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Re: Washburn N4 redo
Wow, almost 10 years to the day!
Being the glutton for punishment I am, I pulled out this N4 to try and repair it.
Repair you say?
This is how this guitar has resided in the case for a decade. The neck had too much relief and the rod was maxed out. I tried clamping, steaming and washers to no avail. The decision was made to remove the board and see what the problem was.
I steamed off the board with no problems but trying to get the rod out, the neck separated at the scarf joint. I guess the steam compromised the joint and it failed. I wasn't sure what the problem was or how to correct it, so it sat.
Until yesterday.
Trying line up everything to get a perfect glue up was a challenge and I got real close. I used the rod, and some pins to line everything up.
Very close, but nothing I can't correct with a little sanding.
After much reading, measuring and consulting it was determined that it was just a bum neck. Wood had a mind of its own and this one wanted to upbow.
I cleaned out the truss rod channel and made a new filler strip. I flooded the channel with thin CA glue to harden the wood. My thinking is this will prevent the wood from compressing under rod tension and make the neck more stable.
Of course, the neck is almost 30 years old, so it won't be moving anymore.
Waxed the rod, slathered in the Titebond and clamp, clamp, clamp
Tomorrow I will glue on the new fretboard and that should correct the problem.
Wow, almost 10 years to the day!
Being the glutton for punishment I am, I pulled out this N4 to try and repair it.
Repair you say?
This is how this guitar has resided in the case for a decade. The neck had too much relief and the rod was maxed out. I tried clamping, steaming and washers to no avail. The decision was made to remove the board and see what the problem was.
I steamed off the board with no problems but trying to get the rod out, the neck separated at the scarf joint. I guess the steam compromised the joint and it failed. I wasn't sure what the problem was or how to correct it, so it sat.
Until yesterday.
Trying line up everything to get a perfect glue up was a challenge and I got real close. I used the rod, and some pins to line everything up.
Very close, but nothing I can't correct with a little sanding.
After much reading, measuring and consulting it was determined that it was just a bum neck. Wood had a mind of its own and this one wanted to upbow.
I cleaned out the truss rod channel and made a new filler strip. I flooded the channel with thin CA glue to harden the wood. My thinking is this will prevent the wood from compressing under rod tension and make the neck more stable.
Of course, the neck is almost 30 years old, so it won't be moving anymore.
Waxed the rod, slathered in the Titebond and clamp, clamp, clamp
Tomorrow I will glue on the new fretboard and that should correct the problem.
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