Neck reset on an 1981 Gibson J 200

[alex gray]

Hi Anyone out there have any tips on getting the neck off of one of these? It has the through tenon

under the fretboard extension.  It goes right up to the upper face brace. ( the brace has a semi circular notch ). The picture is taken with a mirror through the sound hole.  So it is the underside of the top you are seeing.. The tongue look to be about a half inch thick   As I understand it Gibson stopped using this joint in the early 90's.

Other than needing the neck set . The guitar is beautiful.

Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks A. 

[Frank Ford]

I've only done a couple of these, and if memory serves, you can steam it off in the normal way, drilling at an angle through the 15th fret slot.  It is a miserable job for sure, and you get the pleasure of dealing with the thick tongue that wants to lift the end of the board when you tilt the neck back. 

 

 

[Mark A. Kane]

Is the thru-tenon actually part of the neck, like the new Taylor neck? I'm picturing a trough to accommodate it in the top. Is this correct? And is the tenon glued to the top?

[alex gray]

Hi Mark Yes the the tenon is part of the neck itself . Gibson cut a mortise in the top of the neck block and the guitar top  for it.

The theory being that the design would eliminate  any hump at the neck joint. I believe there is an alignment pin

in there too..

Thanks A

[Matt Haugen]

Here is a link to an eBay auction currently going on with a Gibson Dove that has a similar neck. The neck is off the guitar, so the pictures might give you a little insight.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/GIBSON-DOVE-ACOUSTIC-GUITAR-PARTS-REPAIR-L-K-/2...

[alex gray]

Hi Matt  Thanks for the link. I have seen these necks before , but only ones that were factory leftovers.

That is one sad looking Dove!  Did you notice that the heel is split in three pieces. Most likely from the amount of steam it took to loosen it. I am not new to neck removal , but I have never done one of these. You can't even get a pallet knife  in the tenon joint because of the upper face brace.

Thanks again A

[nathan clark]

Do you anticipate doing a bunch of these during the course of your career?

[alex gray]

 Hi  If Frank Ford has only done a couple in his whole career . I wouldn't think so.

 I have been at this for over 25 years myself ,and have never been asked to do one like this. I have reset Gurians  ( tenon and pin )  Rickenbacker electrics ( You have to take the back of the guitar off)

Banjo  and National resonator  dowel sticks

Many straight forward Martins and Gibsons  Even a Vega  archtop from the 50's that had a bow tie  (double dove tail , one in the body and one into the neck )

I was just hoping that someone out there that had done one had some tips.

That's the great thing about repair. There's always  something new to learn.

Thanks A

[charley erck]

RE the Dove on ebay. $300 on that!?

[Paul Verticchio]

That ended up going for $760 USD !!!!!!!!!!

Stupidity runs rampant on ebay.

 

[Mark A. Kane]

God Bless America!!!

[Mark A. Kane]

Thanks to all for answering my questions, and providing pics as evidence of a neck reset I want nothing to do with! I LOVE a challenge, but I'll likely pass on one of these.

The newer Lasido products (Seagull, Norman, Art & Lutherie etc.) have a similar extended tenon. I used to do warranty work for them years ago when they built guitars whose necks could be readily reset (a la' old Taylor). They changed the neck joint several years ago to the extended tenon. I got a couple in that were less than a year old with bad neck angles. I remember being told by my factory contact that there was no way the neck angle could be bad, and, oh yeah, the new neck joint precluded any resetting of the neck due to the nature of the new tenon.  I sent both guitars back, and curiously, both were replaced under warranty (bad neck angles...hmm). We still carry this line and I still see the occasional bad neck angle. I simply refer the customer to the factory, as there apparently is no clean procedure for getting the neck out. I've never tried, either.

[Frank Ford]

Indeed, it its amazing that some builders and manufacturers still don't understand the inevitable changes that result in the need for resetting necks on flat top guitars. . .