Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got a Taylor Baby coming my way to have the action lowered. Of course I'll have to see it before I figure out what it needs, but I'm wondering about what is needed to reset the neck. Is the neck held on with just those two drywall screws, or is there some glue in there? Anyone have any experience with this?
Thanks,
BruceH

Depends, Early ones had two screws right through the fingerboard and they showed black phillips heads. I had one briefly, exchanging it for a 410 Sapele / Sitka.

So, do you know if your neck was glued and screwed, or just screwed?

No, we just took a look and sent it back to Houston Guitar Center. I doubt the thing has glue.

The Baby Taylor neck joint has no glue...I had to replace a body once, and the joint is simple as dirt...2 #6 drywall screws.

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

It should be easy if I need to reset the neck. Thanks.
BruceH

Bruce, I just did the same job for a friend. Backed out the screws, the neck comes loose (with gentle prodding--it's a very good fit), and took out the shim under the neck. I added an extra little shim to the rear of the cavity (to slightly change the angle), replaced the original factory shim, put the neck back in place with the two screws, and BAM it was done.

All setups should go so smoothly!

Steve

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Hi Bruce,

     I do a lot of these. The above advise is all good. One
recommendation I have is to put your new shim UNDER the factory
shim. That way you're not confused by the already existing gap at
the soundhole end of the neck cavity and you get a better sense of
the correct amount of shim necessary to move the Baby (or Big Baby)
neck. It doesn't take much. Also, before shimming the neck be sure
the mounting screws are very tight. It is not uncommon that
tightening the screws alone will remove most, if not all, of the neck
angle problem.

Really, are they sheetrock screws?Dickey38418.4151388889

Yup, sheetrock screws - and the neck joint works great for what the
instrument is meant to be. If you are travelling between significantly
different climates it's a breeze to keep the Babys playable with just a
screwdriver and truss rod wrench. And you only need to slack the
strings to shim the neck - no need to remove them. It's really user
friendly.

Anyone have a picture of this joint? I'm having trouble picturing what a neck joint that is held together by drywall screws looks like.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

It is more like an electric, but instead of screws come in from the body, Taylor screws through the fretboard and into the neck cavity for retention. Crazy but true, and it looks okay on a cheaper guitar.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, guys. This job will be a freebie for a starving college kid, so its good to know that it won't be a long and involved process.
BruceH