Can this neck be saved? DONE

Even if it ain't broke you can still fix it.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? Another question John

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Thanks John
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? Another question John

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Well, the neck reset from hell is done. For better or worse, this is how I did it.

I installed (2) 1/4" dowels, close to the fingerboard, on each side of the truss rod. I chalked them, so by installing the dovetail to the point where the dowels hit the top, I was able to mark where they hit.

I took a measurement of distance from the fretboard to the center of each dowel, and using that measurement, marked where to drill the holes to receive the dowels, in the bottom of the dovetail mortise. I drilled the holes with a 1/4" bit.

I decided that as long as the dowels were glued on 3 sides, I could simply slide them into place. Using a 1/4" router bit, I routed slots for the dowels to slide into the drilled holes. I applied glue to everything, and set the neck.
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Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

The guitar is done. I've had it strung for several days now.
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Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

Here's the finished neck. As you know, I totally replaced the heel.
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Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Stray Feathers
Posts: 677
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2013 11:39 pm
Location: Ladysmith, BC

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by Stray Feathers »

That's a remarkable recovery! After all your trouble, you might wonder if you should leave some record of what you did for the next luthier who is asked to work on the guitar.
BEJ
Posts: 171
Joined: Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:38 am
Location: Seattle

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by BEJ »

Some real nice work there, it's amazing on how well you hid the drywall screw.
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

For the record, I totally replaced the heel, making a dovetail. I removed the drywall screw, cut the heel off, and made a whole new stacked heel. I cut a mortise in the body and set the neck. I also used 2 dowel rods on either side of the truss rod, because I couldn't put the dovetail in that area.

So, there are no screws or bolts now.
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Last edited by Diane Kauffmds on Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
Diane Kauffmds
Posts: 3246
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2014 8:13 pm

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by Diane Kauffmds »

I also had to make a new bridge. The action had gotten so bad that someone had chopped the front of the existing bridge away. The front of the bridge was less than 1/4" thick.
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Diane Kauffmann
Country Roads Guitars
countryroadsguitars@gmail.com
krrtlr1
Posts: 61
Joined: Mon Aug 01, 2022 7:39 am

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by krrtlr1 »

Beautiful work Diane!
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
TEETERFAN
Posts: 342
Joined: Fri Sep 07, 2018 12:43 pm
Location: Kansas City, MO

Re: Can this neck be saved? DONE

Post by TEETERFAN »

Excellent work. The instrument has been given a new lease on life!
Kevin Doty
Kansas City
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