A neck reset on an old Chicago Mayflower steel string.

So the story is a friend gave me her guitar to take a look at. A long time friend of hers was the "original" owner of the guitar and gave it to her before he died. The guitar has gone through a lot of repair throughout the years including almost a couple dozen cleats around the sides where a big ol crack occurred, a new bridge plate and some replaced braces on the top. The neck heel is a two piece heel and appears to have come apart before and put back together but not too cleanly, not horribly, but not great. What looks like may have happened is that someone drilled, from the inside, into the heel and re-enforced the neck joint with three dowels. Or is this the way they were originally built? In any case, it does need a neck reset. Any clues as to what kind of glue was used and how to go about those dowels? Also, there isn't any radius to the fingerboard. Any reasons why I shouldn't add one? The fingerboard is thick enough, except beyond the neck/body joint. It does thin out quite a bit and there is a drop off.
Thoughts?
Christian

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Permalink Reply by Eclipse Wizard on January 12, 2010 at 6:30am

I can't comment on the neck-set issue too much but i would say that if it is an american made instrument it is most likey assembled with either hide or yellow glue. As far the fingerboard radius.... you definitely want it to match any kind of radius in the bridge/saddle. Doing so would greatly improve the playability of the instrument!! Cheers and good luck!