The results of a re-graduation

**ashemando** · May-05-2007, 9:38am

So I decided to remove the binding and back from a 70's
Aria Pro-II F-5 copy to "improve " the tone. And to explore its innards. Not only has thick lacquer finish, but
on the inside I found what appeared to be fiberglass glopped around to repair a defect in the wood.Very interesting. I removed as much glop as I could, regraduated top and back, then thinned a very thick neck block.

After reassembly, the tone improved significantly. However I now have a forward bow in the neck, and even trussrod and
bridge shaving leaves the action too high.

The question: Is there a maneuver(a well placed screw or two perhaps?) to remove the neck bow,short of trying to remove the neck and reset it, which could bring the action down?
Keep in mind I consider this not only a "beater" now but
an educational instrument as well. Thanks for your input.

**Jim Rowland** · May-05-2007, 10:18am

It could be a bunch of things. Is the neck actually bowed,or tipped forward in the area of the neck joint?
Jim

**billhay4** · May-05-2007, 10:28am

Based on your description of what you did to regraduate this top, I'd guess the thinning of the neck block may have created this problem. But I'd have to see the instrument to know exactly why the neck is suddenly bowing.
What kind of joint did it have? Is there any separation in the joint? Is the neck straight when tension is off the strings?
All these questions occur to me and would help in devising a fix for this situation.
Bill

**ashemando** · May-05-2007, 11:01am

The neck is straight, but I believe that the thinning of the neck block allowed more forward "tilt". But even with
no strings on, the neck does not return to pre-grad. position. So its a bit of a mystery. I think I recall a dovetail joint.

**Rick Turner** · May-05-2007, 1:12pm

Taking the back off probably allowed the geometry of the whole instrument to shift just enough that the neck angle is now different. Have you rebound the back? If not, then perhaps you should take the back off again or loosen it from the waist up and literally warp the instrument to pull the neck angle back. This is a sometimes-used method of resetting neck angle on guitars, especially classicals where the neck cannot be removed other than by sawing it off.

**Mario Proulx** · May-05-2007, 2:24pm

What Rick said. Search Google for "slipping the heel"(also search frets.com, I'm sure...). Everything you'll find is on guitars, but the same principles apply to mandolins.