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We chose the modern bolt-on method of fastening the neck
to the body because it works well, is relatively easy to fit, and
sounds great. Another equally important reason is that it
offers easy neck angle adjustment over the years. (Vintage
resonator guitars, with their fixed banjo style neck stick con-
struction, are notorious for developing high action over the
years. Resetting these old necks to a proper action is not a
“user friendly” situation!
The L-shaped fingerboard extension support supplies sup-
port for the top in the upper front shoulders. This L-shaped
support must be turned flat on its side to slide through the
soundwell. Then the support is turned so the leg of the L
faces up, to support the rectangular piece of plywood it will
be fastened to with four wood screws
(34)
.
Install the L-support so that the tail block end of the support
is flush with the back edge of the soundwell — giving the
soundwell lip full support. Center the support to the center-
line of the body and hold it in place while you mark the two
holes for the support mounting screws. Remove the support
and drill those two holes
(35)
.
Replace the support and install the mounting screws. Don’t
tighten the screws completely. Instead, draw the support
upwards within 1/8" of the well, then slide the plywood block
in between the L and the underside of the top beneath the
fingerboard extension. Use a mirror to center the plywood
block, and then slowly tighten the two screws. The L-support
will push the spacer block snug against the top, and lift the
metal in that area. The L-support is supplied slightly oversize,
so you may need to remove it and use a file to remove wood
where the support contacts the soundwell, at both contact
points, to allow the support to pull upward.
Expect to remove the L-support several times — filing notch-
es to clear the soundwell accordingly — until the
fingerboard extension has solid support and doesn’t show
too much dropoff when you sight down the neck. Some
amount of dropoff is expected. You will not have a dead-flat
fretboard where it meets the body because of the relation-
ship of the neck to the cone. Also, the fingerboard extension
should not run uphill — that would cause fret/string buzzing
in the upper register.
Fasten the tailpiece to the tailpiece block using the strap but-
ton and mounting screw provided.
Mounting the fingerboard support
Install the tailpiece
34.
The support is turned with the leg of the L facing upward to
support the rectangular piece of plywood under the fingerboard
extension.
35.
Remove the support and drill two mounting holes.
