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I have this no-name guitar that needs a neck reset and has what looks to be a fairly normal dovetail joint but the glue is impervious to steam. Other joints are coming apart but the neck joint will not budge. (though, surprisingly, I seem to have moved it about 1/8 inch but no more).
My next plan of attack is to drill and/or saw the glue between the dove tail and the neck block then replace and repair whatever damage I do to the dovetail. This seems less damaging than just sawing the whole neck off. Anyone have any experience or suggestions on this and what tool(s) you did or would use?

Cut the neck off and convert to a bolt on. Going to work better than what you suggest.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Likely AMG (Asian mystery glue) that has been plaguing Luthiers for decades now. It's won't release with heat or moisture and basically requires a claymore to get the neck off....

Brian
I like your idea and have been considering it but I got confused about the fact that when I cut the neck off there will still be a slot for the dovetail in the neck block.
Do I insert a piece in the neck block to fill that space? Just leave the piece of neck in there and drill through that? It is confusing to me with that dovetail still there.
Dave

If it moved at all, the glue has released, at least partially. I suspect there is very little taper in the dovetail, and the steam has swelled it enough that it won't move. I'd let it dry for a while and then try to get it off without using steam. It may slip right off, or it may not.

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A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon

Yes, I would fill the void. In this case I would likely pour it full of epoxy.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

^^^Yep.

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https://soundcloud.com/jeffreylsuits/he ... -runnin-13

Sorry, Ben, I've got a similar situation and would love a bit more information about what you suggest: forgive my ignorance, but do you mean a hardware store epoxy filler? That's certainly easier than what i'd been planning. Could I just drill that through and use a bolt-on butt joint?

Thanks in advance,

I use epoxies from system 3 and 3M, but any quality epoxy should work.

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Brian

You never know what you are capable of until you actually try.

https://www.howardguitarsdelaware.com/

Finally found the time to cut this thing off.
Note the large glob of epoxy at the bottom of the dovetail.
Also the odd looking worm like thing in the neck that I assume is some sort of dowel pin to hold the two pieces of the neck together.
This dowel should work well to hold the threaded inserts.

The worm like thing is a dowel that is inserted vertically in the heel to reinforce the heel from breaking. Many people do something similar...Mike

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Another day, another dollar.

During the extended steaming trying to move the neck, I blushed the finish... not too surprising.
But similar to the AMG, it seems to have a "mystery finish" also. Not affected by alcohol, acetone or lacquer thinner.
I am surprised that a polymer finish would blush so easily but not sure what else it would be.
Anyone have any suggestions for getting blushing out of these mystery finishes?