Attaching 4-string narrow neck to guitar body - countersink screws/washers?

[newuser1]

I’m working on a 4-string tenor 23” scale guitar, which has a very narrow neck – 32mm (about 1-1/4") at the widest part of the heel.
I’ve just realized that I have no neck plate that small, so I started considering countersunk screws/washers to attach
the neck to the body. Is that a good idea? Would something like the #6 washers listed below from Lee Valley work?

https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/sho...MI5pLM-NLc-wIVA67ICh0_iwj7EAQYASABEgKJWfD_BwE

or this one from Home Depot?

https://www.homedepot.ca/product/pa...ashers-standard-type-nickel-plated/1000144047






Thanks,

Peter

 

[eallen]

Depending on the pocket depth you could use 3-4, 1/2" diameter ferrules. Bitter Root guitars & Philadelphia luthier I believe carry them

 

[epizootics]

Those Lee Valley washers look very thin at the sides, but they would probably work. I've used thicker ones (pretty sure I got them off Aliexpress) with good results in the past :

I have also used non-recessed countersunk washers on a bass once:

...but I would only used those with hard wood bodies (cherry in this case)

 

[Peegoo]

@newuser1

The Lee Valley washers will work fine.

The ones you linked at HD are not designed for this application because they are stamped from thin sheet steel and are hollow in back. These are intended for use as finish washers on upholstery screws.

You can get smaller neck plates:

Neck plate chrome narrow

Neck plate chrome 1 5/8' x 2 3/8' for electric guitar. Narrow version

www.bitterrootguitars.com

 

[newuser1]

Well I bought these M3 metric washers from Amazon:



and #6 X 1-1/2" wood screws from Home Depot, which fit well enough in the washers.

The pics below show how I plan to arrange the holes for the washers/screws. Would that arrangement affect negatively the guitar in any way - for example would it be problematic to slightly adjust the neck to align the strings better with the neck direction, or anything else?

 

[epizootics]

There should be no issues that arrangement - as long as the screws don't hit the truss rod channel or are too close to the edge, you'll be fine.
I usually go for screws a size larger (4.2mm, pre-drilled with a 1/8" bit) but with four screws I don't see that being a problem either.
Any pictures of the body? Looks like it's going to be a sweet little guitar

 

[crazydave911]

I have a tenor in the 2011 Build Challenge you MIGHT wanna check out

 

[newuser1]

There should be no issues that arrangement - as long as the screws don't hit the truss rod channel or are too close to the edge, you'll be fine.
I usually go for screws a size larger (4.2mm, pre-drilled with a 1/8" bit) but with four screws I don't see that being a problem either.
Any pictures of the body? Looks like it's going to be a sweet little guitar

Started working on the body today, here is a rough cut on the bandsaw.

 

[crazydave911]

FYI, for shorter than normal scales I make the neck wider for playability. In my 8 string tenor (I have built others) I made the neck Tele normal. It is very playable and does not look abnormal. I was building a mandocello, not a mandolin