Loose neck joint?

[zom-zom]

I recently purchased a '97 SFIV. I love everything about it but noticed that at the neck joint, the finish has a very slight crack in it on both sides. Very thin, quite hard to notice. However, the neck seems to respond to light pressure as far as being able to hear the "neck bend".
I don't have to push very hard at all and the pitch bends. Are these guitars known to have slightly "rubber" necks?

Should I be concerned? It stays in tune just fine, plays great, action is good. It is in great shape and there are no signs of abuse or hardly any wear even.

 

[zom-zom]

Anyone?

 

[krysh]

zom-zom,
the neck of my sf4 is also easy bendable, nice controlable effect, btw. :wink: .
the "thinner" the neck, the more easy it is to bend and the effect more easy to listen to.
bend the neck slightly and use a magnifying glass to watch the cracks.
if you can not see any movement, the cracks should only be in the finish.
if not, take her to the doctor.

 

[Dreamlander]

Maybe you just noticed on that guitar because you saw the crack, compare it to some other guitars you have. If it is much more drastic on the Starfire you might have a problem.

 

[zom-zom]

I have moved the neck while looking at the back and sides of the neck, and the cracks don't seem to spread.

Maybe I'm just used to stiffer necks, my SFIII has a huge clubby neck, which I really like best, and doesn't move much. The SF4 is much thinner than my other guitars so maybe it's just the nature of the beast. The cracks are really hairline cracks so I'm probably just worrying about nothing. Thanks for your responses.

 

[Default]

Just out of curiosity, what year SFIII do you have? Mine's 67 or so and the neck is very slim.

 

[zom-zom]

It's a '97, was listed on eBay and I found out about it thanks to this excellent board.

I had never even picked up or played a Guild until less than a year ago, and I've been playing for 35+ years.

 

[zom-zom]

I still don't have photos, but I took the bridge off and it's a Gotoh 510. It looks like it's already been filed down some, as much as it can be without compromising it, but the action is still not low enough for my tastes. It looks like I'll need another bridge, something with a lower profile. Anyone familiar with these being used on an Starfire IV?

 

[zom-zom]

Gothoh 510? Anyone?

It doesn't look like the newer ones I see online.

 

[hansmoust]

Gothoh 510? Anyone?

It doesn't look like the newer ones I see online.

Hello zom-zom,

To the best of my knowledge the Gotoh 510 bridge is not original equipment for a late '90s Starfire IV. However it does have a slightly lower profile that the original Gotoh 103B bridge, so that might be the reason they mounted the # 510 on your guitar.

Sincerely,

Hans Moust
http://www.guitarsgalore.nl

 

[hideglue]

To the best of my knowledge the Gotoh 510 bridge is not original equipment for a late '90s Starfire IV.

Correct again, Hans

There was a batch of SFs during the late '90s that needed 'corrective bridges' (not due to neck angle), but the 510 was not it.

 

[zom-zom]

I know everyone was going crazy wondering what happened..

I brought it in to Willie's in St. Paul to get it checked out. The neck joint proved to be fine, just a very soft mahogany neck. I've had three SGs, a Melody Maker, dozens of guitars over the years and this is definitely the softest neck I've ever played. It's never a problem, but it sure is easy to bend. Stays in tune just fine.

I've always set up my guitars, but Woody at Willie's really did a superb job, the neck had a dip in it and now the action is fine.

It's become my main guitar and I play it all the time.

 

[Default]

No Michael Shenker vibrato, ok?

 

[Walter Broes]

There was a batch of SFs during the late '90s that needed 'corrective bridges' (not due to neck angle), but the 510 was not it.

Hey Hideglue,
you've made me curious - what other reason is there for a lower profile bridge?