Reshaping a neck...
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dystrust
Well-known member
Re: Reshaping a neck...
Not sure that it's possible, and very difficult to do if it is possible. Generally speaking moving from more shoulder to less isn't much of an issue, but going the other way may not even be possible depending on current neck size, desired final thickness, depth of the truss rod channel, etc. Since a lot of shoulder was removed to make your V shape, there may not be enough thickness left to get to a C without the remaining neck material being too thin.
OTOH I have a Spector Rebop with a very large C/D neck that i want to have re-shaped to a soft V. That isn't nearly as difficult as it only involves reducing some of the shoulder, rather than re-shaping the neck itself.
Not sure that it's possible, and very difficult to do if it is possible. Generally speaking moving from more shoulder to less isn't much of an issue, but going the other way may not even be possible depending on current neck size, desired final thickness, depth of the truss rod channel, etc. Since a lot of shoulder was removed to make your V shape, there may not be enough thickness left to get to a C without the remaining neck material being too thin.
OTOH I have a Spector Rebop with a very large C/D neck that i want to have re-shaped to a soft V. That isn't nearly as difficult as it only involves reducing some of the shoulder, rather than re-shaping the neck itself.
Ayrton
New member
Re: Reshaping a neck...
Generally, you can’t reduce the thickness by much due to the truss rod. However, You can reshape the profile by working the “shoulders”. The bad news is, a V shape neck already has all the material removed from the shoulders, so the best you could do is soften the V a small amount.
May be worth just getting a new neck and selling the old.
Generally, you can’t reduce the thickness by much due to the truss rod. However, You can reshape the profile by working the “shoulders”. The bad news is, a V shape neck already has all the material removed from the shoulders, so the best you could do is soften the V a small amount.
May be worth just getting a new neck and selling the old.
solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Reshaping a neck...
I’ve spent a bunch of time sanding a bunch of necks. It doesn’t take a whole lot of sanding to make a big difference in feel.
If it were mine, I would use an extremely sharp pocket knife held perpendicular to the neck to remove the finish. Either resharpen the knife periodically or have several. Then, I’d use a coarse enough grit paper to knock some or the edge off the V. Rather than worrying about C or V, I’d sand a little, feel it, sand some more, then repeat until I liked how it felt.
Yeah, if you go too far, you’ll ruin it, but I bet you can wind up with something that leaves the neck solid but feels way more comfortable. If it’s not something you’re reselling, I also wouldn’t worry about it being “perfect.” SRV and EVH both have famously asymmetrical necks, and I bet if you measure the necks both of those carves are based on, there’s a lot of inconsistency or the thickness.
I’ve spent a bunch of time sanding a bunch of necks. It doesn’t take a whole lot of sanding to make a big difference in feel.
If it were mine, I would use an extremely sharp pocket knife held perpendicular to the neck to remove the finish. Either resharpen the knife periodically or have several. Then, I’d use a coarse enough grit paper to knock some or the edge off the V. Rather than worrying about C or V, I’d sand a little, feel it, sand some more, then repeat until I liked how it felt.
Yeah, if you go too far, you’ll ruin it, but I bet you can wind up with something that leaves the neck solid but feels way more comfortable. If it’s not something you’re reselling, I also wouldn’t worry about it being “perfect.” SRV and EVH both have famously asymmetrical necks, and I bet if you measure the necks both of those carves are based on, there’s a lot of inconsistency or the thickness.
Re: Reshaping a neck...
I've reshaped a bunch of necks, usually creating a "V" or asymmetrical "V", not the other way around like you want to do.
Yes, you CAN do it. But it really depends on how much wood is there and how thin you want to end up. I definitely would NOT do as GuitarStv suggests...to use sandpaper to do it...wow, that would be a lot of work, you'd go through a lot of sandpaper, and it would be quite uncomfortable as that much sanding creates a lot of heat transmitted through the paper to your hand (been there, done that). Start by using a rasp or file and finish by scraping (as suggested by JB_From_Hell, and especially doing a little at a time and feeling as you go) and then sandpaper going from 150 to 320 grit. Complete it by using your desired finish (oil, lacquer, poly, etc.).
I've reshaped a bunch of necks, usually creating a "V" or asymmetrical "V", not the other way around like you want to do.
Yes, you CAN do it. But it really depends on how much wood is there and how thin you want to end up. I definitely would NOT do as GuitarStv suggests...to use sandpaper to do it...wow, that would be a lot of work, you'd go through a lot of sandpaper, and it would be quite uncomfortable as that much sanding creates a lot of heat transmitted through the paper to your hand (been there, done that). Start by using a rasp or file and finish by scraping (as suggested by JB_From_Hell, and especially doing a little at a time and feeling as you go) and then sandpaper going from 150 to 320 grit. Complete it by using your desired finish (oil, lacquer, poly, etc.).
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: Reshaping a neck...
This is my experience as well. There's remarkably little difference between neck shapes, so the actual reshaping part is easier than you would expect (it doesn't take much sanding) . . . it's reshaping it exactly the way you want that can be time consuming. Sand a bit (with medium high grit paper), grab the neck you just sanded, grab a neck you like for comparison, rinse/repeat. And then do yourself a favour and finish the neck in Danish oil. (This is assuming you've already removed the finish.)
Disclaimer - I'm not a luthier, nor am I re-shaping thousands of guitar necks at a time. If it takes me six to ten hours to do it without screwing up, that's time well spent to me. (You can do this while watching TV on your couch - just sand into a big cardboard box or something to catch most of the dust.)
This is my experience as well. There's remarkably little difference between neck shapes, so the actual reshaping part is easier than you would expect (it doesn't take much sanding) . . . it's reshaping it exactly the way you want that can be time consuming. Sand a bit (with medium high grit paper), grab the neck you just sanded, grab a neck you like for comparison, rinse/repeat. And then do yourself a favour and finish the neck in Danish oil. (This is assuming you've already removed the finish.)
Disclaimer - I'm not a luthier, nor am I re-shaping thousands of guitar necks at a time. If it takes me six to ten hours to do it without screwing up, that's time well spent to me. (You can do this while watching TV on your couch - just sand into a big cardboard box or something to catch most of the dust.)
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Re: Reshaping a neck...
That Japanese file is awesome! I used a rasp and files. Not as fun. I did a Mighty Mite strat neck, and have decal'd and finished it with antique clear lacquer. Just need tuners and a body to bolt it up to.
That Japanese file is awesome! I used a rasp and files. Not as fun. I did a Mighty Mite strat neck, and have decal'd and finished it with antique clear lacquer. Just need tuners and a body to bolt it up to.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: Reshaping a neck...
It’s not hard, but you need to know how far into the neck the truss rod goes.
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It’s not hard, but you need to know how far into the neck the truss rod goes.
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DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: Reshaping a neck...
The way I know if I like a guitar or bass is how the neck feels in my hands. It doesn’t take much to make the neck uncomfortable for me.
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The way I know if I like a guitar or bass is how the neck feels in my hands. It doesn’t take much to make the neck uncomfortable for me.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
