Guitar Overhaul

  • Thread starter Thread starter nate_dennis
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nate_dennis

nate_dennis

Well-known member
A while ago I bought a cheap old archtop guitar. I knew she needed work. I thought it'd be a low risk way for me to get into guitar repair. Someone had put a shim under the neck (presumabely to higher the action for slide playing but I don't know.) Well I finally got the neck off. So I'm going to steam the shim to loosen the glue. So . . . .

1. What kind of glue is best for resetting a glued in neck?

I also had a crazy idea of putting some pickups in it and making it an old "kay" style hollow body archtop thing.

2. Is this a horrible idea?

3. If I were to do this, approximately what position would you think the p/ups should go in?

Thanks for any thoughts you can share.


-Nate
 
I encourage you tackle this job, but before you start this project, I strongly urge you to get a book on guitar repair and read it through. One should be available from Stewart-Macdonald.

http://www.stewmac.com/

A neck reset is not the best first project to attempt but it can be done successfully with sufficient planning, information, and PATIENCE. Do the neck joint and get it playing right as a separate project before you move forward with any modifications you may want to try.

The pickup location is a matter of preference. Be advised that on some cheap archtops the bracing can be located such that it would have to be cut through to mount a pickup. Use an inspection mirror to find out.
 
Don't Steam anything. Steam doesn't loosen glue joints. Heat does. Steam is used as a carrier for heat when the you need to get heat into areas that are concealed.

If you can see the shim and it DOES need removing you would use a properly sharpened chisel.

What Milnoque said about the pickups and not just cheap archtops have bracing where is may cross the pickup location.
 
So if I buy one pick up and install it, is it possible to install a second one later and add a switch? I'm sure that's a dumb question but I just don't know. I have to save my pennies to buy things like p/ups and what not. Thanks again guys.
 
nate_dennis said:
So if I buy one pick up and install it, is it possible to install a second one later and add a switch? I'm sure that's a dumb question but I just don't know. I have to save my pennies to buy things like p/ups and what not. Thanks again guys.
Click to expand...

Yes it is. You need to make sure what, where and how you intend to install them though.
 
I'm sure everyone has an opinion considering it's about tone but my P90 equipped Les Paul sounds a lot more like a humbucker LP than a Strat. It doesn't sound single coil at all. I'm no expert but that's what I hear.


lou
 
That's cool. I'm really just excited about experimenting and finding the tone I want. I want this baby to be versatile. But I hear clearly in my head what I want the main tone to be. I've never been about "oh, I want to sound like (Insert Rock God Here) on (Insert Record Name Here)" .... BUt, I love the sound Jack White gets from his old Kay when he's playing live. Mostly on slide work and stuff. It's so brutal, but still very bluesy, i dunno. Anyway, I'm rambling.
 
P 90's kick ass for me but it's about what works for you.

More important is can you get surface mounted pickups under the strings? Especially if you remove the shim that is already there for a reason.

You need to think it through and look at the geometry.;)
 
What kind of reason might someone have put a shim in? I just want it to play well. Even with the brigde lowered to its lowest setting the action was wayyyy high. Should I maybe leave the shim and file down the nut? Thanks a million guys!
 
nate_dennis said:
What kind of reason might someone have put a shim in? I just want it to play well. Even with the brigde lowered to its lowest setting the action was wayyyy high. Should I maybe leave the shim and file down the nut? Thanks a million guys!
Click to expand...

Some pix would be very helpful at this point.

The p-90 suggestion is a good one if you have enough clearance. They sound very different from strat pickups. Go hit a music store and try out a guitar equipped with them and see what you think.

Please get yourself a book on guitar repair, you'll give yourself a much better chance of a good outcome.
 
Nate,

Sign up over at www.mimf.com, the Musical Instrument Maker's Forum. (it's free). There's tons of great info over there. Spend some time going thru the library, then ask some questions. A neck reset is not an easy way to get started. Are you even sure you need it? A good setup and a new nut may be just the trick. Good luck!
 
It'd be a lot easier to fit a shorter bridge than do a neck reset, especially if you don't have the tools, clamps, etc.....
 
How comfy was it to play given the action before you removed the neck?
That'd be an initial guide to the what & why of the shim & action.
Pick up placement & type will all be really personal decisions BUT gets snaps of White's guitar, suss out what he's using & where they are & try to find out what it sounds like BEFORE it's twaeked in the studio.
From my point of view single coils & semi/arch/hollow body guitars go together.
Hummers work in the wood (my Epi Sheraton has hollow wings but the tone is generated by the central plank with hummer inserted into it). That is, as I said, my point of view.
My archtops have singles & they sing.
 
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