Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello Brothers!!
It's been a long time since I have posted much of anything relating to guitar construction.

This week I thought I would bolt my neck on to the body. 12 fret slotted head. When all is tightened up the neck bows up to the max. It's impossible to play any cord. The neck is straight until you start to tighten the strings.
At the 12th fret the height of the bass E string must be atleast 3/4" or more.

Can someone suggest some help with this problem???

Thanks,

walter

1. Does it have a truss rod?
2 If so is the truss rod preloaded for to counter act or increase the bow?
3. How thin is the neck at the 8th fret, and over all?
4. Are you sure the fretboard centerline plane is set the right height above the bridge i.e. the neck set angle?MichaelP38930.6287152778

Hi Michael...
I'm using a stewmac double action truss rod and I purchased one of their slotted head neck.
The thickness of the neck at the 8th fret is 1.04".
Thanks...walter

is there tension on the rod? and have you tried adjusting the down bow out using the rod? Walter. even before you answer that I suspect the neck angle and or the saddel height is out of wack. How tall does the saddle stand above the bridge?

Michael...
The saddle height is   .123.
I tried to trim the saddle as low as I could. There is not much left.
I have tried to adjust the truss rod both ways to the max. It just does'nt do much.WalterK38930.6582407407

Hi Walter good to see you my friend, hope your felling a bit better.

If you lay a straight edge along the neck with no string tension on how far above the bridge does it lay ?

Russ

I suspect you mean .123 not .0123. That would be a bit low that said it sure sounds like the neck angle is low in relation to the bridge. But just for kicks turn the truss rod the other direction to see if it decreases the bowMichaelP38930.6445949074

Hi Russell,
If I lay the straight edge on the fingerboard to the bridge it's about even in height.

This is with out any string tension I assume as this is how it needs to be checked. That being the case the neck back angle needs to be set so that the straight edge is about 1/8" above the bridge. There in lies your problem

Walter/Michael

Even if the edge is level, you should still be able to get a reasonnable action all be it with a low saddle. Which as Michael says you need to add some angle, but it sounds to me like the neck is bending back also, so
check the truss rod to make sure it is taking the tension.

Walter after you get the neck reset. be sure to double check the nut, saddle and string action set-up

I'll do more checking and maybe I can borrow a camera and I'll get back with you guys.
Thanks very much for your help.

Kindest regards,
walter

Could be Russel. never the less 1/8" low on the fb plane/bridge ht. is will render a high action. If you sight the neck from the butt end looking down eith fb edge you should be able to see how much of the problem is neck set and how much is neck bow. I suspect there is both in play and one is compounding the other.MichaelP38930.6597106481