Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 3:50pm

Well, I'm not sure the exact historical or practical reason for a heel, though I guess it allows more area that a neck has to attach to the body of the guitar. For my purposes since I build neck-through designs, It's mostly aesthetic (looks). It does make a VERY classic look. My heels are an extension of the overall neck which I use now a laminated neck (2x 1x2 to form a 2x2 which I cut down to the neck profile. See my Laminated Neck blog post). This is more to 'finish' the neck and make it look complete.

If you were not to make a neck-through design, It would most likely be to secure the neck onto the body (box).

-WY

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on March 23, 2010 at 4:03pm

I use them to add extra strength inside the box where I've cut away some of the neck where it touches the top.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jeff "Sweet T" Tinsley on March 23, 2010 at 4:06pm

Well said, Wes. That's WAY better than what I was gonna say.
I was gonna say heels are on the neck because toes aren't strong enough to hold it down.
Do ya think that's why I don't get invited to many parties?

Sorry... it's been a long, hard day. It's either scream or make weak jokes. Weak jokes don't give me a sore throat.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 4:08pm

Daaaaahhhhh ha ha ha ha ha. Best laugh I've had all day. Thanks Jeff. I love it.

-WY

Jeff Tinsley said:

Well said, Wes. That's WAY better than what I was gonna say.
I was gonna say heels are on the neck because toes aren't strong enough to hold it down.
Do ya think that's why I don't get invited to many parties?

Sorry... it's been a long, hard day. It's either scream or make weak jokes. Weak jokes don't give me a sore throat.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 4:11pm

So I found this on wikipedia:

Neck joint or 'Heel'
See also: Set-in neck, Bolt-on neck, and Neck-through

This is the point at which the neck is either bolted or glued to the body of the guitar. Almost all acoustic steel-string guitars, with the primary exception of Taylors, have glued (otherwise known as set) necks, while electric guitars are constructed using both types. Most classical guitars have a neck and headblock carved from one piece of wood, known as a "Spanish heel."

Commonly used set neck joints include mortise and tenon joints (such as those used by CF Martin & Co. guitars), dovetail joints (also used by CF Martin on the D28 and similar models) and Spanish heel neck joints which are named after the shoe they resemble and commonly found in classical guitars. All three types offer stability. Bolt-on necks, though they are historically associated with cheaper instruments, do offer greater flexibility in the guitar's set-up, and allow easier access for neck joint maintenance and repairs.


You ask for tea, I give you the chemical formula for caffeine. Drink well from the firehose.

-WY

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Drake on March 23, 2010 at 4:16pm

Hi Peter, A heel is required in traditional guitar design because the neck ends at the body of the guitar and it provides the point of attachment. Many cigar box guitars have a straight through neck so this attachment is not required. It can provide additional strength though and may be used if a straight through neck is not required. This photograph shows a traditional dovetail neck attachment.

A more simple design bolts on through the end of the body. Regards John D

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Taylor on March 23, 2010 at 4:19pm

Thanks guys for the infomation
and Jeff for the laugh, you can attend any of my parties anytime mate....need someone to laugh at or with...LOL

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Christopher Call on March 23, 2010 at 7:37pm

Well......... All the needed info has already been said here so I guess there is not much more to say here, but knowing me ho likes to ramble on about NOTHING all night (see my videos) will add that on something like what we build here it in my mind would be like a gusset used to strengthen both the neck and the joint where the body and beck meet!!!!! <---------- See I can be smart from time to time! LOL

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben on March 23, 2010 at 10:55pm

I made a few through-necks but have mostly switched over to bolt on. I build a heel and glue a block to the inside of the box. Then I run (usually) 3 screws through the block and the heel. Very secure, easy to do, uses less wood, better acoustics, can angle the neck for better action (has to be planned in advance), don't have to cut the box (my box cuts were always messy). Just a few of my reasons...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Taylor on March 23, 2010 at 11:16pm

Ben said:

I made a few through-necks but have mostly switched over to bolt on. I build a heel and glue a block to the inside of the box. Then I run (usually) 3 screws through the block and the heel. Very secure, easy to do, uses less wood, better acoustics, can angle the neck for better action (has to be planned in advance), don't have to cut the box (my box cuts were always messy). Just a few of my reasons...

pictures please Ben

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 24, 2010 at 2:12am

Hmm, now I know that I have a spanish heel on my guitars, sounds like a fetish to me. But seriously, the heel is a nice transition from the thin neck to the thick area needed to attach it to the body, or on a thru body it transitions the wood to the offset section going thru the body, looks cool and feels nice when your hand runs into it, better than a square edge. Did I mention it looks good too.
Ben, please add some construction pics of your neck attachment, I have been thinking of the same idea and would like to see how you did it. Thanks

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alan Roberts on March 24, 2010 at 8:03am

Ben said:

I made a few through-necks but have mostly switched over to bolt on. I build a heel and glue a block to the inside of the box... better acoustics, can angle the neck for better action (has to be planned in advance)...

Wow. It's easy being humble around here, with people putting cool ideas in action that I've only been toying with.

What is your neck-to-body angle?
Do you use any bracing inside?
How do you attach heel to neck, and when? or is the heel all part of the neck from the get-go?

Uncle Ukulele has "how to build ukulele" videos on YouTube that ROCK. I think he rough shapes the heel before gluing it to the neck. With all the nice curves a heel has, shaping would be MUCH easier without the neck in the way.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page