Question Beginning AX40 tear-down - neck care question

[Jwb96]

Hi,

I picked up an AX40 cheap on eBay to be used as a project guitar. I'm going to be shaving down the body and adding my own top, putting back just one pickup, refinishing the headstock, and sanding the neck. Might replace the bridge - still pondering that one.

I had the EBMM EVH before, and heard stories about how people had their necks ruined when all string tension was removed. Is that an issue with the AX40? I see this project taking a few months; is there any special care for the neck while it's disassembled?

Hope to start documenting this project soon - should be a good one.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[kestrou]

Jwb96,

You know, for a noob around here, you've got some pretty high aspirations - I like that!

I'm not an expert on the AX40, but welcome aboard and can't wait to see the project.

Kevin

 

[DrKev]

I had the EBMM EVH before, and heard stories about how people had their necks ruined when all string tension was removed.

I think that is nonsense. Just loosen the truss rod if you are worried about it and all will be well. But even then I doubt it's an issue.

Excuse the shameless plug but see number 3 in my Truss Rod myths blog post...

Truth About Truss Rods – Part 2 – Myth Busting! | DrKevGuitar.com


.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Total nonsense! Ive taken all strings off and its fine.

 

[Eric O'Reilly]

Cant wait to see it though! What kind of wood for the top? Quilt? Flame? Spalted? Maybe a different wood than maple?

 

[Lou]

I take strings off every time I change strings.

Most guitar necks have no strings on them for months during the manufacturing process.

 

[Jwb96]

Cant wait to see it though! What kind of wood for the top? Quilt? Flame? Spalted? Maybe a different wood than maple?

I won't make a decision until I get to my hardwood lumber supplier . . . it is going to be a nod to EVH, so it may be figured cherry with inlays of maple and maybe rosewood or ebony, or may stick with maple and with just a dark inlay. Spalted maple would be awesome, but it will come down to getting the right piece where I don't loose the effect of the spalt and at the same time don't let the spalt overwhelm the inlays I'm doing.

 

[Jwb96]

Thanks for the reassurance on the neck, everyone. Time to start some sanding . . .

 

[SBMM]

We take the strings off of them all the time over here at SBMM. Safe to say, it won't hurt it.

 

[ksandvik]

IMHO the only time this is an issue is if someone takes off the strings and don't put them on for many, many months in combination with a place where humidity is causing the tree to shrink and expand back and forth.

With floating Floyd Rose bridges you need to keep the angle of the bridge in place if you remove all strings, otherwise you need to key that back in and it takes a while to get it right.