V Joint à la Géza

by Cyndy Burton

Originally published in American Lutherie #63, 2000 and Big Red Book of American Lutherie, Volume Six, 2013



The elegant V joint was once the usual way of joining the head to the neck of the guitar. Early guitars made in Spain, such as those of the Pagés family in the 1700s, French guitars including René Lacôte’s in the 1800s, Italian makers like Panormo (even Stradivari), and so on, all typically used the V joint. C.F. Martin brought the tradition with him to this country in the mid-1800s, but its use on steel strings never really caught on beyond the early Martins. The father of the modern classical guitar, Antonio de Torres, did not use a V joint, and I think it’s fair to say that a majority of makers since Torres, in Spain and worldwide, have not. However, things may be changing back. Two very notable makers of the 20th century, Hermann Hauser Sr. and José Romanillos use it, and a large number of highly respected makers (Kevin Aram, Richard Bruné, Géza Burghardt, Greg Byers, Hermann Hauser III, Robert Ruck, Gary Southwell, and Gernot Wagner to name a few), use it today.

I first saw a V joint in the flesh on a Romanillos guitar and heard its maker speak about it at the Toronto Guitar Festival in 1981. It struck me as beautiful, but beyond my woodworking skills. Although I’ve seen many since then, it wasn’t until my visit to Géza Burghardt’s shop (American Lutherie #61) that I met someone with such unabashed enthusiasm both for the joint and for sharing with others the exact process he uses to achieve perfect results. He calls it “foolproof.” His jigs and templates are what make precise work relatively easy and certain. (Sharp chisels help, too.) The point Géza makes is that anyone with reasonable woodworking skills can do a perfect V joint every time. He inspired me; I hope he inspires you, too. Géza’s tools, jigs, and templates are made for permanence and work equally well for steel string and classical necks, both of which are seen in the photos. It is certainly possible to use his ideas to make tools which will serve well without having to take out a bank loan. Proponents of the V joint cite its beauty and strength, very nice qualities to find together! ◆