Neck bow on a '62 Danelectro short horn

audiomitch · #1 10-13-2010, 02:33 PM

AFAIK, there's no truss rod. I inherited this bass from an old friend. He stored it in a garage for at least 35 years. It was strung to pitch with flats that whole time. The neck bow is pretty bad. Is there any way of correcting it myself that wouldn't trash it's originality?

mongo2 · #2 10-13-2010, 04:26 PM

I currently have 3 Dano basses from that period and have had several others over the years and I've never seen one with a warped or bowed neck but I have had a few that could use a flat shim in the neck pocket to improve the action.

Mustangbass · #3 10-13-2010, 04:33 PM

Yes - I bought a '59 Dano Shorthorn a while back and the neck had been "steamed" and flattened prior to my purchase. It has been fine since. You can get most luthiers to do this. It shouldn't be expensive. Maybe $40 - $50.

audiomitch · #4 10-13-2010, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mustangbass

Yes - I bought a '59 Dano Shorthorn a while back and the neck had been "steamed" and flattened prior to my purchase. It has been fine since. You can get most luthiers to do this. It shouldn't be expensive. Maybe $40 - $50.

Great! I have something to go on now. Thanks!

Natropath · #5 10-13-2010, 11:42 PM

Most people don't steam necks, that for removing dovetail joints. What you need is a heat press. Steaming a neck wouldn't do much.

Regardless, this bass totally can and should be saved.