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Thread: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

  1. #1
    Registered User Oliver R's Avatar
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    Default Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    Hello,
    I have this guitar to renovate and one process will be resetting the neck.
    There is some tear out from the dovetail left in the body dovetail but it is very solidly glued and other than that the pocket is very clean and glue free (probably why it came detached!), it is also a really good fit.
    My question is would you just glue it 'as is' after a bit of a clean up? and would sone reinforcement be a good idea?
    Many thanks
    OliverClick image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
    Teacher, repair person
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    Default Re: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    If you want a good joint, your gluing surfaces must be clean.
    A piece of fairly coarse sandpaper glued to a beveled block of wood can be useful here.
    Use a tapered shim to insure that the joint is tight at both the top and the bottom.
    The neck should not move at all when it is test-fitted with no glue.

    I can't tell for sure from the picture-- is this a true compound dovetail with angled sides, or a straight-sided mortise and tenon joint? If it is the latter, it is going to be difficult to get a joint that will hold for the long term without using a bolt, which I don't like to do on an f-hole instrument.

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  4. #3
    Registered User Oliver R's Avatar
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    Default Re: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    Thats sort of what i'm asking kind of..if you zoom in on that photo you can see coarse grained wood on the bottom of the neck cavity? well that is a thin section of wood that has parted company from the bottom of the male dovetail and its still glued tight onto the bottom of the cavity (and it is glued on tight.
    When you put the neck into the cavity it is tight with no movement.
    I suppose my question would be if its worth removing that separated piece of wood and try and re shim the bottom or just clean up the rest of the surfaces and glue and clamp?
    Does that make sense?....clear as mud!

  5. #4
    Registered User Oliver R's Avatar
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    Default Re: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    Sorry missed your last bit there, the sides have a slight angle to them (enough to hold it in place and stop it pulling straight out latterly.

  6. #5
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    Default Re: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    Good. I wouldn't worry about a small piece missing from the bottom of the dovetail as long as the fit is snug. I would clean the sliver out of the mortise as a matter of principle. If a lot of wood was missing, I would graft in some new wood.

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  8. #6
    Registered User Oliver R's Avatar
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    Default Re: Archtop guitar neck repair advice (no mando content, sorry)

    Aye, thats what i thought, thanks for your reply!

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