#1-Scarf Joints, Truss Rods, and Heel Blocks

Scarf Joints, Truss Rods, and Heel Blocks| Time to work on the neck. Four main things to do to convert a 7/8 x 3 x 35 inch plank of mahogany into a neck: 1) create the headstock/peg head with a scarf joint, 2) route the truss rod slot, 3) cut and stack the heel block, and 4) veneer and shape the peg head.

To created the headstock, a 5 inch section of the mahogany blank is but with a 14 degree angle. This is then glued "upside down" on the bottom of the neck to create the downward pointing headstock here the tuners will be placed. I forgot to document this process but here is the result:

The next step involves routing out the truss rod slot (already visible in the picture above). The truss rod fits in the neck and allows you to put pressure on the neck causing it to bow in one direction or the other in order to set the proper action on the strings. I am using a double action truss rod in this guitar which means it can be adjusted to provide tension in two directions. Many guitars can only be adjusted one way. This was simple to do with my homemade router table and a 1/4 inch bit:

The fence held in place with a c-clamp keeps the neck straight as I run it over the bit, taking small cuts until I reach the proper depth.

Once the slot is routed, time to glue up the heel block. Since I have measurements that tell me the distance from the nut (top end of the guitar neck) to the body attachment point at the 14th fret, I cut the neck to length and use the excess cut in 3 inch segments to stack and glue to create the heel block.