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Really weird bend of bass neck
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=44915
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Author:  State_of_Fear [ Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Really weird bend of bass neck

I have a problem with the neck on my bass. It is slightly bent towards the floor(It's bending rigth). Witch causes the G-string to almost always tip over the neck and frets and the E-string has a lot of fretboard to play on.
I tried clamping it up between two boards to straighten it out but it didn't work. So now I'm thinking about building a frame for the bass with 4 boards and pulling the neck straight with clamps.
I post pictures here witch shows both the bend and a drawing of my idea.
On top of this, the neck is slightly twisted. Does anyone have an idea of what I colud do?

Help would be appreciated!!

Author:  cphanna [ Thu Jan 15, 2015 4:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Really weird bend of bass neck

Hi, Philip.

At first, I wondered if the neck had just become mis-aligned in its socket. But on closer inspection I can see the curve in your photos.

I'll leave it to someone who really knows what they are doing to advise you about trying your clamping scheme. The only thing I want to point out is that I think you've got the clamps mis-placed in your drawing. If the instrument were resting in your jig on its back, you'd need to clamp in the other direction--and you'd need cauls and a block up by the head end, too.

But don't do this until you get some knowledgable advice. I'm not knowledgable about this sort of repair.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Thu Jan 15, 2015 5:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Really weird bend of bass neck

Well, Philip - I've done a number of these repairs through the years (mostly on Les Pauls), and I can tell you that twists of this type usually revert within a year. That particular piece of wood just doesn't want to bend to its intended use.

Still - give it a try, but never mind the frame. Simply clamp the body down to a good solid surface (a bench), apply heat to the neck (I used a blow dryer, or a heat lamp), then clamp the neck slightly to the other side of center. Let it sit overnight before removing the clamps.

Good luck.

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