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Neighbor brought this Martin Shenandoah over for me to look at.
He's had it hanging on the wall since it became unplayable.
At first glance from the side, it looked like the neck might need to be reset.
Then I looked down the neck......


I've never seen a neck so twisted.
It has gone so wonky that it has pulled away from the fret board:


Note the gap between the fretboard and neck.

I've seen folks heat & twist necks back into shape - but I've also seen reports that the necks just move back. Which is what I think it would do.

I have seen Barry Daniel's excellent post on MIMF where he heated/twisted a neck back into shape then machined it for CF reinforcing strips. I like this idea, as at least there is something keeping the neck straight, preventing it from just returning to the twisted state.

Or there is just replacing the neck.

This isn't a very valuable guitar, and it's had a rough life. Guy would just like it playable for campfires and such, and it does have some sentimental value to him. It's only worth fixing as a favor, because I'm pretty sure a realistic cost for the repair is more than the guitar is worth.

Opinions?

I think that's what ya might call reaction wood. I could make a new neck faster and cheaper then trying to fix that and then you would know it's not going to twist back. I can't even think of a way to fix that 'on the cheap.' Does that twist extend the full length?

I'm with you. I have a spare semifinished neck from a kit I could drop in with way less muss and fuss.

Twist starts around the fifth fret or so. All the twist is from there up to the headstock.

That twist is almost as bad as the J-45 that I repaired in the MIMF thread you referenced.

https://www.mimf.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=5637&hilit=J+45+twisted+neck

I believe it was caused by someone over-cranking the truss rod to try to "reset the neck". It was a LOT of work to repair it. Along with the carbon rods, I also replaced the single action truss rod with a double action that would not apply compressive forces on the neck. Jeff's advice is on the money in regard to the level of work being less for a new neck.

I have used a simple heat-set in the past to straighten twisted necks, but they weren't this severe. Also, the success of a heat-set is totally dependent on the quality of the joint between the neck and fretboard. The fact that your fretboard is already comprised, there is no way a heat-set will work unless you take off the fretboard and redo the joint. Heat-sets are also known to be a temporary repair that may not last.

I've seen at times too seconds on necks that popup once in a while. That might be something to consider and probably would not be too fussy fitting it. Something to help keep cost down anyway.

So Chuck, what did you decide to do?

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Take it apart and replace the neck.

Took the fret board off first since it was already coming loose.
The neck dovetail steamed out like it should. These Shenandoah's have an extra tenon on the end but it came loose as well.



I test fit a neck from a Martin kit I'm working on. Looks like it will work fine.


Now I've got a couple leftover parts from other kits, but I want to order neck/fretboard/truss rod from Guitar Maker's connection at Martin.
Their parts have been inexpensive and I get a discount, too. But I got a notice that they were closed, along with factory tours, etc. I was hoping phone sales would still be available, but I got an answering machine on my first try. Need to call back and leave a message this time.

Good call. I've worked on several twisted necks in my career, couple of them as bad as your job. Heat setting will work, but it doesn't hold. I had a guy from Oklahoma with a nice looking Les Paul with a twisted neck. I fixed it 3 times, and it would twist again within a year. The last time I fixed it I told him to sell it fast..... out of state. He sold it to some outfit in Texas and never worried about it again.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

What’s that guys name? I think I bought that one!!

Good call Chuck. For a neck that twisted I recommend replacing the neck if they want a long-term fix.

_________________
Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

He's dead now. This was back in the 80's.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

All's well that ends well.


Replaced the neck with one from Martin's Guitar Maker's Connection. Dovetail needed a little bit of shim to match up with the existing pocket in the body.

Owner texted me the night I delivered it after he had been playing it for hours. He was very happy.

I'm glad this all worked out well. Nice job!

_________________
Bryan Bear PMoMC

Take care of your feet, and your feet will take care of you.