jake_xms3_punk
New member
i have a neck that is way too fat for me, can i just wrap sand paper round the back of the neck and just sand it down? or is there more to it then that?
changing a neck profile
- Thread starter jake_xms3_punk
- Start date
SabbathFan0220
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
Is the neck finished?
Is the neck finished?
crusty philtrum
Vintageologist
Re: changing a neck profile
You'd need to know how deep the truss-rod route is. One way to do that is drill a tiny hole in theback of the neck, right on the centre-line at the point wher the rod would be closest to the back. Use a piece of wire to measure the depth, than you can get an idea of how much wood you can safely remove without having the rod burst out through the back. (obviously fill the tiny hole once the measurement has been made, or at least before the neck goes back into service).
You'd need to know how deep the truss-rod route is. One way to do that is drill a tiny hole in theback of the neck, right on the centre-line at the point wher the rod would be closest to the back. Use a piece of wire to measure the depth, than you can get an idea of how much wood you can safely remove without having the rod burst out through the back. (obviously fill the tiny hole once the measurement has been made, or at least before the neck goes back into service).
Re: changing a neck profile
I would definitely NOT drill a hole through the back of my neck to see where the truss rod is.
Use a Magnet, it should be attracted to the truss rod, so you can actually tell how much resistance is there.
The truss rod will be right up against the underside of the fretboard anyways, unless you cut the neck to about .800, pretty thin, you're pretty safe.
I would definitely NOT drill a hole through the back of my neck to see where the truss rod is.
Use a Magnet, it should be attracted to the truss rod, so you can actually tell how much resistance is there.
The truss rod will be right up against the underside of the fretboard anyways, unless you cut the neck to about .800, pretty thin, you're pretty safe.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
ye i dont want to drill a hole in my neck. i want to take it from say a 50s neck to a 60s slim neck
ye i dont want to drill a hole in my neck. i want to take it from say a 50s neck to a 60s slim neck
blueman335
Mojo's Minions
Re: changing a neck profile
You're not planning on ever reselling that guitar are you, as it will make a drop in desirability and market value.
You're not planning on ever reselling that guitar are you, as it will make a drop in desirability and market value.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
no im not planning on selling it. i like the guitar, i've just settled on the neck for years, now i have way more comfy necks and its a shame because i dont play this as much as i'd like to.
no im not planning on selling it. i like the guitar, i've just settled on the neck for years, now i have way more comfy necks and its a shame because i dont play this as much as i'd like to.
beandip
Frito's Better Half
Re: changing a neck profile
You might as well, because shaving the neck yourself is so DIY task. Not only do you have to worry about where the truss rod is, but it's a non-reversible modification. Slip up just a tad, and you're done for.
Keep in mind, you also have to worry about the stability of that particular neck. Are you in the financial position to replace said guitar if things go too far? Literally (and yes, I mean it) if you go just a hair too thin, you can completely disrupt the stability of that piece of wood, and congrats: You know own some fancy firewood.
You might as well, because shaving the neck yourself is so DIY task. Not only do you have to worry about where the truss rod is, but it's a non-reversible modification. Slip up just a tad, and you're done for.
Keep in mind, you also have to worry about the stability of that particular neck. Are you in the financial position to replace said guitar if things go too far? Literally (and yes, I mean it) if you go just a hair too thin, you can completely disrupt the stability of that piece of wood, and congrats: You know own some fancy firewood.
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: changing a neck profile
"The neck of this guitar isn't as nice as some of my others. Should I destroy the instrument?"
"The neck of this guitar isn't as nice as some of my others. Should I destroy the instrument?"
T
TheProphet
Guest
Re: changing a neck profile
If there was a guitar that I was very attached to tonewise and didn't care about the resale value, I'd certainly have the neck reshaped ... by a professional luthier of course.
People thought Joe Holmes was nuts for modifying his vintage strats, but if it works for you then why not?
As long as he goes to a professional I see nothing wrong. He likes the way the guitar sounds, but not the way it plays. Plenty of pro's have had it done and as long as it's done by a professional, it won't destroy anything but the resale value.
If there was a guitar that I was very attached to tonewise and didn't care about the resale value, I'd certainly have the neck reshaped ... by a professional luthier of course.
People thought Joe Holmes was nuts for modifying his vintage strats, but if it works for you then why not?
Empty Pockets
BadHairDayologist
Re: changing a neck profile
^ totally true. i was more referring to the 'just wrap it in sandpaper' approach.
it would kinda feel cool to sand through a neck until the truss rod exploded out of it tho.
^ totally true. i was more referring to the 'just wrap it in sandpaper' approach.
it would kinda feel cool to sand through a neck until the truss rod exploded out of it tho.
Guitar-Sam
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
I've done several strats using that method.Do a little at a time and play it.Your better off using ligther grits and more elbow grease than taking say 40 grit to it.
My 74' strat had a thick poly finish on it and I ended up sanding till the wood just popped through the finish and that was perfect didn't evan need to remove wood.Hence what I mean by sand and keep trying it you may not need to remove much.
