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I am restoring an old Epiphone acoustic and it needs a neck reset. I am going to have to replace the fretboard so I removed it. The FB came off very cleanly leaving only a little bit of glue residue. My problem in removing the neck is that I don't have a neck removal jig (like the Bryan Galloup inspired one). Is there a different way to get the neck off since the fretboard has been removed? Here is a picture of the joint. Thanks so much. Dan

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Dan

I always steamed the joint pretty well while the guitar was laying on the bench. The neck was elevated by a couple books overlayed with a soft towel. I then used a clamp on either side of the body (using protective cauls), to slowly pressure the mortise off the tenon. It might take a half hour. Be patient. Add pressure, let it sit. Add pressure, let it sit. Pretty soon, it will just slide apart.

Or you can elevate the body, and clamp the heel. But when it finally comes out be ready to catch the clamp. Don't want to dent the neck, ya know.

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Chris,

Thanks for your reply. Makes perfect sense. I'll give it a go and let you know how I did.

Thanks again!
Dan

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Dan

I steam the joint and gently "wiggle" the neck loose. I always found those fixtures cumbersome. I made one and quickly abandoned it.

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"I've been had again"
Tim Benware
Creedmoor, NC

Thanks for replying Tim. I actually wondered if that would work. I'll most likely try a hybrid of your method and what Chris does with clamps and cauls. Without the fretboard on, it seems to me it should come loose pretty easily as long as I'm patient. Thanks again for your help! Dan

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Dan

You can make a very effective jig with a few clamps and some wood or mdf scrap. This one cost me $0. I put padding on every part that contacts the guitar. The clamp at the neck joint bears up on the heel. The two clamps at the waist need very little pressure. If the joint is well steamed (assuming it's not glued epoxy or some other evil substance) it usually takes very little force on the clamp on the heel. And yes, take your time.



Pat

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formerly known around here as burbank
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

I rigged up something similar to what Pat has in his photo. You don't need/want to crank heavily. Simply applying a bit of gentle pressure as you slowly introduce the steam into the joint will do the trick. It can be helpful to figure out a way to orient the joint so that any moisture generated will tend to drip clear of the guitar, as opposed to running all over and/or into the body.

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George :-)

Check my laminated neck thread below for my version of Pat's removal jig..plenty padding
It was from stuff I had lying around