Photo essay on building the Split-V peg head joint

[Jon Whitney]

I posted this over on BanjoHangout.org but the joint can be used on any instrument with a neck.
http://www.banjohangout.org/topic/280571

[Clay Schaeffer]

Hi Jon,
Nice job on the joint. It does look pretty involved. I'm still using the modified bridal joint, although my methods have evolved since the first time I cut one. One of these days I may try a covered "V" like some of the better European makers used, but it does seem like it would take a fair amount of skill.

[Jon Whitney]

Well, the nice thing about the split-V is that it doesn't take any skill at all, even I can do it!
Seriously, once you understand how to angle the drill press table (Shopsmith table in my case), and the miter gauge, it's really fast to get the joints trued and ready for glue. Of course, this joint is designed for laminated necks - it wouldn't be work for a solid neck because you have to have two neck halves. The center strip is optional, however.

[Jason Rodgers]

Hi Jon,
Nice job on the joint. It does look pretty involved. I'm still using the modified bridal joint, although my methods have evolved since the first time I cut one. One of these days I may try a covered "V" like some of the better European makers used, but it does seem like it would take a fair amount of skill.

Covered V joint? That's called a V joint with a face plate and backstrap, right?

[Clay Schaeffer]

"Covered V joint? That's called a V joint with a face plate and backstrap, right?"

Nooo....
It's where the "V" joint doesn't show on the face of the peghead and there is no peghead overlay to conceal it either. It is an angled mortise and tenon where string tension actually makes the joint tighter. I believe Louis Panormo used this joint.

[Jason Rodgers]

Yeah, I know what it is. That's what the smart-ass emoticon was for. I retroactively add this one, too, then

[Clay Schaeffer]

Hi Jason,
I thought you might, but as some recent discussions on the OLF have shown, nomenclature seems to be getting muddled these days. You guys have got me thinking about the covered "V", and the possibilities of using a router and jigging to take some of the manual skills out of making it.

[Jon Whitney]

It seems like you could do it with a dovetail bit and the proper templates, if you don't mind the point of the V being rounded.

[Clay Schaeffer]

That's what I was thinking, Jon. It might also be possible to chisel the last little bit to a point.
One thing I've noticed on some of the old guitars is the "V" has the end cut off so it appears as a trapezoid shape on the back of the peghead. This may have been done to allow the use of thinner stock for the neck shaft (it wouldn't have to follow the angle of the peghead as far.)
Joining the peghead to the neck shaft seems to be done a lot of different ways, and it is interesting to me to see the pro's and con's of each method.