I need help

[u/Sta12d]

How can I rotate the neck to center it? I've read that I should simply unscrew the screws and move it by hand, but when I start to tighten them, it leans back to the left. Sorry for the ugly neck pocket; this is my first hand-built piece.

[u/Lerlo12]

I'm no expert but.. Enlarge the holes on the body? That's what I did and seem to be holding up well.

[u/Sta12d → u/Lerlo12]

I'll try it, I hope it works

[u/WPV203 → u/Lerlo12]

My advice is to fill the old holes with scrap wood or multiple toothpicks, both on neck and body and redrill it more carefully next time

[u/Wilkko → u/WPV203]

If the neck holes are normal, there's no need to redo them. The alignment is only relative to the body, those are the ones that can be modified.

[u/twick2010]

Over drill the body screw holes and maybe widen the neck pocket. As long as the pocket walls are pretty square, a little slop won’t matter much. Usually if the body screw holes aren’t dead on they can pull the neck into a bad position. Just go up a size drill bit for those holes and that should introduce some wiggle room.

[u/Sta12d → u/twick2010]

Thanks, I'll try

[u/brentford71 → u/Sta12d]

Over drilling will allow for more movement in the future. I want my neck to be truly set, yes its wood so will always have some "play" but try and get the holes as accurate as possible. I'd suggest filling the original holes (a mix of sawdust and wood glue, evena drop of super glue) then re drilling....

[u/Sta12d → u/brentford71]

You mean over drilling the body holes or the neck holes?

[u/Sea_Caterpillar_368 → u/Sta12d]

The holes on the body are basically pilot holes, or guide holes for the neck to be pulled close with. However, you want everything to be as precise as possible or you will run in to tuning, tone and pitch problems if not right away, then in the future.  My suggestion is to dowel the holes close. That is the best way and how professionals do it. There are many videos on YouTube that can show you how to do this. Also you want your neck pocket to be snug and have a slight angle going down as it leads away from the body. This is important! The truss rod is for small adjustments, not to make for lack of neck angle.  Anyway, use the neck plate like a template to mark were to drill in the body. On a telee, you should line it upstart just a couple cm from the edge. I suggest dilling holes in the body just big enough for the screw shaft to fall in through with out resistance till the head stops it from going all the way through.  A pilot hole. Or guide hole. Then put the neck with heal snug agenst the back on the body (and assuming that the neck a pocket are lining up properly). Screw the neck in starting with the holes closest to the heal. Think of it as pulling the neck close to the body using the screws as possible.  Most of the tension should be on those screws. Look you tube is a great resource. Don't be afraid to use it.