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How common/expensive is neck shaving?
- Thread starter Redd
- Start date
How hairy is it?some hair is ok, as long as it's trimmed...sorry, couldn't resist
Its okay
When i went to look it up on google, that's all i could find 
Mark Wilson
Supporting Member
I'm pretty sure Geddy just sanded off the finish on the neck. He didn't shave it down or anything.
are you looking to shave off how deep the neck is front to back or how wide it is side to side (ie going from a precision width to a jazz width at the nut)
I suggest speaking with Michael Dolan. Excellent luthier who is very highly regarded.
I suggest speaking with Michael Dolan. Excellent luthier who is very highly regarded.
just a thought i was thinking about, how common is it? And any idea on price?
I think Geddy did something like this, correct?
From what I remember reading, Geddy didn't do it, his bass was already like that when he bought it. But apparently it's pretty common. The hard part is knowing how much you can take off before you get into the truss rod canal. I've sanded down necks myself and have taken off about 1/16" with no problem.
How wide, and actually im looking to go from a P to a J size. Ill look into him, thanks.
ah, well, he was the first thing i could think of
And is it something i should get done professionally if im not exactly skilled in handwork?
I had Gard at Roscoe recontour "shave" my neck on my LG3005. I don't think it's hard but the right tools and knowing what you are doing are key.
just a thought i was thinking about, how common is it? And any idea on price?
I think Geddy did something like this, correct?
I'm just now waiting for the 5th coat of finish to dry on a neck I shaved down from a 1-5/8" at the nut and a clubby profile to 1-7/16" at the nut and a much slimmer profile. I used files, scrappers and several grits of sandpaper over the better part of a day. The headstock and heel transition carvings aren't actually finessed the way I want them yet but I got tired of working on it and I want to play it at rehearsal tomorrow night and at Friday night's gig so I started applying a quick Tru-Oil finish.
I wouldn't want to have to pay for that much work, which is why I do it myself...I'm cheap,
but I also enjoy doing that sort of thing.
I found this on TB through Goggle; thread is a couple of years old. If it was me I would use Tru-Oil to refinish ; not Tung Oil or Watco:
Shaving a neck down to size is not a very hard proceedure. I have done it several times. Easy to use tools can make it fun and very rewarding.
Go buy a Stanley "Sureform" and a sanding block (rubber). I do it with the neck still attached by laying the instrument upside down on a padded chair oposite me on another chair. (you are sitting down of course). The headstock is cradled in your lap. Then just take the sureform and start at the heel and draw it towards you in long continuous strokes working your way evenly until you have removed the bulk of the wood you don't need.
Then use the sanding block to smooth and blend into the headstock area.
It's not rocket science at all. Just keep feeling the neck for size as you go. Of course you will need to refinish th back of the neck, or just put some Tung oil or Watco oil on it.
The tools will cost you under $15.00
Practice on a 2x4 to get the feel.
good luck!
I'm just now waiting for the 5th coat of finish to dry on a neck I shaved down from a 1-5/8" at the nut and a clubby profile to 1-7/16" at the nut and a much slimmer profile. I used files, scrappers and several grits of sandpaper over the better part of a day. The headstock and heel transition carvings aren't actually finessed the way I want them yet but I got tired of working on it and I want to play it at rehearsal tomorrow night and at Friday night's gig so I started applying a quick Tru-Oil finish.
I wouldn't want to have to pay for that much work, which is why I do it myself...I'm cheap,
All very helpful, truly. Sounds like i could do at home. Still kind of sketchy on it but ill practice on random pieces of wood. Thanks!
But also quite curious, how is shaving a P down to a J size looked at? Is it common or not so common?
Andy Brown
Commercial User
- Jul 23, 2004
- 5,675
- 312
- Disclosures
- Founder/Owner: Wing Instruments
+1 - I had a Warmoth neck shaved down to a Sadowsky profile. He did an impeccable job for about $225 (around there).
A lot depends on whether your neck has a single or double truss rod.
Single rods, like most Fenders, need to be as deep in the neck as possible. Double rods sit right under the fingerboard, so those necks can be taken thinner.
Roger
Single rods, like most Fenders, need to be as deep in the neck as possible. Double rods sit right under the fingerboard, so those necks can be taken thinner.
Roger
I've not seen any others than what I've done and I've done only three. However, I don't usually buy a P sized neck so it doesn't come up very often for me.
I had a massive guitar neck shaved down- most of it was off the shoulders- but the truss rod sat deep into the neck. The guy had to drill in to figure out where the truss rod lies before shaving off...
The guy was a friend of mine and worked at a quality shop- I don't think he charged me to shoot a clear coat over it- it came out under $100.
EDIT
It's the one in the center AFTER it was shaved down.
That's a 1959 LP Special on the left and a 1998 R8 on the right.
I wouldn't have had the neck shaved down except that it was re-necked so that it was not the original neck on the guitar.
The guy was a friend of mine and worked at a quality shop- I don't think he charged me to shoot a clear coat over it- it came out under $100.
EDIT
It's the one in the center AFTER it was shaved down.
That's a 1959 LP Special on the left and a 1998 R8 on the right.
I wouldn't have had the neck shaved down except that it was re-necked so that it was not the original neck on the guitar.
