www.warmoth.com/Guitar/Bodies/Radical/Xplorer.aspx The Warmoth looks like my current approach, which I'll probably go ahead with. Seems scary though. The Epi GT looks like this link. Kinda like a toy. http://www.epiphone.com/news.asp?NewsID=1628 I've got three Ebay necks and a grandson that wants an Explorer so I'm goin for it. I wondered if any one had the same experience and how it turned out. I've thought about combining glue and screws. I'm quickly learning this is probably an old bag of worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WezV Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 dont do the glue and screw thing, its never nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musiclogic Posted August 16, 2010 Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 The Gibson Explorer neck is a mortise and tenon joint, set neck. The reason for the heel block is more out of tradition than anything else. This used to be the standard fare when set/neck through were first put into practice, to mimmick the feel of the bolt on, while also providing a seamless transition from body to neck, thus allowing them to completely finish the playing area and headstock before joining, and a small amount of finish work afterwards. As long as your explorer has sufficient wood for the pocket, to brace the tension of the joint, thickness and length to match the flat of the neck block, you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twiggybush Posted August 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2010 I feel better with the encouragement you have both given. I'm going to go it without glue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musiclogic Posted August 17, 2010 Report Share Posted August 17, 2010 don't forget the pics when completed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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