Neck Block (Head Block)

A chunk of (sometimes laminated) wood found inside of the body of an acoustic guitar, at the base of the neck. The neck block is an essential structural element in the guitar, as it provides a stable, solid base onto which the neck is joined to the body. For instruments with set necks, the block usually is cut in a “dove tail” shape that’s complemented on the neck, to maximize the surface area to be glued. On guitars with bolt-on necks, the bolts normally pass all the way through the neck block for optimum coupling to the body.