How do you know when you need a neck reset?

[matsickma]

Hi guys,

A guy played one of my guitars and indicated it needed a neck reset. It didn't have any issues that I recognized with the guitar. I've played all types and many guitars over the years. What am I missing?

Can you tell me what I look for to determine if I need a neck reset?

Tnx,

M

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

I'm no expert, but I've found the following article by Frank Ford to be very helpful in understanding neck angle:

http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/NeckAngle/neckangle.html

Certainly, a good starting point. Ultimately, you may need the help of a skilled luthier to make a determination.

~nw

 

[taabru45]

If the action is good, and there is some break angle between the saddle and the pin then; I think you are fine, some times people cut a little slot in the hole towards the bridge to increase the angle a little......no buzzing, good action,,,,good place to be......and "sometimes people like to walk tall by cutting off other peoples head"..........maybe you could get a 2nd opinion from a good luthier..........Steffan

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

BTW, what kind of guitar are we talking about here? Flat top steel string acoustic? Or what?.....

~nw

 

[AlohaJoe]

I'm no expert, but I've found the following article by Frank Ford to be very helpful in understanding neck angle:http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/Guitar/Setup/NeckAngle/neckangle.html

Great article... thanks!

 

[matsickma]

Were talking about a old Guild thin Starfire archtop with a Bigsby.

M

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Were talking about a old Guild thin Starfire archtop with a Bigsby.

M

Hmmm, well that's a horse of another color. I think we can safely disregard all the advice in the previous posts. That's all geared towards Flattop guitars.

~nw

 

[matsickma]

Thanks for the references. I think the issue observerd on the guitar on the guitar is a hairline gap between the neck heel and the body. I never gave it much notice. I need to look it over more closly to see if the fret board is misalligned with the bridge. I owned the guitar for about 4 years and did not notice any changes to the neck in that period.

Thanks again all.

M

 

[devellis]

People have different definitions of "need" where neck resets are concerned. Lots of instruments that might benefit from a reset don't really need one in the sense of being unusable without one. My Martin tenor really did need one. With suitable strings, it was pretty impossible to get it playing acceptably on all strings. Also, the intonation wasn't good. A reset did wonders for those issues and greatly improved tone. Other guitars will have parameters that indicate some neck angle issues but will still have decent action and good tone. For example, to get the action to a desirable place, a saddle may have to be cut pretty short. But if there's enough break angle to keep the strings from rattling around on the saddle and the string-to-string balance and overall tone and volume are okay, then that guitar doesn't necessarily need a reset.

A properly set neck, pretty much by definition, will always be an improvement. How much of an improvement will vary, as will the decision as to when to bite the bullet and get the neck reset. Saying a guitar needs a neck reset is kind of like saying that a guitar's action is off. While there extremes in both cases that pretty much everybody would agree on, there are also gradations and differences of opinion and preference. I think people will often insist that a guitar needs a reset when it's still within the range of preference. A reset might improve a guitar in such cases but saying it's a necessity may be an overstatement, just as tweaking the action might be an improvement but not a necessity.

 

[tjmangum]

Last year I got a very good deal on a JF65-12. Now I can go through the routine as well as anyone of sighting down the neck and such and pretending like I really know what I'm looking at... and my opinion at the time was that while there was a hint of a bow going on, there was plenty of saddle and it needed some work, but not a lot to make it a good player. So I take it to what I'm told is a local expert up here in Oregon. He gets it on the bench, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you need a neck reset. These 12 string Guilds are kind of tricky, you should take it to this guy. It's gong to cost you quite a few bucks."
Well, I thought, "Heck, if I've got to spend money on it, I'll send it back to the luthier I used in CA that I really liked."
So I get it to Arnie and he sends me a message, "Don't need a neck reset, just needs full set up. 60-80 bucks plus shipping."
I get it back, it's perfect.
I think the lesson may be to always get a second opinion.
tj

 

[danerectal]

I'd probably like to know the same measure for a solid body. My red S-100 seem kind of funky. :roll:

 

[twocorgis]

Last year I got a very good deal on a JF65-12. Now I can go through the routine as well as anyone of sighting down the neck and such and pretending like I really know what I'm looking at... and my opinion at the time was that while there was a hint of a bow going on, there was plenty of saddle and it needed some work, but not a lot to make it a good player. So I take it to what I'm told is a local expert up here in Oregon. He gets it on the bench, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you need a neck reset. These 12 string Guilds are kind of tricky, you should take it to this guy. It's gong to cost you quite a few bucks."
Well, I thought, "Heck, if I've got to spend money on it, I'll send it back to the luthier I used in CA that I really liked."
So I get it to Arnie and he sends me a message, "Don't need a neck reset, just needs full set up. 60-80 bucks plus shipping."
I get it back, it's perfect.
I think the lesson may be to always get a second opinion.
tj

