Bolt On Neck Angle

[82cabby]

Hi all!

I have a question about neck angles on bolt on necks. I am working up to my third build. Two of my buddies liked the idea of building their own guitar, so we are going to work together and we will end up with three of basicly the same guitar. Now here is the issue: I am looking at building a Tele Thinline style guitar with a few changes. One of the things we are looking at changing is the bridge. We would like to have a more substantial bridge than the traditional tele bridge so that there is a more comfortable place to rest your hand. One possibility is a Bigsby and one of my buddies would very much like to have a wraparound style bridge, preferably one just like this PRS:

It appears with the bridges that are our first choices, the guitar would probably need a bit of a neck angle. However, I REALLY want to have a bolt on neck as it allows for some tweaking with shims if absolutly necessary. Obviously shims are not the best way to go, but at least with a bolt on you have the option down the road.

Soooo, here are my questions:

Can a bolt on neck have a neck angle? If so, exactly how do you design the connection? (I can figure out the angle itself,it's the bolt on part that has me stumped)

and / or

Can anyone recommend a bridge that would lend itself to a zero neck angle but still give you a decent place to rest your picking hand?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[WezV]

yes - a bolt on neck can have a neck angle

if in doubt draw it all out from the side view

you will be faced with choices - do i put the angle on the bottom of the neck heel or do i put my neck pocket at a slant? both are equally valid, draw it out and decide which is easier to do with the tools you have

it also worth pointing out that with standard fender specs you can shim the neck pocket enough to get where you want - but you will get a better connection (and possibly better tone) if you design it to fit rather than shim it to fit.... but that can always be your backup plan

[Our Souls inc.]

you could always use a neck pocket thats not a shallow as normal, therby making the neck sit proud of the body. No angle and your tall bridge fits under the strings like it should.

Or angle the pocket.

or recess the bridge a bit.

[Our Souls inc.]

O - a guerilla tactic that I employ on occasion is using a floyd rose type bridge without any tremolo block on it at all. the saddles sit pretty low and has a pretty good size area for your hand to rest on.

[82cabby]

neck angles are not as scary as they seem!

Not for you maybe!! A little intimidating for me though....but I know I can do it, just a matter of taking it slow.

So if I angle the bottom of the neck pocket on the body (seems easiest), is it ok to install the bolts perpendicular to the back of the body, even though they won't be perpendicular to the joint between the body and the neck? I know we are only talking about a really small angle, but I don't want the thing to shift or open up a gap between the heel and the body.

Thanks for all the help!

[Our Souls inc.]

[

O - a guerilla tactic that I employ on occasion is using a floyd rose type bridge without any tremolo block on it at all. the saddles sit pretty low and has a pretty good size area for your hand to rest on.

say what now - thats an odd suggestion :? i know there are some hardtail variations of floyd trems for people that dont want a trem but like the feel of floyds- but even if going for a cheap floyd to butcher, a decent wraparound makes more economic sense.. a cheap wraparound even more so.

neck angles are not as scary as they seem!

agreed on the economy factor.

but you get fine tuning and don't have to do an angle , or routing.

Its worked for me before.

[kkooss16]

Im working on my first build, im just making sloped jig to use with my router to make a 4.5 degree pocket.

There was a thread not long ago that touched up on figuring the angle you need for your neck, if really needed.

[ihocky2]

The first thing I would do for you and your friends is decide how you like the guitar to feel. IF you like the close to the body feel of a Fender but want a beefier bridge, than go with the recessed bridge idea (my personal choice because I like the close feel with the feel of a TOM). If you like the strings further off the body, like on a Gibson, then use a neck angle.

If you use a neck angle for any, or all, of the guitars I would go about drilling the holes in this manner. Set the neck in place and align it with the centerline of the body. Then clamp it in that positions. With the body holes for the neck bolts already drilled, drill through those into the neck. Just becareful of the depth so you don't blow through the front. This way the holes are perpendicular to the body, and drilled at the correct angle into the neck.

[82cabby]

If you use a neck angle for any, or all, of the guitars I would go about drilling the holes in this manner. Set the neck in place and align it with the centerline of the body. Then clamp it in that positions. With the body holes for the neck bolts already drilled, drill through those into the neck. Just becareful of the depth so you don't blow through the front. This way the holes are perpendicular to the body, and drilled at the correct angle into the neck.

Thank you for detailing the process, that is a big help! If we go with a neck angle that is the way I will proceed.