Designing an instrument from a clean sheet of paper allows the opportunity to re-examine certain elements of that design. In this section you will find information about those kinds of advancements in shop tooling and guitar construction used here in the Eichelbaum shop every day. You will not only see photos of construction methods, but also in-depth descriptions of design concepts and techniques. Please check back often, as this section will be updated frequently.

 

The Bolt-on Neck Joint

Traditional dovetail neck joints are more than adequate when properly executed. However, I find that employing a full 3/4" slip-fit mortise and tenon joint offers significant advantages. First, this method enhances the sound quality of the guitar. Because I use two mechanical fasteners to pull the heel snugly into the neckblock and guitar sides, more direct contact in this area relates to a greater integrity of sound transmission from the neck to the body. Second, this method improves the accuracy of manufacture. Neck angles can be precisely set without disturbing the strength of the joint, since no glue surfaces are affected by changes. Third, this method promotes ease of removal. Should the neck require removal, all that is needed is to remove the fasteners and lift the fingerboard from the soundboard in the traditional way. This can be accomplished in less than fifteen minutes with no worry of damage from "steaming" the joint apart.