Neck Problem

[Remnar]

So I noticed that I can slip a piece of paper in the heel of my guitar.  It's only in the heel, and it doesn't go to either side.  Is this something that I should be concerned with?  Using a 24" straight edge from the frets to the bridge is approximately 1/16th below the bridge.  I cold make a very slight truss rod adjustment, but it's not much.  


Picture of guitar heel

Any help would be greatly appreciated  

[BenF]

Is it a new guitar or an older one? It doesn't look as bad as the new D03R in another thread. Do you know any good luthiers who could take a look at it?

[Remnar]

It's about two years old.  It could be just a lack of glue at the bottom of the heal, and no real problems around the glue joint, or it could be opening up.  I just don't know.   

[BenF]

I'd be less concerned with this than if the gap was down the sides.

[Remnar]

Thanks, I will probably still take it to the dealer next week to discuss. 

I guess I need to have 10 posts to display images..... don't understand why my first post had images and this thread will not let me. 

[L07 Shooting Star]

Hi,
Is it a new guitar and are you the original owner?   If so, then in my opinion you should return it to the dealer and get a replacement.  Is this gap a new development or do you know if it's always been there?

I strongly agree you should take it to an expert and get an evaluation.  I recently bought a 25 year old L model 12 string that had gaps quite a bit worse than yours at the heel plus also along the heel towards the top of the guitar.  I was pretty sure it needed a neck reset.  But after getting it looked at, and set up properly, this may not be necessary.  Here is a link to the thread about my issues.  I think it may be quite helpful to you.  Get it checked out and good luck.   

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=33453.0

Kurt

[Danny]

Using a 24" straight edge from the frets to the bridge is approximately 1/16th below the bridge.

This is the part that is the real problem.

[Remnar]

Is being underset by 1/16th of an inch a real problem, or is it that you think that it's moved from the factory?

[Danny]

   Unclrob where  R U ?

[unclrob]

Get it to a tech/luthier.You can place it on a flat surface and with out being a gorrilla,hold the body down and gently press down on the neck.What your looking for is any movement at the neck joint.If no movement more then likely the neck has settled and will need to be reset,the same goes for movement if it move's then you really need a reset.Get it to your tech/luthier/dealer and start the process.

[jeremy3220]

Is being underset by 1/16th of an inch a real problem, or is it that you think that it's moved from the factory?

Not necessarily, that's not a problem itself but may indicate a problem. This could get real complicated but basically if you have a factory guitar with the factory bridge still on it then the real problem would be if you can't get the action low enough because you're running out of saddle.

[Remnar]

So, is a neck reset strictly a factory repair, or do the authorized service centers reset as well?  How long would a repair like that normally take? 

[unclrob]

Best done as a factory job.I know of no authorized service center's.How long depends on how buzy the shop is.get with the dealer for the RA needed.

[Remnar]

Thanks,  I will let you know how this works out.

[Pilgrim]

I am the owner of the subject guitar.  Remnar had agreed to buy this guitar from me, but became concerned when he saw the gap at the neck heel.  After considering the possibility of future problems he began to have second thoughts.
 
The sides of the neck at the body appear tight to my aging eyes, and I thought the gap at the heel cap was just a poor fit.  However, the fact that paper can be slid in beyond the heel cap suggests the possibility of more than just a poor fit of the heel cap.  Due to his second thoughts, the gap extending beyond the heel cap, and the fact that he would have no warranty, I did not obligate Remnar to our original agreement.

Yesterday, I returned the guitar to the dealer where I purchased this guitar new last year.   After his (the business owner's) inspection, he said the joint appeared to be sound and there were no actions he would recommend.  He then said that if he talked to Larrivee about the issue, they would probably tell him to fill the gap with glue.  Obviously, the dealer's position and comments are very disappointing.  

[unclrob]

I know that in the late 60's and early 70's Gibson use to use a mahogany putty fill when they had gaping problems.I would still get another opinion.If all agree that the neck is stable don't glue it go the mahogany putty route.A good tech/luthier is the way to go from here.Make sure that if you go the putty route that you have it sealed about 2 weeks after the putty has been applied.

[Pilgrim]

It would seem to me using mahogany putty to fill the gap would look unsightly against the white heel cap and maple binding.  I'm afraid any puddy in the heel cap gap might look sloppy and hurt resale.  Then again, with the current condition of the dovetail joint and heel cap fit, resale value is rather poor anyway.

If the joint is indeed strong and stable, I believe the appropriate putty combined with a properly fit heel cap could be considered acceptable.  But I may never be given that option (under warranty).

[Danny]

Larrivee does use wood putty on small gaps around nuts. I had some on a new one I had bought. Funny thing is it also had a paper thin gap at the heel. I talked with Larrivee about both and was set at ease about it.

The putty they used does not harden and is just a minor imperfection gap fill. I have two small jars of it myself. One in White and another in Red Mahogany. It is nice for a sliver gap fill. You can blend color tints with it as well to match whatever you need. ( This is not like a thick plumbers putty).

   I have the 3.75 OZ. size.

  I know this doesn't probably help you much. Especially after losing a deal that was already done. but it could help to do a little cosmetic fix if the structure of the dove tail and neck is fine.
  I'm working on a Martin D-41 heel cap right now trying to correct some pretty sloppy cosmetic repair. I have to think outside the box to come up with a solution that does the fix and doesn't take all day to get done. Sometimes a little putty or a stain marker can do the Job "good enough".

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[unclrob]

Hey just letting you know how Gibson did it,no big deal.

[Danny]

Hey just letting you know how Gibson did it,no big deal.

Yea, that's what reminded me of what I said above. I don't use putty much, but it has it's place.