Guitar Neck Issue

[ehdwuld]

So on my New IYV strat style guitar
The neck is a bit chunky

It has the 42 mm nut and the 12 inch radius I like

I was going to order a cheap replacement off Amazon
But those are between $50-100 plush shipping

And I can just get a kit guitar for that
And then use the neck from the kit

While I would like a vine inlay and tilt back headstock, I just want something a bit less chunky

I could just take the neck off and reshape it

Wadda y'all think?

 

[hamerfan]

Yes that definitely possible. I did it several times. Do some measurement of you fave necks and compare them with the IYV. In my case it's not so much the thickness but the shoulders, which has to be shaven. I like C or soft V necks best. Also the taper has to be considered: my necks are only .1 inch thicker on the 12th fret compared to the first.

 

[ehdwuld]

Mmmm yeah didn't think about the taper

I think it is just a fat D shape

I th

I believe I can just flatten the back to bring it down . Basically making a Wizard like flat back on it
Then slope the shoulders a bit

It has a thick yellow poly over the whole neck that im not fond of either

I will probably leave that only on the fretboard

If I mess up , I can always swap the neck out

 

[jeremy]

you can definitely reshape a neck, just go slow. you probably dont need to take off much

 

[hamerfan]

Yes, I can leave the poly on the fret board. For the back I worked with rattle can nitro, truoil and even shellac. Shellac gives the woodiest feeling, just a bit smoothed out with 0000 steel wool and shined with some with some denim rags.

 

[ehdwuld]

I have a tin of tung oil from other projects

Two thin coats should do it
I think I can refinish the headstock and heel as well

Is there any way to tint the oil to kinda match?

 

[GuitarStv]

Shaping the back of a neck is easy, I've done it. Like Jeremy said, go slow and take off a little less than you think you need each time. If you're planning on getting a new neck anyway, there's really nothing to lose going this route. Worst case scenario you just end up getting a new neck anyway, best case you get exactly the feel of neck you wanted.

You can use dyes to tint tung oil, but it's going to be a lot of work (many, many test pieces) to get it to match perfectly. I've actually had pretty good luck rubbing in thin coats of tinted danish oil (to get very close to the colour I want) and then going over it with tung rather than trying to change the colour of the tung. Golden oak for yellowed finish, walnut for darker browns. Barely wet the rag, do long strokes, and it should blend in pretty easy. Give it a couple weeks to fully cure before putting another finish on top.

 

[ehdwuld]

Playing through the 2nd qtr of the game

Then measured again during the 3rd qtr

It's not as thick as I thought
Seems to be almost the same as my Squire strat and the Fesley

Way thicker than the Wizard II on my Rg2

I think it's just the D shape rather than the Modern C on the Squire and Fesley

I think I may be able to knock down the shoulders and be done with it

Or leave it as an example of the D for the Grandkids

 

[ehdwuld]

This guy

 

[jeremy]

most things are gonna be thicker than a wizard ii if thats what youre used to.

 

[ehdwuld]

most things are gonna be thicker than a wizard ii if thats what youre used to.

Yes I know just for reference

 

[marcello252]

I reshaped two necks, from D and C shape to a mild V (I use the thumb a lot for the E and A strings) , it's absolutely possible, just go slow and try acting smoothly along the entire length, otherwise you colud feel the change under your hand and it's not a pleasant feel in my experience.
First a mild file then abrasive paper with progressive finer grain, until you are satisfied, don't go over 400, I think it's not that useful and the finish can not penetrate well if the pores are too small and engulfed with sawdust

 

[GuitarDoc]

My vote also for reshaping it yourself. Just reducing the shoulders can make the neck feel way smaller/thinner. Leave the thickness in the center for a soft "V" shape, but take off all the finish then use TruOil, Tung, or boiled Linseed to finish it.