Main Forums => Technical Discussion => Topic started by: abalone at last on July 18, 2012, 10:56:12 AM

Title: Neck Reset
Post by: abalone at last on July 18, 2012, 10:56:12 AM
I have heard people say their action was too high and the guitar needed a neck reset.....what happens that a guitar needs a neck reset...is it from player wear, lack of hydration, improper care? Reason being I have a chance to purchase a Martin that has had a crack repaired (top, bridge to binding edge) and a neck reset already done. Its an HD-40.
Title: Re: Neck Reset
Post by: unclrob on July 18, 2012, 04:08:36 PM
The neck gets removed by removing the 14 fret,drilling two holes about were the dove tail edge's are.Then the neck gets two steam post inserted so that the glue will be soften and at the same time using a hot knife the fingerboard that extends over the top is deglued form the top.When the glue is soft enough the neck is removed,the dove tail is cleaned of all glue as is the tenion joint.Then shims in most case's are added to correct the neck angle.Most neck resets are due to string tension pulling the neck foward.Humidy doesn't have much to with it.If the work is done right and the price is right and if you can get a chanceto show it to your tech and they approve buy it.The HD40 is a nice guitar.
Title: Re: Neck Reset
Post by: jeremy3220 on July 18, 2012, 05:17:04 PM
Quote from: abalone at last on July 18, 2012, 10:56:12 AM
I have heard people say their action was too high and the guitar needed a neck reset.....what happens that a guitar needs a neck reset...is it from player wear, lack of hydration, improper care?

Different things: Unfortunately a few guitars make it out of the factory new with poor neck angles. Guitars naturally warp to varying degrees over their life. The strings are under tension, meaning they are experiencing a load that is trying to lengthen the strings, the strings are exerting an opposing force which tries to pull the nut and saddle closer together; thus the fretboard moves further away from the strings. Eventually the strings win because they always have replacements(if strings break you just replace them).

How the saddle and nut get closer can vary: The pull of the strings could rotate the bridge slightly forward which causes the common 'top belly' you hear about. You could also have the entire guitar warping very slightly like the back getting stretched, cold creep(where glued joints move slightly),etc. The degree to which the geometry changes will depend on how the guitar was made, the materials used, and the environment it has lived through. So it's probably not from regular player wear. It could be improper care(like a hot car), it could be age or how the guitar was made.
Title: Re: Neck Reset
Post by: Zohn on July 18, 2012, 11:28:04 PM
 :+1: what Jeremy said, and he explained it rather well.
Title: Re: Neck Reset
Post by: abalone at last on July 21, 2012, 12:30:15 PM
...thanks all I decided to pass on that guitar.
Title: Re: Neck Reset
Post by: Mr_LV19E on July 21, 2012, 06:05:14 PM
You said the neck reset had already been done, that's a good thing. I'd be more concerned about an older Martin that didn't already have a neck reset because you would have to take on the expense and hassle of not having it to play while the job is being done and also finding someone capable of doing the job without messing it up.