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straighten a maple guitar neck?
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Author:  bolix [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 7:02 am ]
Post subject:  straighten a maple guitar neck?
Hallo to everyone.
After a long time being busy with my daily (boring) job, I’m back to the wonderful, beloved world of luthery.
I have in my hands a wonderful, almost mint, 76 sunburst fender starcaster. She has a problem: the neck is straight from nut to 15-17th fret, than has a little curve upward that makes last frets buzz and almost unplayable.

I wanted to ask an advice on what to do with this neck… Did anyone ever try to straighten a maple neck?

I have a nice straight edge bar, my silicon blanket I use for bending acoustic guitar sides.. but I’m a little worried heat will damage finish!

I was thinking about remove last frets, sand neck straight, refret and refinish.. but I like more, if it can be done, solution number one!

Can’t wait to read your opinions!

Thanks and have a nice day!
Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
Have you tried adjusting the truss rod?
Author:  bolix [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
Of course i did! The problem is on last 6-7 frets only...
Author:  Rodger Knox [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 1:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
OK, you've tried adjusting the rod. Did that help any? With that style truss rod, you may need to straighten the neck using a clamp and blocks, then tighten the truss rod. These rods are strong enough to hold the neck straight, but not always strong enough to straighten an already bowed neck.

If that doesn't work, pulling frets & planing the board would be the next best choice.
Author:  TAJ [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
I just straightened one that was similar, not quite, mine was bent starting at the 13-14th fret or so. I heated it at the bend area, slowly clamped it a bit past being straight (while under heat), disengaged the truss rod at that bent position, applied medium heat for a few more hours ("high-warm", not enough to affect the finish) and left it for 2 days clamped. I applied heat again every 12 hrs or so for 30 minutes to [theoretically] help it relax in the new position.

Worked perfectly. When I unclamped it, it was straight as an arrow without the truss engaged. When under string tension the truss rod is only needed a little. Happy neck, happy me. YMMV. :-)

I had to do some minor fret levelling afterwards, as the frets had been tweaked to work with the bent neck at some point.

..Todd
Author:  nyazzip [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
TAJ, may i ask was that considered a good quality guitar, or a junker? just curious
Author:  TAJ [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
It was NOT an heirloom, that's for sure. I wouldn't tackle a valuable guitar with that process at my level of experience. It was not a junker either though. It was a custom made guitar about $600-700-ish.

Having said that, I wouldn't be afraid to tackle a nearly unplayable mid-70's Starcaster with that process. But that's me. Gentle is the key. Gentle heat, gentle bending. Watching carefully.

And slow, gentle, heated, unclamping, I might add.

..Todd
Author:  TAJ [ Tue Oct 08, 2013 10:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
Something just occurred to me (confirmed with a Google Image search). There were a few different Starcasters; electrics, archtops (or semi-hollow, not sure which) and even acoustics.

I had assumed electric, solid body with removable neck. If it was one of the others, I would get a luthier's advice before doing anything.

..Todd
Author:  bolix [ Wed Oct 09, 2013 4:14 am ]
Post subject:  Re: straighten a maple guitar neck?
thanks for all your answers.

i'll try the gently heating way... i'll try to be calm and patient as much as i can ;)

thank you
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