curved neck

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curved neck

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koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

curved neck

I have this old ricardo sanchis (1987), which needed some repairing. Today I called to the repairshop. I hoped it was ready right before christmas, so I would enjoy my revised guitar during holiday. Instead of that the man said the neck had to be flattened (and also refretted of course).

So the neck was curved. But not in a hollow way, but in a round way (sorry for my english). How is that possible? I mean, stringtension would have let it curve the other way.

Due to age, humidity or what ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 23 2005 19:14:43

Doitsujin

Posts: 5078
Joined: Apr. 10 2005

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

Did you put it next to a heater? Or do you have a ground heater and layed the case on it?
In the winter when you come in a heated room from the cold outside and you open your case it could have the same effect like heating a metal-can and than throwing it into cold water.
Or water got into the neck?
The third option is... the guitar dont like your playing..so it selfdestructed hehehe..

I know somebody who played so damn ugly that all people ran out whenever he started a buleria. But his guitar didnt selfdestruct... So I think nobody could play worser than him..so it think your neck-bound depends on fast temperaturechanges.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2005 11:59:47

Guest

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

Hi Koella. That's bad news.

The reason can be humidity changes... But it can also be a bad preparation before fretting. It's called back bow. And it happens when the slots of the frets are to narrow for the fret wire. The the frets pres the neck backwards. The thing to do is to remove the frets and leave the guitar for a while before refretting.

Another good reason for reinforcing the neck.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2005 14:11:33

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: curved neck (in reply to Guest)

I recently spoke to a representative of perhaps the biggest and most famous guitar making company in America. He told me that there was supposed to be a slight bow in the neck of a guitar. Forward bow though, NOT back bow. he said guitars were made like this to "prevent buzzing".
This view contradicts what one of my college teachers says: that guitar necks should be "100% straight". I would be interested to know if anyone can clarify which statement is actually true.

Thanks,

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2005 15:19:32

Guest

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

James.

This slight bow is called relief and should be a few tenth of a milimeter. You adjust fretless instruments like violins etc. the same way.

Setup is not so easy. You cant just put a file on the frets and make them straight

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2005 16:18:18

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: curved neck (in reply to Guest)

Thanks Anders!
So my teacher is wrong... there is supposed to be a slight gap between the string and the frets. I thought so. I'm familiar with the techniques involved in adjusting guitar frets, but not "relief" adjustment, so I think I'll investigate.

Gracias

,

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 24 2005 17:49:46

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

thanks Anders ! They're working on it now. I think I call them to ask about the frets. Maybe they know it already, but if not should they make the slots wider ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 25 2005 19:00:22

Guest

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

Koella. They should know themselves. You can either make the slots wider or use a fret wire with a more narrow tang. The important thing is that wire and slot need to work together.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2005 7:36:25

koella

Posts: 2194
Joined: Sep. 10 2005
From: holland

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

Well Anders they did some nice repair jobs for me in the past. So let's hope for the best !

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 26 2005 11:13:29

geoffLW

Posts: 3
Joined: Dec. 27 2005

RE: curved neck (in reply to koella)

HI

Anders is, of course, right. Stock standard 'relief' is set up at the makers but is not always a standard measurement. Theres a good site that explains it all at http://www.stewmac.com/ Dan Erlwine writes up a storm on how various players like their necks set up. Having said that electric and folk players fiddle with their set-up less than classical players... Flamenco players need to pay the same attention to detail here though. See how Anders sets up his Flamencos so they play right. That's just one of the differences between the good and the best.

Geoff

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2005 12:02:50

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005

RE: curved neck (in reply to geoffLW)

Welcome to the forum Geoff!

Being a luthiery student, I am familiar with both the stewmac website and the Dan Erlewine DVD series. In fact I already own one of the Erlewine DVDs.

But it doesn't seem to cover much on "relief" so I would appreciate an indication of exactly which of Dan's DVDs covers this. Or else, where on the stewmac website is relief explained in more detail. As I am keen to know more about it.

Gracias!

James

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 28 2005 12:18:50