Cracked neck joint...I think?

[mmshields8]

I was practicing and when I bent a note I heard something by the neck joint make a crack noise and the rest of the strings rattled a bit. It was on my Nashville tele so it has a bolt on neck. I looked everywhere where the neck and body meet and up and down the neck but I can't see anything that looked like a crack or split in the wood. For a while it would make the noise again if I lightly pushed the headstock in either direction but that stopped a while ago.

Tomorrow while I'm out I'm going to buy a new set of strings so I can take the current ones off and unscrew the neck joint to see if the damage is somewhere in there. Before I do that do any of you guys have any idea what it could've been or if what I plan on doing will do anything? Ever happened to anyone else with a bolt on neck?

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

As it's a Tele, it could well just be the neck shifting in the pocket. Screws you thought we're fully tightened might have not have been sufficiently tight to prevent shifting when bent the string. It's worth taking the neck off to be sure, but I doubt you'll find anything amiss.

 

[mmshields8]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

Thats good to hear, honestly had no idea what I was up against. For some reason I'm a little worried about finding a crack at the bottom of the neck in the joint and having issues getting it back in though.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

Take a look at how closely the two E strings run parallel to the edges of the fingerboard.

Hopefully, string tension has pulled the neck of your guitar into better alignment than before. If it has not, you may need to slacken off the neck screws and insert a shim along the longer edge of the neck pocket.

 

[mmshields8]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

They both run completely parallel with the edges but I did notice that the low E was a little closer to the edge than the high E

 

[LReese]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

One tip from one of the repairmen on TGP was to was to slightly loosen the neck bolts while under string tension (I'd loosen the strings a bit 1st), then retighten. Seats the neck tightly against the body.

If you do that, do it at your own risk - I've had no trouble with the tip other than some re-setting up.

 

[mmshields8]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

That sounds a little ballsy...do I loosen them all the way or just a couple turns?

 

[LReese]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

Slightly loosen - as in 1/4 turn max. But I think this has already been done (As Funkfingers said above), might want to see you you can tweak alignment a bit and tighten down the neck bolts a little. If it tightens down, you are fine.

I'd only take the neck off at your next regular change interval if you're really worried.


I actually had the crack sound on one of mine a couple of weeks ago - no worries, just needed re-setting up as it was a significant shift.

If you're really worried about it, have a repairman look at it. I'm just an average joe with no street cred.

 

[J E C]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

Just barely loosen the screws, only enough to scoot/twist the neck over a bit with medium light hand pressure. Half a turn might do it. Then tighten them down. You could loosen the strings a bit as well if you like. Wouldn't hurt.

 

[mmshields8]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

I loosened the strings about one turn for each machine just to keep some uniform to it, gave them screws 2 quarter turns each and when I tightened everything back up I didn't hear any cracking noise again so I guess thats a good thing if I read everything right. So the neck just aligned itself in a better position, this one of those "the more you know moments for me" with the little star & rainbow and everything, ha

 

[Bludave]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

It could just be the finish checked. I wouldn't worry too much about it. As Chris said pulling the neck off is not a bad idea

 

[jmh151]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

I've had that happen, seems like the neck shifted, that's all. Loosen the neck then tighten it down

 

[scottish]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

If the neck shifted then your intonation will be off. Check it out (assuming you knew it was good before) and if its still good then its probably just some random noise. Could be finish checking or something completely random.

 

[appar111]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

I loosened the strings about one turn for each machine just to keep some uniform to it, gave them screws 2 quarter turns each and when I tightened everything back up I didn't hear any cracking noise again so I guess thats a good thing if I read everything right. So the neck just aligned itself in a better position, this one of those "the more you know moments for me" with the little star & rainbow and everything, ha

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJLyZFG-cpw

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Cracked neck joint...I think?

I had this happen with "The Strat HM" model fresh from the factory, back in the day. I think it's a service Fender provides to give young guitarists experience fixing their guitar.

Mine required resetting the neck. Mine also had a bad fret job (separate issue but coincident, from the factory). Had to have the frets worked on and the guitar set up again.