Neck on or off when finishing

The Achilles' Heel of Luthiery
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watergunn
Posts: 277
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:20 am
Location: Cumming, GA

Neck on or off when finishing

Post by watergunn »

Hi guys.

I was just curious how many of you do your finish with the neck already attached to the guitar?

I have built 15 so far and have always finished them as two separate pieces.

I have a friend that does it with it glued in.

Just wondering how others were doing this.

Are there particular reasons for doing it either way?

Thanks

Rick Gunn
tippie53
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Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by tippie53 »

I do it off. That way when the day comes you need a reset you won't have a lot of finish damage
John Hall
Blues Creek Guitars Inc
Authorized CF Martin Repair Center
president of Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans
http://www.bluescreekguitars.com
watergunn
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Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:20 am
Location: Cumming, GA

Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by watergunn »

That makes sense.

Never thought the future when doing one.

Rick Gunn
johnnparchem
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Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by johnnparchem »

I like the neck off. Avoiding spraying into s corner is a plus. On my Spanish heel classical the rim to neck joint is a pain to French polish.
watergunn
Posts: 277
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Location: Cumming, GA

Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by watergunn »

Thanks John.
JLT
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Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by JLT »

I do it off, as well. Since I finish the necks and peg heads with Tru-Oil, no matter what I'm finishing the bodies with, it seems to make sense to me. I also use bolt-on necks, so I can contrive some sort of "dummy neck" and "dummy body" (actually just a long eye-bolt) to attach to the real pieces so that I can handle them as they're being finished.
Ben-Had
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Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by Ben-Had »

Off.
Tim Benware
ruby@magpage.com
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Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by ruby@magpage.com »

I do them separately. My daughter owns a repair shop and comments how much easier it is to re-set a Martin neck than other brands because they are finished separately, then joined.

I made these 2 handles out of a 2X4 and a bolt and nut for the body handle, and a bolt for the neck handle with a hole for hanging from a string. I don't spray finish and I find with these handles I can put a coat of finish on the entire body at once.
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Ed M
watergunn
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Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2011 10:20 am
Location: Cumming, GA

Re: Neck on or off when finishing

Post by watergunn »

Thanks.

I like the handles.
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