Off Topic Non EBMM but need advice from any EBMM techs

[steevo]

Ive got a quite rare fender 12 string strat that has developed a twist in the neck. Im desperate to get it fixed as i bought it for my dads birthday 13 years ago and want to get it right for him.
I know its not EBMM but was just wondering if anybody has any experience of this happening on an instrument and what can be done to rectify it or at least stop the neck from becoming unplayable.

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[Razzle]

Yes. You have to have the fretboard unglued from the neck (which is usually an application of heat). Then the neck has to be pressed to be straightened out, and possibly shaved to make straight again. Then the fretboard is re-applied. This process may call for new frets (not sure the fretboard can be removed without removing the frets).

Very doable. You gotta get a luthier that can go down into the bowels of a guitar. You can do it!

 

[steevo]

Ive clamped it down today and applied heat with an iron for two hours. The problem is so bad that the headstock sits at a very different angle so ive tried to remedy that too.
Failing all else i might have to buy a warmouth neck if the scale length is the same.

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[DrKev]

This is not a home job. You'd need a specialist heat device but even so that is usually intended to loosen the glue holding the finger board in place enough that clamping in a certain position will fix an issue when the heat is removed and the glue re-sets, and it would not fix a severe twist.

Take it to a pro and get a proper analysis of the problem and quote for the cost to fix. And even then, there is no guarantee that the problem will not return. Warmoth may be the most cost effective solution.

 

[steevo]

Thanks for the advice. Ive had the neck clamped down for a few days and applied heat using an iron on top of a piece of brass lying across the fretboard. Ive put tension on the neck, via a string attatched to a tuner, to pull the neck back into line. Having removed the neck today it had straightened up considerably. So, back on the bench it went for another 24 hours, with more heat and the tension applied across a greater length of the neck.

I have looked at the warmouth equivalent and it may be the only option if this doesnt work. I need to contact them first as their replacement neck is listed as 25.5" scale and im 99% sure that this is 24.5".
Its still a usable guitar but setting it up has become a nightmare and it doesnt help having the old type truss rod adjuster at the body end. Im surprised nobody has come up with a retro fit system for these to allow easier adjustment like the MM type does.
Anyway, ill update this tomorow once its been restrung with ernie ball 8's and let you know if its worked or not.

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[steevo]

This was what it looked like today on the bench, having never done anything like this before its all been trial and error and using off cuts of wood and various clamps to keep the neck steady.

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