My squier strat I actually block sanded the fingerboard edges to narrow the neck as I'm a big fan of 1 5/8 vintage strat necks.I also thinned the back of the neck a bit.
Unless you get totally crazy I doubt you will weaken the neck.
I've done several strats using that method.Do a little at a time and play it.Your better off using ligther grits and more elbow grease than taking say 40 grit to it.
My 74' strat had a thick poly finish on it and I ended up sanding till the wood just popped through the finish and that was perfect didn't evan need to remove wood.Hence what I mean by sand and keep trying it you may not need to remove much.
My squier strat I actually block sanded the fingerboard edges to narrow the neck as I'm a big fan of 1 5/8 vintage strat necks.I also thinned the back of the neck a bit.
Unless you get totally crazy I doubt you will weaken the neck.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: changing a neck profile
Left field option: try practicing for a few weeks without letting your thumb touch the back of the neck - even for bar chords. See if you feel the same way after you get the hang of that.
Left field option: try practicing for a few weeks without letting your thumb touch the back of the neck - even for bar chords. See if you feel the same way after you get the hang of that.
Re: changing a neck profile
I can tell you from years of teaching experience that you shouldn't do that.
Are you going to brace the guitar against your body so that you don't have to use your thumb? might as well bend the neck in tune while you're at it.
The thing is, people SHAVE their necks, Zakk wylde is notorious for doing it.
Take some light grit and work towards what you want, or use a burnishing blade and shave the neck down. It'll take some time, but who cares, get an instrument you want. Like Beandip said, be prepared to pay for the instrument though, don't go too thin with it.
I can tell you from years of teaching experience that you shouldn't do that.
Are you going to brace the guitar against your body so that you don't have to use your thumb? might as well bend the neck in tune while you're at it.
The thing is, people SHAVE their necks, Zakk wylde is notorious for doing it.
Take some light grit and work towards what you want, or use a burnishing blade and shave the neck down. It'll take some time, but who cares, get an instrument you want. Like Beandip said, be prepared to pay for the instrument though, don't go too thin with it.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
so what would you do? lock it away and never play it again? or just sell it? im not going to destroy it! i just want a guitar that plays as well as it sounds.
beandip
Frito's Better Half
Re: changing a neck profile
Sell it and replace with a similar instrument with a neck profile I enjoy, or personally:
As long as the neck profile isn't causing pain or discomfort, and it's just "different and I don't like it", I would learn to love the variety. I have guitars with necks ranging from a cramped 1 5/8s to awesome 1.78, different scale lengths, fretwire, and back profiles. And I love 'em all. I might have a favorite or two, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying the others and loving them for what they are. Something out of the norm.
Sell it and replace with a similar instrument with a neck profile I enjoy, or personally:
As long as the neck profile isn't causing pain or discomfort, and it's just "different and I don't like it", I would learn to love the variety. I have guitars with necks ranging from a cramped 1 5/8s to awesome 1.78, different scale lengths, fretwire, and back profiles. And I love 'em all. I might have a favorite or two, but that doesn't keep me from enjoying the others and loving them for what they are. Something out of the norm.
Re: changing a neck profile
I would defenetely not sand the neck down. That would also require sanding into the heel itself to phase everything in nicely. It would seem to me that you'd have to sand down an awful lot off the neck to acquire a smaller diameter neck alltogether. Like someone said it is non reversable.
I would defenetely not sand the neck down. That would also require sanding into the heel itself to phase everything in nicely. It would seem to me that you'd have to sand down an awful lot off the neck to acquire a smaller diameter neck alltogether. Like someone said it is non reversable.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: changing a neck profile
OMG - you are all a bunch of pussies.
Is this a player or an investment? And don't be a pud and say both! If you bought it to make money by selling it someday put it away - don't touch it, and get another guitar.
Now - there is sanding a neck, and then there is changing the shape. Which of these do you really want to do? They are two different things. Warmoth has a nice chart of neck shapes. Do you even know what neck shape you prefer? Do you even care?
Short answer: Yes - sand away. I would generally recommend go slow and be conservative. I doubt you'll be able to sand it to a specific shape on your own, but you can certainly make it thinner.
OMG - you are all a bunch of pussies.
Is this a player or an investment? And don't be a pud and say both! If you bought it to make money by selling it someday put it away - don't touch it, and get another guitar.
Now - there is sanding a neck, and then there is changing the shape. Which of these do you really want to do? They are two different things. Warmoth has a nice chart of neck shapes. Do you even know what neck shape you prefer? Do you even care?
Short answer: Yes - sand away. I would generally recommend go slow and be conservative. I doubt you'll be able to sand it to a specific shape on your own, but you can certainly make it thinner.
jake_xms3_punk
New member
Re: changing a neck profile
i buy guitars to play, not to sell. i don't want to change the actual shape of the neck, just make it a bit thinner
i buy guitars to play, not to sell. i don't want to change the actual shape of the neck, just make it a bit thinner
