Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi all! To the moderators, please forgive me if this is in the wrong section as I'm not sure if this should be on off topic or if this section is appropriate.

Okay, well, due to some upcoming obligations and a chance at becoming a for real professional recording artist, I have a question regarding my 1950 D-28. It's my secondary instrument and one that I use for flatpicking. The only problem is the baseball bat neck causing significant pain in my left hand and arm after approximately 20 minutes of playing time. It's not all original (new fingerboard and bridge and refinished in the 1970's), so when I asked a few friends who are very knowledgable about vintage Martins, they said for me to have the neck shaved. I just can't bear to do that to the instrument, so my other option is to have another neck made and keep the instrument all original. This instrument is beyond special sounding, the third best sounding instrument I've ever played (Lance's E2 and TR's '35 bone being the other 2). It is *not* going to be sold.

So, I'm asking for recommendations-- perhaps Mr. Watkins could help with his thoughts too. I'm hoping that this forum could direct me to an individual who can help me find a one piece mahogany t-bar neck (with carbon fiber reinforcements because of the thinness requirements?) custom shaped to my requirements. (To Lance-- I would ask you to do it, but I know you work mostly in the bolt-on necks now, so I figured I'd post about it... that, and the next one you build for me will have *the* perfect neck!)

I am grateful for any and all input-- thank you all in advance!

John

Addendum-- that should read: "keep the original neck intact." I miss the edit function!   

there are often nos martin dovetail necks available on ebay, or you can buy directly from martin. if you want graphite reinforcement just add it. you might have to use a later style square section reinforcement rather than a t.

John,

Betcha John Hall at BluesCreek could help you out.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

    I may bea ble to help. contact me at tippie@epix.net
john hall
blues creek guitars

John,

I have to ask, since you're planning to replace the original neck with one which has a thinner profile, why not get one with a headstock-adjusting truss rod? Changing the neck dimensions will affect the guitar's sound more than replacing the bar with an adjustable rod. Besides, the reason those old necks are so thick is to counteract string tension; and that's why adjustable truss rods were such a revelation.

Yes, I know that there are some people who don't use adjustable rods in their new steel-strings, and it works for them. But why take a chance?

the only reason is the difficulty in getting the dovetail angles to match up. you would have to do a bit of template engineering and testing to ensure that your made neck's tenon will match the mortice shape and angles.