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Neck Removal

Aberdumbie

Aberdumbie

Supporting Member
Jan 22, 2016
2,397
10,087
67
South Carolina
#1
so somewhere along the way I must have picked up an old wives tale that neck removal was not something to be undertaken unless you were a luthier. I remember watching a TV program where they authenticated a rare guitar and removed the neck and my stomach turned watching that.... But I read message after message here about swapping necks, selling necks, etc. etc..... So that's my first question. Is neck removal a sound thing for Joe Average to do?..... See I have woodworking and finish skill. That's not a problem at all.... But my thirty year old Ibanez would shine like a diamond if I were to remove the neck, touch up some honest dings. I beieve she could be rubbed and buffed back to better than new. I would need to remove the neck to get at it with my polishers. That all depends on removing the neck. Is this a needless worry I have created in my mind?
 
#8
I know where you're coming from OP. I was paranoid about removing a neck until I bought a cheap bass with the intention of cutting it up to make a travel bass. Its' neck has now been off three times with no issues. As 96 says...... bass necks are strong.
 
#9
Every luthier and tech was an "average joe." Most of the one's I've met still claim to be.

At some point they removed a bolt on neck from a guitar for the first time and put it back on.

The only difference between a tech and an "average joe" is that the tech managed to put the neck back on and make the guitar play better.

By the way, "average joe" is what a tech refers to as a "client."
 
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#10
There are reasons to be careful!

I chipped the finish on my Fender the first time I took the neck off. If the neck pocket is really tight, which it should be, and the neck comes free really quickly, which mine did, it can chip the finish.

Also, when putting it back on, there could be trouble. The first time I put my Fender's neck back on, it wasn't mated properly & the neck wasn't all the way down in the pocket.

If the holes in the body are not threaded, which they shouldn't be, you can crack the finish by tightening too tightly.
 
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#13
Depending on why the neck is being removed, sometimes I just back off the string tension and capo the strings 'til the neck goes back on- it keeps the windings on the tuner posts from getting out of position.

Also, the neck heel and pocket are tapered, so the neck needs to be lifted straight up out of the pocket, NOT pulled out thru the end of the pocket.
 
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#14
JustForSport said:
Depending on why the neck is being removed, sometimes I just back off the string tension and capo the strings 'til the neck goes back on- it keeps the windings on the tuner posts from getting out of position.

Also, the neck heel and pocket are tapered, so the neck needs to be lifted straight up out of the pocket, NOT pulled out thru the end of the pocket.
Click to expand...

IOW, the best procedure for adjusting true-to-form heel accessible truss rod nuts on some Fender instruments.

Riis
 
#15
Zooberwerx said:
IOW, the best procedure for adjusting true-to-form heel accessible truss rod nuts on some Fender instruments.

Riis
Click to expand...

If the capo is done lightly. A heavy spring loaded capo might have the tendency to kink the strings at the nut or first fret depending on the amount of tension left on the strings.

On the other hand, you could leave it alone and simply straighten out the strings before rewinding. My experience is that they pretty much stay in place.

Maybe helpful if creating extraordinary slack in the strings.
 
#17
Aberdumbie said:
so somewhere along the way I must have picked up an old wives tale that neck removal was not something to be undertaken unless you were a luthier. I remember watching a TV program where they authenticated a rare guitar and removed the neck and my stomach turned watching that.... But I read message after message here about swapping necks, selling necks, etc. etc..... So that's my first question. Is neck removal a sound thing for Joe Average to do?..... See I have woodworking and finish skill. That's not a problem at all.... But my thirty year old Ibanez would shine like a diamond if I were to remove the neck, touch up some honest dings. I beieve she could be rubbed and buffed back to better than new. I would need to remove the neck to get at it with my polishers. That all depends on removing the neck. Is this a needless worry I have created in my mind?
Click to expand...

Can you use a Philips screwdriver?
 

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