...Or just have the right luthier! I've been through a few here on Long Island. My first two were capable and reasonably honest, but expensive. The guy I use now has a "real" job, and lutherie is his passion. He is the greatest, and is so reasonable I actually bug him to charge more. Had I known what a drawn out ordeal sending my D50 to Nashville has been, I'd have just let Mike do it. Wouldn't even have cost any more when the shipping charges are taken into account. Live and learn. :roll:

 

[dapmdave]

Last year I got a very good deal on a JF65-12. Now I can go through the routine as well as anyone of sighting down the neck and such and pretending like I really know what I'm looking at... and my opinion at the time was that while there was a hint of a bow going on, there was plenty of saddle and it needed some work, but not a lot to make it a good player. So I take it to what I'm told is a local expert up here in Oregon. He gets it on the bench, "I'm sorry to tell you this, but you need a neck reset. These 12 string Guilds are kind of tricky, you should take it to this guy. It's gong to cost you quite a few bucks."
Well, I thought, "Heck, if I've got to spend money on it, I'll send it back to the luthier I used in CA that I really liked."
So I get it to Arnie and he sends me a message, "Don't need a neck reset, just needs full set up. 60-80 bucks plus shipping."
I get it back, it's perfect.
I think the lesson may be to always get a second opinion.
tj

...Or just have the right luthier! I've been through a few here on Long Island. My first two were capable and reasonably honest, but expensive. The guy I use now has a "real" job, and lutherie is his passion. He is the greatest, and is so reasonable I actually bug him to charge more. Had I known what a drawn out ordeal sending my D50 to Nashville has been, I'd have just let Mike do it. Wouldn't even have cost any more when the shipping charges are taken into account. Live and learn. :roll:

This is so true! After working with local music stores to get work done (and paying too much!) I've become friends with a guy who really does great guitar work. My D-25 went through his hands and came back a real winner. Also did a great setup on my Gibson. The prices are reasonable, and he actually worked at Westerly back in the 70's.

Dave

 

[twocorgis]

...Or just have the right luthier! I've been through a few here on Long Island. My first two were capable and reasonably honest, but expensive. The guy I use now has a "real" job, and lutherie is his passion. He is the greatest, and is so reasonable I actually bug him to charge more. Had I known what a drawn out ordeal sending my D50 to Nashville has been, I'd have just let Mike do it. Wouldn't even have cost any more when the shipping charges are taken into account. Live and learn. :roll:

This is so true! After working with local music stores to get work done (and paying too much!) I've become friends with a guy who really does great guitar work. My D-25 went through his hands and came back a real winner. Also did a great setup on my Gibson. The prices are reasonable, and he actually worked at Westerly back in the 70's.

Dave

I'm really blessed to have this guy Dave. He's as honest and upstanding as they come. You have to work around his schedule, but that's a small concession, really. He's done every repair the the right way the first time. He resurrected Pigpen (now Ruby with SouthernGuild) from a sow's ear to a silk purse, and did the same with my "beater" Collings. Mike's an amazing guy who's totally dedicated, and totally intense. I trust his opinion implicitly, and if I lived where you do I'd ship my guitars to him. Yeah, I like my luthier. :lol:

 

[chazmo]

Sandy, you might've met my friend Pete at LMG. That's exactly his situation... day job in high tech, passion for lutherie... Anyway, I feel the same way as you. And as for the D-50... is there an "I told you so" somewhere around here? Someone must've mentioned how long your axe would be gone around here, right?

 

[adorshki]

And as for the D-50... is there an "I told you so" somewhere around here? Someone must've mentioned how long your axe would be gone around here, right?

Sandy had a D50? :shock:

 

[twocorgis]

Sandy, you might've met my friend Pete at LMG. That's exactly his situation... day job in high tech, passion for lutherie... Anyway, I feel the same way as you. And as for the D-50... is there an "I told you so" somewhere around here? Someone must've mentioned how long your axe would be gone around here, right?

There sure were Chaz, and i'd never dispute that. I foolishly thought that it really would be only 90 days like they told me. Caused a massive GAS attack as you know. :wink:

I really miss that guitar.