Neck reset

Stevebol · #1 09-23-2011, 01:05 PM

I think I'm going to try to do a neck reset on my Harmony guitar. This guitar has an awesome sound and I've already put a lot of work into it- it needed to be refinished, a refretting that came out very well, etc.....
The string clearance at the end of the fret board (strings to body) is about 3/8" as it is now and there's a very slight separation where the fret board meets the body. As good as this guitar sounds, I simply won't use it unless it has electronics. My Gitane is what I use when unplugged. It has no resell value at all because the logo is gone and it's been refinished.
My plan is to add about 1/8" to the fret board height and add shims accordingly.
Am I nuts? I think having about 5/8" string clearance would allow for a pickup.
Any thoughts on this? I could try to find an expresso machine to do the steam thing.
I just hate to see this ax go unused.

Stevebol · #2 10-12-2011, 05:24 PM

Help!! I know this isn't a lutherie forum but I'm getting ready to glue this neck back on. There is a gap between the face of the dovetail on the neck and where it meets the body. Maybe 1/32". Should there be a pocket there? I don't know. I've seen someone reset a neck without putting glue there because there's no wood-to wood contact.
If I can't get an answer to this I'm going to shim the gap and use glue there. I'd hate to mess this up at this point.
Any ocassional luthiers around?

Doctor Jeff · #3 10-12-2011, 07:41 PM

I have never reset a neck, but typically shims are used. Here's a link with pics:

Neck Resets, Guitar Repair & Restoration By The Guitar Specialist, Inc.

Stevebol · #4 10-12-2011, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doctor Jeff

I have never reset a neck, but typically shims are used. Here's a link with pics:

Neck Resets, Guitar Repair & Restoration By The Guitar Specialist, Inc.

He doesn't glue the dovetail face on that one. When I looked into taking the neck off using steam people mentioned hitting the "pocket". That has to mean -no glue.
Thanks for the link Doc.

oldane · #5 10-13-2011, 02:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevebol

He doesn't glue the dovetail face on that one. When I looked into taking the neck off using steam people mentioned hitting the "pocket". That has to mean -no glue.
Thanks for the link Doc.

The normal procedure is to glue the dovetail with hide glue )which is water soluble and can be loosened with steam later on). There is, however, examples of guitars where the neck joint wasn't glued. Some of the (original) Strombergs were made that way. When the strings were removed, a karate chop at the right angle made the neck pop out.

Stevebol · #6 10-17-2011, 12:05 PM

I got the neck back on. I screwed up making the glue on the first try and had to do it again. The second time the glue came out perfect but I used a little too much. I think it will be OK though.
I buffed out the lacquer recoat on the top and I'll string it up tomorrow. This was a real learning experience because I had to add a 1/4" under the fingerboard and had to reshape everything in the dovetail/mortise. The expresso steamer and stew mac hose and needle worked very well.
I couldn't resist getting another Patrician that was on ebay for $60. It's a mess but the fingerboard is already 1/4" higher than the one I'm working on now.
After stringing it up I'll give Kent Armstrong a call to get a pickup.

Stevebol · #7 10-23-2011, 07:10 PM

Update;

Got the guitar back together and it sounds great. Very responsive. I made a pickguard out of walnut and cherry. Ordered a micro-humbucker with volume and tone controls from KA.
Now to decide whether to try and wire this myself or have someone else do it. Guitar Center (they've been good to me) said they would charge $35.