Neck reset

[Robert M. Cleworth Jr.]

I have an old Framus Texan 12 string with a bolt on neck. I need to reset the angle on this neck and am unsure how to do it. Do you just shim the neck to get the angle correct and if so, what do you use for shimming material? Do you shim with wood, metal or some type of plastic and what type of wood (oak, maple, etc?) metal (stainless, brass, etc?) or plastic should you use? Thanks for your help.

[Ron Frazier]

You do shim and use anything that is handy. I like to use calling cards as I always have some handy. I fold it a few times and use 1/4 inch strips across the neck on one end or the other. Put the screws in and tighten and check if you need more or less. I t may take 2 or 3 times trying. Be sure to tune close and look what you have done. Don't be afraid as you can remove all and start over.

Ron

[Jim Bancroft]

If you want to do a professional job, I'd use a hardwood wedge made of maple, ebony, or rosewood. Although other hardwoods would be fine too.
I make the wedge to fit the complete length of the pocket, tapered from nothing to whatever thickness you need to get the proper angle,then drill 4 screw holes. I'd leave the shim a little oversize, at first, so you can readjust it to get just the right angle.
Once you have the right angle, install, don't need it glued, and bolt on the neck.

Jim

[Robert M. Cleworth Jr.]

Thanks for the reply, Jim. Is there a supplier where I could purchase precut hardwood shims? I don't have access to power tools to cut my own.

[Jim Bancroft]

I don't know of a supplier?
If you want, I could cut you one and mail it. I would need to know the length and the width, and the thickness desired at the thick end of the shim. You can drill the screw holes.
If that is what you want to do, just put the info. needed on a piece of paper, along with a $5.00 bill, and I will make a shim and mail it back to you.
You may have to tweek the shim some to get the exact angle.

Jim Bancroft
1520 River Rd.
Millersburg, MI 49759
989-733-2372

[Robert M. Cleworth Jr.]

Thanks Jim, I'll do that if I can't find something locally. I'm thinking maybe a local Hardware Store may have what I need. Can you tell me exactly how and where to measure it?

[Jim Bancroft]

I think this is the setup you have on this guitar?
There is a pocket that the neck drops into and then screws come from the back to hold the neck on?
The dimensions needed would be the length and width of this pocket, also need the thickness needed to set the neck back properly.
But being you are tool less, I'd go with this idea below.

Another thought, you can also put some washer(2) on the screws that hold the neck on. The washer would go in the pocket the neck fits into. They would be placed on the 2 inner screws, and no washers on the 2 outer screws. This will angle the neck back too.

Guitar repair is basically using your head and thinking about options for doing a job. I'm sure if you think a little bit you can come up with some solution, and if that doesn't work, try something else.

Jim

[Robert M. Cleworth Jr.]

Jim, that's exactly how it is attached. I'll see if any of the local hardware stores have oak shim stock big enough to fill the pocket and if not, I'll try the washers. Thanks for the ideas.

[Ned Knepp]

Hi Jim,
I spent a couple of years as a staff member on a computer security oriented web site. A lot of people are not aware that posting address and phone number or even email address in a open forum may be an invitation for trouble. Web crawlers (like google and others ) pretty much sort and store everything they can find on the Internet and that includes personal information that isn't in a secure location. Most reputable crawlers, like Google won't exploit that information but some are designed to build sales list for mailers and telesales companies Others are designed for more criminal purposes. It can lead to lots more junkmail, more telesales calls and even be a gateway to identify theft.

If I'm butting in where I'm not wanted, I apologize but I felt that I should post a warning.

Ned