Taking neck off?

[gearhound]

Hi guys!

I take my BFR with me when I go to do remote work every two weeks

I was leaving it up there but with winter + camps getting shifted around I don't want to risk leaving it there.
Plus if layoffs come I don't trust it being shipped back.

I only can take so much weight per luggage so I'm going to start taking it up in a gig bag and hoping I will be allowed to take it in the overhead on the charter

The thing is if they flip out I always have a multi tool in my luggage and could tune down the strings and take off the neck

hence getting to my point....is this ok to do!?!?!!? The joint is a work of beauty and I'm wondering if this would have any bad effects etc
Also if its something not to be done more than X amount of times etc

thanks!

 

[Kenji20022]

I imagine having the neck off is the same thing as not having any strings on the guitar. AKA zero tension which isn't ideal for the truss rod, so I don't recommend doing it for very long. I've had a guitar with the strings off the guitar for up to a week a long time ago when I first started playing, and there was never any issue with it. These guitars are much higher quality so I doubt there would be any substantial long term effects if you took it off for a flight and reinstalled it after. Just be careful unscrewing the neck properly to not damage the guitar and the screws, make sure to use a proper screwdriver and not something out of a multi-tool if it isn't the correct size.

 

[pentaspan]

it is wood, so I'd think screwing/unscrewing it every 2 weeks would eventually weaken the wood/screw holes.

The other thing is I have no idea how much torque to use when tightening the neck screws (gotta look that up).

 

[uOpt]

Actually it is much easier on the wood to take the neck off than dragging it through the airport in a gig bag. The lever forces with the neck on are brutal.

Just take it out toward the top, don't pull the neck out to the front. The headplate side of the neck is slimmer and even within the neck pocket that makes a difference, the difference between some paint chipping or not.

 

[DrKev]

I imagine having the neck off is the same thing as not having any strings on the guitar. AKA zero tension which isn't ideal for the truss rod, so I don't recommend doing it for very long. I've had a guitar with the strings off the guitar for up to a week a long time ago when I first started playing, and there was never any issue with it.

No problem taking the neck off. The truss rod thing is, IMO, an old myth that needs busting. (In fact, shameless plug, see my truss rod myths post here - Truth About Truss Rods – Part 2 – Myth Busting!).

it is wood, so I'd think screwing/unscrewing it every 2 weeks would eventually weaken the wood/screw holes.

Steve Morse used to take the neck off any time he travelled on small regional aircraft (where the gig bag won't fit in the overhead locker). What is important is to use the correct size screwdriver (so as not to damage the screw heads) and not to over-tighten the screws when putting the neck back.

Just take it out toward the top, don't pull the neck out to the front. The headplate side of the neck is slimmer and even within the neck pocket that makes a difference, the difference between some paint chipping or not.

Good advice. There is no rush when taking the neck off. Especially if it is a tight fit in the pocket.

 

[kestrou]

No problem taking the neck off. The truss rod thing is, IMO, an old myth that needs busting. (In fact, shameless plug, see my truss rod myths post here - Truth About Truss Rods – Part 2 – Myth Busting!).

Good article, Doc - hadn't seen it before - thanks for that!

Kevin

 

[Spudmurphy]

I remember Dan Erlewine telling the story of a pro musician who asked him to insert threaded inserts into the body to take neck bolts as opposed to wood screws. He took the neck off when he flew and put the 2 pieces into his suitcase.

So there is not an infinite life to constantly screwing and unscrewing a neck and the wood will wear and the "threads" cut into the wood via the woodscrew is susceptible to fail.

.... and don't over tighten neck screws - it's not a good policy to have!

 

[pentaspan]

Steve Morse used to take the neck off any time he travelled on small regional aircraft (where the gig bag won't fit in the overhead locker). What is important is to use the correct size screwdriver (so as not to damage the screw heads) and not to over-tighten the screws when putting the neck back.

well, considering the neck on #1 is, supposedly, still the original, that's pretty conclusive evidence. I wonder if, doing that so many times over the years, he's ever had to dowel the screw holes (I read he's had it re-fretted over 10 times).

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Unless you are gigging while you are away, why not get one of those lower end SBMM guitars and you will not have to worry about the potential damage to your #1?

 

[Warg Master]

I've left the neck without the strings for days on end every so often with no problems what so ever. I really don't think you'll have problems. Just be careful and everything will be okay!

 

[dannymusic]

buy 1 for each location

 

[gearhound]

buy 1 for each location

done that already

the issue is with the storage and luggage limitations (hardcase as well as my luggage is too much)

 

[uOpt]

I remember Dan Erlewine telling the story of a pro musician who asked him to insert threaded inserts into the body to take neck bolts as opposed to wood screws. He took the neck off when he flew and put the 2 pieces into his suitcase.

So there is not an infinite life to constantly screwing and unscrewing a neck and the wood will wear and the "threads" cut into the wood via the woodscrew is susceptible to fail.

.... and don't over tighten neck screws - it's not a good policy to have!

Well, there is a potential sound change there.

And you can always do that *after* you noodle out the original holes. Which seems difficult to do on high quality maple. My 1983 Blazer must have had the neck off two hundred times. The screws are also cheap, you can buy a 12-pack Fender branded ones on Amazon. Just don't go to home depot, those screws all suck.

If on the other hand you have it in a gigbag and then they force you to check it in you have high lever forces on the neck joint. And even if it goes overhead, you aren't alone in there.