neck reset question

[henryr]

Hi all,

It is not uncommon for an acoustic guitar to need a reset. Do electric guitars ever require neck resets? If they do, I imagine it would be easy on a bolt on neck but, what is done with a set neck? I believe set necks are glued on and I wonder what type of glue is used and how difficult a job it is?

Thanks
henryr

 

[Ol'Lefty]

It is fairly rare in electrics because there is more mass than in the parts that shift in an acoustic. It is still a significant task requiring heat and, depending on glue used, moisture; and a great deal of planning and patience. (and expense)

 

[AP515]

I'm no expert, but I believe it is possible but difficult on a set neck. I also believe that PRS necks are very stable and won't need a reset unless there has been physical damage.

 

[henryr]

Based on Ol'Lefty's reply, regarding the glue, I have a feeling a bolt on neck is the best choice for keeping long term. Is adjusting a bolt on neck as easy as unbolting the neck to make neck angle adjustments? Does anyone know of drawings or schematics of PRS bolt on necks? What PRS models have bolt on necks?

Thanks,
henryr

 

[László]

Based on Ol'Lefty's reply, regarding the glue, I have a feeling a bolt on neck is the best choice for keeping long term

That's absurd! There are set neck electric guitars all over the place that date from before the first Fender that have never needed a re-set, and look at all the 50s Les Pauls that fetch a zillion bucks.

I have a 1965 SG with a set neck, my son has a '64 Melody Maker with a set neck, and many others. I have friends with large collections of old guitars. No one I know has EVER needed a re-set on an electric guitar!

Moreover, a re-set on a set neck acoustic guitar isn't that big a deal.

Incidentally, I once needed a re-set on a new Taylor acoustic with a bolt-on neck, and of course, they messed up the guitar pretty badly doing the re-set. So there are no guarantees either way.

These are rather bizarre assumptions. Are you new to playing guitar?

 

[rugerpc]

You really, really shouldn't spend time worrying about your set neck electric guitars needing neck resets. That goes for any current major brand, and especially for PRS guitars.

The only way deciding on whether getting a set neck guitar or a bolt on neck guitar should figure anywhere in the buying decision is if:
1. You plan on changing the neck yourself.
-or-
2. You prefer the tone of one over the other.

 

[tabl10s]

Hi all,

It is not uncommon for an acoustic guitar to need a reset. Do electric guitars ever require neck resets? If they do, I imagine it would be easy on a bolt on neck but, what is done with a set neck? I believe set necks are glued on and I wonder what type of glue is used and how difficult a job it is?

Thanks
henryr

I have a guitar at the PTC being reset right now@just over three months.

 

[László]

I have a guitar at the PTC being reset right now@just over three months.

Well WTF do I know...LOL

 

[Tim_S]

With set necks, they use a glue that reacts to heat and humidity, mostly a wood working glue. That way they can be heated up and loosened and the angle can be corrected if need be. Usually, a neck reset is a last resort for fixing a warped neck and or extremely high action that a truss rod adjustment can't fix because the warping happens on the higher frets near the body. This is sometimes caused by extreme changes in climate the over years, or by shipment.

The only reason I know this is because I'm dealing with a neck issue on my Ovation, which are known to be the worst guitar to do a neck reset on, because they use epoxy instead of glue. Once the epoxy is set, the only way to break the bond is to pretty much break the neck off the body.

Long story short, if you're thinking of DYI'n a neck reset, I personally would leave it to the pros. Especially if it's an expensive guitar like a PRS.

 

[henryr]

Thanks for all the replies. I would still like to know if bolt on/screw on necks are as easy as unbolting, shimming or removing wood, and re-bolting? Also what models of PRSs have bolt on necks.

Thanks again,
henryr

 

[Tim_S]

Thanks for all the replies. I would still like to know if bolt on/screw on necks are as easy as unbolting, shimming or removing wood, and re-bolting? Also what models of PRSs have bolt on necks.

Thanks again,
henryr

I'm not sure which PRS models have bolt-ons, but I do know that bolt-on necks are pretty easy to reset. Just like you described above. Although some may have a tiny bit of glue under the fretboard that sits on the body, just for extra stability.

 

[Ol'Lefty]

Bolt-ons are shimmed. Fender used to retail a set of rust colored plastic shims- several thicknesses. It is an appropriate way to do the job- not considered slob work. Now, if I am installing a new neck, I carefully sand in initial neck angle and write it in Sharpie on the bottom of the tenon.

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Bolt-ons are shimmed. Fender used to retail a set of rust colored plastic shims- several thicknesses. It is an appropriate way to do the job- not considered slob work.

Maybe your bolt-on necks are.... Mine aren't. I own two PRS bolt-ons that are slob-free enough to not need them.

 

[ViperDoc]

Thanks for all the replies. I would still like to know if bolt on/screw on necks are as easy as unbolting, shimming or removing wood, and re-bolting? Also what models of PRSs have bolt on necks.

Thanks again,
henryr

PRS bolt-on options are presently limited to the Brent Mason Signature, I believe.

What a neck requires depends on what's wrong with it. Shimming will redirect the neck axis, but can't correct warping. There are other magic spells for that. The method of manufacture for PRS neck settles the neck into its final stable form over a 30 day period where the neck is worked daily. My P24 has sat on a guitar stand in my garage for the last 5 months and when I pick it up, it's always in tune.

 

[henryr]

Does PRS use one piece neck/headtsock necks or scarf joint headstocks on their core models? Same question for the SE models.
Also what is the headstock angle on core models and SE models?

Thanks,
henryr

 

[rugerpc]

You own TWO SEs, right?

 

[Mikegarveyblues]

Bolt-ons are shimmed. Fender used to retail a set of rust colored plastic shims- several thicknesses. It is an appropriate way to do the job- not considered slob work. Now, if I am installing a new neck, I carefully sand in initial neck angle and write it in Sharpie on the bottom of the tenon.

What?!?!

I've owned a lot of bolt on guitars. Still have three in fact. None have had or needed to be shimmed.

 

[henryr]

Yes, and I can measure the headstock angle, but can't tell if it has a scarf joint or is one piece. Also curious if core models have same headstock angle and if they have a scarf joint or are one piece.

 

[John Beef]

Core models are not scarf joined. S2 models are. SE models, I'm not sure.

 

[László]

A very small amount of research will certainly turn up the answers the OP is looking for, and he appears to be reasonably well-informed.

PRS has made no secret of the fact that it is able to produce the S2s at a price point by introducing such compromises as scarf headstock joints, old style lacquer, and imported hardware. In fact, there is a PRS video on the subject.

All the OP has to do is use Google if he sincerely wants answers to his questions. But that is not his purpose. I think his purpose is to stir a pot.

Now he's trying to make a point of set necks vs bolt-on necks. It's awfully easy to figure out which PRS models have bolt on necks, just look at the freaking Product page on the PRS website! I'd guess he's done that but likes to play games.

In the acoustic section his questions implied that PRS prices are too high compared to the competition. He was informed otherwise with specific examples, but he knew the answers beforehand because he was familiar with certain very high end and expensive guitar models.

In other words, the OP has an agenda of some kind, and axes to grind. This is a very subtle form of trolling for arguments. I say do not feed this troll. This thread is complete BS. The OP is definitely not looking for answers.