HTS Headstock Scarf Joint

The scarf joint is used for making angled headstocks such as those on Gibson/Martins/Taylors etc, they are a tried and true method of joinery, it is solid and structurally stronger than a one piece neck. They typically angle the headstock anywhere from 9 to 18 degrees.

The purpose of this step through guide is to show how quickly a scarf joint can be made for the purposes of making a headstock

In repairs, time is of the essence, so being efficient is more imortant than the romance of the carving of the wood.

We are going to show two standard very typical scarf joints.

This is the 5 minute Headstock scarf, types 1 and 2 (1 day drying times)

My Table saw has a 10 inch blade fitted to it, which can be raised or lowered out of the bench

And passed through the saw

You can hand cut this join, bandsaw this join, scrape/ hand shape any way you want.

However, for repairing time is of the essence.

Dressed wood with cut at 14 degrees

Flipping the piece of wood over we place it on the underside of the neck blank

This is type 1 Joint

Cutting another headstock at the same time

We have a larger head on this one.

Flip it onto the actual cut.

This is a type 2 joint

The gluing process requires just a flat bench, we place a clamped block of wood at one end

Start with a piece of Dressed wood, I typically make all my necks from a blank 21mm thick.

I have a table saw with a piece of basswood bracing angled at 14 degrees to my saw blade

The wood is clamped onto my slide

We clamp the body of the neck along the edge of our bench