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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | As many of you know, Balladeer #093 has come back to me. I wanted it just because... well if you want a shiny bowl you don't NEED to justify it, let alone to anyone here! 
The neck set is not great, Nick and I both know that. It's fine for cowboy chords but it gets a mite steep as you venture up the neck. There's not much saddle left and the truss rod works fine but the neck is currently straight as it pertains to the truss rod area of influence.
If I were to send this back to the Mothership, what would they do to it? Are they able to do a conventional neck reset or would they just chop the neck off and replace it? I would NOT allow this to happen! Would they (or could they) do a bowl bend? Is it even possible on a fiberglass bowl?
My own answer would be to replace the fingerboard with one that was a little more stout and even have a taper to it. The original fingerboard (which is very thin) has a distinct bend right at the 14th fret. I see no evidence of the top sinking in the fingerboard extension area or any other structural issues.
A lot of questions, I know. But it's one of those deals where if they can fix the neck angle without replacing the neck, I would move heaven and earth to make it happen. If it's going to be overly intrusive surgery I will just let it be the way it is.
Who should I speak to at the factory?
Now that this is back in my hands I'll never let it go, but I'm wondering if it can be fixed if I shovel enough money at it.
Thanks all. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | First... Before someone tech-wannabe tells you something different... call the factory.
They are the last word on what they can/will do.
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Second, let us know how it goes.
Edited by Slipkid 2012-10-16 11:29 AM
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April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Left a message on John's voice mail. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | attaboy |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | I have an '84 1567 Legend SSB that I bought from a fellow OFC member (don't remember who) about four or five years ago. It had just been through a factory "refresh" that include some of the types of tweaking that you're looking for, but nothing was replaced. The neck had a pronouced bend after about the 16th fret or so, and most of it is still there such that the 16th fret and beyond falls off sigificantly. The previous owner was not concerned with the lack of playability in that region and the factory was able to save the original neck and fretboard, but with this one deficiency. Although I certainly see and feel the pronounced dip, I can still play through it and often do as this guitar is my regular "rehearsal/practice" guitar that I leave on site. The dip and high frets in that region don't bother me much since the only thing I do up there is play single note leads and no chords, so its really no problem for me. I don't even think about it. Bottom line . . . I think the factory can meet your expectations of preserving the original parts and pieces so long as you're willing to compromise a little on the result. |
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February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret |
"Dip 'n' Frets". There's yer new band name.
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Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5328
Location: Cicero, NY | Probably much better than "Fret'n Dips". |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 608
Location: Caribou, ME | Just spoke with John. A conventional reset isn't going to happen. The neck would be replaced. He said they haven't done bowl bends in a long time. I mentioned replacing the board with a tapered one and he agreed that might be the best solution as far as keeping it as original as possible and yet improving the action... but they aren't able to provide me with a tapered board and therefore couldn't do that repair.
I'll start asking around about who can make me a tapered board. I would tackle it in a heartbeat IF I knew I could remove the old board. |
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So if I wanted to spend the money....