Official Luthiers Forum!

I have just come into a Greco Les Paul that I want to refinish. This is the first time I've done anything like this so help is appreciated. My first question is about the neck. This guitar has a set neck. What is the best way to seperate a set neck from the body. Is using the steam the best option? Thanks.

Why do you want to remove the neck? Is there some type of damage? You don't need to remove the neck to refinish the guitar. That would be an awful lot of trouble and risk to go to just to refinish. MHO.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

I agree - unless the neck needs a reset or something along those lines - don't remove it. It is a little more challenging to remove material around the neck joint area just because it is a tough angle to get your hands into and so forth, but take your time and do it right and it will actually save time in the end and prevent you from going back to fix mistakes.
By the way, I usually start with a random orbital palm sander for the top and back to remove the bulk of the material. A disc sander for most of the sides. Then it's all hand sanding from there on out for me.

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Barron Wesley Guitars

Thanks - that's helpful. Though it's one of the highend Greco models I don't like the color nor the size. It's almost 12 pounds! What I want to do is take a thick slice off the body and put on a flamed maple cap. That's why I would have to take the neck off.

Wow - so you are in for some work on this one.

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Barron Wesley Guitars

In that case, what I'd do is remove the fretboard, then use a couple of hot pallete knives to loosen the glue around the neck tenon/joint area, assuming the joint is anything like a Gibby. You won't know until you get into it. There are other ways of doing it, but that's my take. Good luck.

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

Like this:
http://www.dbeweb.com/guitar/

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Mike

The only thing nescessary for evil to thrive is for good men to do nothing.

If I were to decide not to do this project I would like to take care of a couple of finish blemishes. Is there a way, possible with a chemical, to repair a small spot in the finish. It does not effect the paint underneath.