FITTING AND CUTTING A NECK

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STEPS 3-5
Marking measurements on the violin’s top, ready for sawing
Marking measurements on the violin's top, ready for sawing		   [3] Knowing roughly what the mortise measurements are going to be helps tremendously at this stage. On the top I mark 15.25mm either side of the centre and 6.5mm in from the edge. Just below the top, I mark 14.5mm on the ribs and 10.5mm at the bottom next to the button. Staying well inside these lines I make two saw cuts, and use a knife and chisel to deepen the mortise. The bottom part of the mortise usually has a depth of roughly 7.5mm from the rib (as opposed to the 6.5mm from the top edge). On the neck I mark 130mm from the end of the fingerboard for the neck stop and the 6.5mm overstand. With these marks in place and the neck projection on the bridge, I hardly need to check the measurements with rulers at all. Inserting the neck and looking down the fingerboard towards the bridge, I can adjust the alignment and neck projection exactly. However, I have to be careful not to take out too much wood at any one time when adjusting and chalk fitting the mortise.
 
     
     
Marking the button with dividers   [4] With the neck now fitted into the mortise, I move on to the button shape. Having measured 16mm from the outer purfling line, the centre of the button is 10mm below this mark. This is also the radius for the button, which I now mark out with the dividers, making a section of a circle.
Measuring the distance between the scroll and the button    
 
 
Measuring the distance between the scroll and the button
Marking measurements on the neck heel, ready for sawing		   [5] Establishing the button shape at this stage allows me to finish the neck, including the neck heel corresponding to the button shape, before gluing it. With the neck dry-fitted in the mortise, I measure the distance from the chin of the scroll to the beginning of the button. Fixing the calipers at this width, I remove the neck and use them to scratch this distance directly on to the neck heel. Now I know where to place the 10mm radius on the neck heel in order to make it fit to the button.