Measuring angle of neck

[MandoDiddle]

I've spent the last hour trying (in vain) to measure the neck angle of my Collings MT-2. It appears to be around 5-5 1/2 degrees, but I would really like to know is it 5 or is it 5 1/2 degrees. Do any of you have a nice, accurate method of determining neck angles on existing instruments?
I really would appreciate the help.

Bill

[John Bertotti]

I am just guessing here but the if the rim assembly was built square you should be able to put a straight edge on the finger board long enough to extend to the tail then using some form of adjustable bevel set it for the finger board to tail block angle i.e.. the bottom of the instrument. Of course the tail piece would have to come off to do this and there may be a better way. I am just brain storming here. Wait for a pro response.

[sunburst]

I think John is on the right track.
If I had to measure, I think I would put a straight edge on the edge of the rim, just beside where the arch starts, so that it rests there and extends out by the neck. Then I would sight level from the side, so I could see the intersecting lines of the fingerboard and the straight edge. Then I would set a bevel gauge to match both lines, then measure the angle of the bevel gauge.
But, I can't imagine a reason why I would want to know the angle to 1/2 of a degree.

[MandoDiddle]

Thanks, John and John.

I'm not sure why I want to know the angle so accurately either. If it's not that big of a deal to you guys, then I guess I need to lighten up a little. But hey, I've fought this all my life. Thanks again for your thoughts. (This is a great forum.)

[John Bertotti]

I do the same thing. Sometimes you just have to know even if it doesn't really matter. John