Straighten a Neck - No Truss Rod

[Wrnchbndr]

As said more than a few times already, it needs a proper diagnosis. Is there excessive relief in the neck or is the problem due to neck angle or maybe even malformation of the top? Hard to know the skill level of the person posting the question. If you are certain of the cause of the high action say so and I’ll do the best I can to help.
Sometimes these old catalog guitars are quite awesome when given a look over by a seriously skilled luthier. I just did a student quality Framus and it’s a total joy to play. Despite its total lack of a quality top, it’s got this unique tone that I’m just in love with.

[graham darden]

I have a very old K Craft Venetian with a bolt on neck that needs straightening. Thanks for this thread.
Graham

[Jeff Mando]

I have a very old K Craft Venetian with a bolt on neck that needs straightening. Thanks for this thread.
Graham

Graham, those Kay Kraft guitars have a specific neck problem that happens with age and wear -- there is a non-adjustable metal bar in the neck under the fretboard which tends to crack the fretboard down the middle over time due to wear and tension. On this specific guitar, you will need to remove the fingerboard, grind the metal bar flush with the neck, then reglue the fretboard back on. This repair is detailed online on various sites, including jakewildwood and littlebrotherblues. Heat alone won't solve the problem on Kay Krafts due to the metal bar.

[graham darden]

Jeff, will get into this when I finish the current mando. Love the "Hillbilly" sound of this guitar.
Graham

[Jeff Mando]

Jeff, will get into this when I finish the current mando. Love the "Hillbilly" sound of this guitar.
Graham

Yes, Kay Kraft's are cool. I've probably had 5 or 6 over the years -- mostly basket cases that I restored, but I did find a near mint one once at a guitar show that had amazingly low action -- better than most Les Paul's, believe it or not -- a really fine guitar........but in a weak moment someone made me an offer that I thought was too good to be true and I took it.

Fun stuff, and you sure don't see them like you once did!

[timmandolin]

I would think about either doing a refret like some others have mentioned with bigger frets or putting a carbon rod in the neck. It's pretty easy to peel off the fretboard and install a rod. This would secure the neck in a straight position and it would ensure that it won't bow again in the future. There are some down sides to this, but nothing that would prevent me from wanting to do it. I would think.

[graham darden]

Well here she is hovering above the basket but still making noise.
Graham

[Larry Nixon]

Why is this on Mandolin Cafe?

[Rob Roy]

It's the "Builders and Repair" section and most luthiers work on all different kinds of instruments. There's a wealth of knowledge here on challenging cases and how we deal with them.