Calculating the tenon angle

[mullmuzzler]

How do you calculate the angle for the tenon for the set neck contruction? Does it have to be an angle at all?

mullmuzzler | OSSMT

[Guest Litchfield Custom Gutars]

Usually about 4 degrees, but it does NOT have to be angled. You can recess the bidge if it is a TOM. You can also use a fender style bridge with no angle.

[westhemann]

the pocket is usually angled,is it not?

[rhoads56]

There is no set angle for all guitars. It is TOTALLY based on hardware, fretboard playing surface vs top of body, and if it is a carved top or not. You HAVE to draw it out at full size, as a side on view (yes, the full guitar), otherwise you are guessing.

[Guest AlexVDL]

the pocket is usually angled,is it not?

I have made 3 guitars without a neck angle... it works fine, but when using trems the body needs to be thick enough to recess the bridge. You could even recess a vintage style trem, but IMO it will look weird

I like the feel of necks without an angle, because the pickups are sitting lower into the body as is the bridge.... while playing my pinky like to touch the body, and on les pauls for instance the bridge is set too high for my pinky to reach the body, but then again the pickguard is raised so that problem is solved for me

[westhemann]

well i meant on a set neck guitar with an angle,the pocket itself is usually angled rather than the neck.that was what i was asking

[Guest AlexVDL]

oh yeah I remember this topic.... I personally wouldn't angle the pocket, but cut an angle off the neck tenon. But a straight tenon and an angles neck pocket is also perfect.

Here's a pic of a neck tenon for a non angled pocket:

[mullmuzzler]

The body is 45 mm thick. There isn't regular body carve involved, rather a crossover between Gibson SG and a EBMM JPM model on a RG body (I'll post pictures as soon as I find a host that can enable my pictures to be seen in the post (any suggestions for the hosting site?)).

BTW, what is TOM?

mullmuzzler | OSSMT