What can be done about a neck bowed the wrong way?

[monty]

…a convex bow in a Strat neck. The truss rod is completely loose so there is no more adjustment. I think I’ve heard of putting the neck in a jig and exposing it to a heating and cooling cycle for a while. Not hot enough to damage, just enough to make it flex. Any suggestions?

[crawdad]

That jig idea is good advice. If you don't have one, put the neck fretboard down, with a 1/2" piece of wood in the middle and use a couple of adjustable clamps on either end to gently bow it back the other way. Let it sit like that for a few days and check it to see if it has straightened out. If not, let it sit longer. Make sure that truss rod is completely disengaged. Remember--clockwise tightens the trussrod and counter-clockwise loosens it.

[philboyd studge]

Shoot, I've got a really good book on guitar repair but can't find it now. Using a heat lamp is tricky so it's best to experiment with something you don't care about.

As I recall, once things are clamped down you run the heat lamp for 30 to 40 minutes (not too close) to relax the wood, then shut it off and let the guitar sit overnight.

[M.Brane]

If the thing is too backbowed to play you've really got nothing to lose anyway. I would start by trying the jig thing without the heat. If that don't do it then move on to more drastic measures. If all else fails you could always have the fretboard shaved and refretted but that could be expensive and would ruin any collector value. If it's a clean old Strat you might be better off to sell it to a collector and buy something that plays good.

Just my $.02

[monty]

Thanks Guys. I was thinking like maybe using a 2 x 4 to clamp to, and locate a piece of tapered foam rubber in the middle of the neck. Put the whole thing an a big box with maybe three 100 watt light bulbs hooked to a timer that would cycle at intervals for a while, heating and cooling the inside of the box. That shouldn’t be too drastic. This guitar isn’t worth that much. Actually 2 guitars and both have the same problem. I’d like to have a ’57 re-issue, but…

[Tom Hicks]

When you say the truss rod is completely loose (even though you are tightening the nut?) that implies that the truss rod is stripped out.A tech can take out the old rod and put a new one in or you yourself can simply bolt on another neck (I love how strats are modular and easy to repair).
Your notion of heating the neck to straighten it lacks any kind of fine control to assure the eventual straightness of the allignment with the body.That's what the truss rod accomplishes.That's my two cents anyway.
Tom

[Clive Hugh]

Before you do anything drastic, I agree with Tom, it sounds as if the thread is stripped. For some reason, most likely cost, Fender have in some of their instruments over the years had some crappy truss rods, I have replaced the nut on one with a cap screw that I silver soldered in as the original was useless. Get the rod checked out, if yo can remove the nut yourself have a look and you should be able to see if the thread is stuffed. On some you will have to drill out the dark wooden plug as it covers the hole with only enough room for the allen wrench. Do this carefully, what I do is use a small bit of stainless tube as a guide, I use 1/2 inch and a drill that is a fairly good fit inside, 7/16 from memory without going out to the shed to check. Use a long series drill and do it by hand, go slowly and you will be surprised how easily it removes the wood.
Be bloody careful too, if you bust it, the wood won't grow back.
Your best bet is still a reputable tech, as far as heating a neck goes, I have done solid maple ones by steaming but would not be keen on doing the same to a rosewood fretboard as it is glued on and the heat will melt the glue. Unless you know what you are doing use a tech, and one more thing, just asking, are you sure you tightened the truss rod the right way, it has happened before.
Good luck
Clive

[monty]

Thanks guys. The threads are fine. I’ve loosened the threads all the way, counterclockwise. Tightening will increase the backwards bow, which is already the problem. I put a 2 x 2 (which is really 1-1/2” x 1-1/2”) piece of wood along the fret side of the neck with a piece of foam rubber or plastic sandwiched between the wood & neck to spread the load and tied the wood to the headstock end with multiple passes of soft string. At the other end I clamped the wood down using the rectangular metal neck mounting screw plate as a support base for the clamp. I left it over night and it didn’t leave much of a bow if any in the neck. It looked like there was almost a ¼” deflection on the neck when it was in the clamp, but one night isn’t enough. Maybe I’ll start leaving it like that while I’m not using it just to see what happens.

[Buck62]

What can be done about a neck bowed the wrong way?

Shit-can

[VOXVENDOR]

Buy a Keyboard with some guitar sounds.... Radio shack has some nice models....



Honestly....I say skip all the bullshit and throw a new neck on it, but thats just me....

Joe

[monty]

I'd like to take it one further and get a '57 re-issue. But shit, that's a bit of money.

BTW, I've already got more synths than I'll ever use. 20 I believe. One is a MemoryMoog Plus. I've seen them sell for $3500 on ebay. I never use it. I guess I could sell it and get the re-issue. I would hate to part with the Moog though. It's like a Rolls Royce of the synth world. Status you know...must maintain my status...

[VOXVENDOR]

Hey look!.....

It's Doug Henning....

[darrin_h2000]

I wonder how much my korg monopoly is worth?

[monty]

Sort of reminds me of my Oberheim OB8.

Check out the links.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...item=855325576

http://www.vintagesynth.com/

[M.Brane]

Wish I still had my old ARP. Sounded killer through my old Ross flanger. Oberhiems are the shit!

originally posted by VOXVENDOR
Hey look!.....

It's Doug Henning....

I thought that was Gallager!

[monty]

It looks like a mushroom.

I have an Arp Omni. It makes a few little vague sounds but obviously needs work. Seems to all be there. Maybe it's worth something. Shit, I sold two Korg Poly 800's on ebay as junk and someone bought them and made one good Poly 800. The point being even junk synths sell. I did the same with a junk mixer, making it clear that it was junk of course. I think I have an old Ross flanger too. I've lost count of all the pedals I have. The last one was a ProCo Rat. I just buy them whenever I see them at the swap meet as long as they aren't more than maybe $10. Bought a Fender Blender for $20. I've seen them sell for $300. I still have it...status you know...must maintain my status...

[M.Brane]

Originally posted by monty
It looks like a mushroom.

LMAO!

[bubinski]

If your neck is backbowed with the truss rod is slacked off.......you is screwed unless you want to put on a set of .20-.98.strings.
visit Allparts in texas for a fender authourized nitro finished replacement neck.
Try steaming, soaking, ect but your wasting time.
Better yet, try www.usacustomguitars.com
ask for Tommy and tell him Bubba sent you.
Stay away from warmoth!!!!!!
good luck, Bubinski.

[monty]

Thanks Bubba.

Man, I gotta laugh at some of these people. This guy at the swap meet this morning was trying to sell an electric guitar that resembled a Strat. He wanted $200 because it LOOKED like a Strat. I wanted the neck even though it wasn’t a real Strat neck, but not for that price...sheeit.