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1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:19 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
Just got this one in on my bench, a 1951 D18. It's in very good shape. I evaluated it and needs a simple neck reset. I'm lucky this time. It's not been touched, so I'm not undoing a bad repair.
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Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 4:46 pm
by ruby@magpage.com
Well done. Great when it is textbook with no problems

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 5:01 pm
by tippie53
how weird I just got a 51 in too
nice post

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:16 am
by Danl8
Very nice, Diane. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the reset!

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 8:18 am
by ruby@magpage.com
ignore

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 2:21 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
It's still too damp to glue, but I've taken off wood and scribe sanded as needed. It has a clearance of ~ 3/32" above the saddle slot now. I went ahead and filled the holes I made for the steam needle, installed the new fret, cleaned up all of the frets and cleaned 70 years worth of spooge off of the fretboard and bridge. I think the dovetail and neck block should be dry enough to glue tomorrow. I also took care of some sharp frets, from fb shrinkage.

My client is a professional bluegrass musician, so he needs this guitar back as soon as possible. This is his preferred guitar.
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Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 5:24 pm
by ruby@magpage.com
iane

Is there a reason to fill the holes if they are under a fret?

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Tue Dec 08, 2020 11:25 am
by Diane Kauffmds
I guess not, except it's the right thing to do. If the hole isn't dead center, you have drill runout, or your needle is thick, sometimes you can barely see a hole from an angle.

I fill all of them, regardless. It doesn't take long to fill them.

Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2020 2:23 pm
by Diane Kauffmds
I cleaned, oiled, and tightened up the old Kluson tuners. I've set the neck. I'll stay clamped until Saturday.
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Re: 1951 Martin D18 neck reset

Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2020 9:16 am
by Diane Kauffmds
All done!

My client is over the moon happy. He said that he was amazed that the neck fits to the body exactly like Martin made it. He will only allow me to touch his guitars from here on out.

I have to thank John Hall for this. He kindly spent a week with me a few years ago, teaching me all manner of luthier things, inc repairs/neck resets.

My client is a professional player. This guitar is his main guitar, and he was afraid to get the neck reset. He went over his guitar like a monkey looking for ticks! Haha.