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Post by Lefty on Feb 25, 2007 16:51:54 GMT -7
I hate the neck on my AM strat. The neck always seems to be shrinking thus leaving the frets poking out of the edge. I've had them dressed once already about 4-5 months ago. I've never had this problem on any of my other guitars. Any suggestions? I'm about ready to buy another neck. Waddya think of Warmoth?
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Post by Curt on Feb 25, 2007 17:32:45 GMT -7
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 25, 2007 17:57:42 GMT -7
What is the humidity like in your house ? The shrinkage is probably due to low humidity drying it out . Get some moisture in the air , I'll bet it swells back to normal and is fine .
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Post by Lefty on Feb 25, 2007 18:53:50 GMT -7
No humidity, Colorado is dry, dry, dry...even with crap loads of snow. Maybe it's time for a humidifier.
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Post by mward on Feb 25, 2007 19:57:33 GMT -7
Just clean the fret edges up again. Eventually you'll get them trimmed at the shrunkenest point of the neck and they'll never stick out again. You don't really need them dressed, just the edges taken care of. I wouldn't replace the neck for that.
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Post by Lefty on Feb 25, 2007 20:11:29 GMT -7
Well, I was kinda hoping to go with a righty neck...it yields some cool tones. ;D
I'll check out Musikcraft, they look to be pretty cool and not as $$ as some of the others. And I've still got some Fender decals lying around here somewhere, just don't tell FMIC.
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Post by skydog958 on Feb 25, 2007 20:27:02 GMT -7
I hate my neck too. damn thing is stiff all the time. I need to hire a chiropractor or somethin'. ;D
Editted for the smilie
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 26, 2007 3:12:42 GMT -7
No humidity, Colorado is dry, dry, dry...even with crap loads of snow. Maybe it's time for a humidifier. There's your problem . Won't matter what neck you put on it , you will probably have the same problem happen . Invest in a humidifier for your house .
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Post by pacubob on Feb 26, 2007 8:43:49 GMT -7
I'll bet some humidity will fix the problem. North Dakota in the winter is terrible for low humidity. Had a Taylor nylon string once that developed some bad ripples in the top below the bridge because I wasn't paying close enough attention to the moisture content. Now we have a hunidifier and a large pan of water on the stove at low setting when it really gets cold (in addition to the humidifiers in my accoustics). Guitars need to live in about 40-46% moisture content. I have a little $15.00 humidifier I keep out in plain sight just to up the awareness level. Bonus, you'll find your breathing is a lot easier with some moisture in the air.
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Post by pacubob on Feb 26, 2007 8:54:22 GMT -7
POP. That was the sound of me pulling my head out. What I meant to say was that I have a little $15.00 digital humidity meter that I keep in the den.
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Post by Lefty on Feb 26, 2007 9:14:57 GMT -7
Funny thing, out of all my guitars (in the same room) none of them have ever been affected by the lack of humidity, ever.
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Post by mward on Feb 26, 2007 9:25:02 GMT -7
They may have all been trimmed up at some previous date or were set up originally in the factory during wintertime so you don't feel it. I've found on a lot of maple necks it never shows up because of the finish over the fret ends, and on bound necks you usually won't notice it either. My fix is to get some 600 grit paper on a block and smooth em off. If it's a maple neck follow it up with polishing pads from 2000-12000 grit to put the shine on where you knocked it off. This may not be the ultra-anal super luthier method of fixing it but I've never had a complaint.
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Post by propellr on Feb 26, 2007 9:45:48 GMT -7
I reccommend a humidifier that needs no filter unless you want your humidifier to turn into a science project.
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Post by Joey Beverages on Feb 26, 2007 15:44:08 GMT -7
Funny thing, out of all my guitars (in the same room) none of them have ever been affected by the lack of humidity, ever. Gonna go with the rest of the crowd and recommend a humidifier. And, here's some invisible karma to keep all your guitars happy +++1
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Post by flametop603 on Feb 26, 2007 17:55:52 GMT -7
My Mother swears by oil of olay for her neck!
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 26, 2007 18:20:49 GMT -7
A lot depends on a persons location in North America and other locations in the world and how much their guitars may be effected by humidity or lack of . Living here in SW Ontario our winters can be very cold and dry but our summers very humid due to the flow coming up from the Gulf of Mexico plus the fact we are surrounded by the Great Lakes . How much these factors effect parts of a guitar or the guitar as a whole depends on the type of wood , quality and build of the instrument to a degree but I do know that I MUST run a humidifier during the dry times of winter and a dehumidifier/air conditioning during hot muggy days during the summer or it will effect the set up , tuning and the neck and frets . Fall and spring time are somewhat stable times of the year and have a less noticeable effect . The fact you had the frets fixed once my indicate the neck was not properly seasoned wood from the get go and I do believe this is a problem with high production demand but the fact you are having the same problem again would make me think lack of humidity is the problem . Go out and get a gyrometer and see what the humidity is in your house. If it is under 30-35% then it will effect the wood . I try and keep mine around 35-40% and find it keeps the wood stable . In the summer I try to keep it around 50-55% . If you hate your neck for any other reason then try a replacement but if not give it some moisture for a while and see what happens , I think you will find it fixes it plus makes your home much more comfortable too .
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Post by Lefty on Feb 26, 2007 18:48:58 GMT -7
See here is the problem. All my guitars are in my "guitar room", and the door is always closed (to keep the pups out). If I put a humidifier in there, I think mold will/may become an issue.
BTW any recommendations for a humidifier?
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Post by Curt on Feb 26, 2007 19:05:06 GMT -7
BTW any recommendations for a humidifier? Texas Gulf Coast ;D
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Post by nitehawk55 on Feb 26, 2007 19:29:32 GMT -7
See here is the problem. All my guitars are in my "guitar room", and the door is always closed (to keep the pups out). If I put a humidifier in there, I think mold will/may become an issue. BTW any recommendations for a humidifier? There are several large and small made by Honeywell and other companies . Most you can set to run up to a pre set level and then they will shut off so if you want to have one small one in your guitar room that is not a problem . Is your house forced air heating with a furnace ? I keep my humidifier set up near the hall way where the cold air vents from the furnace will draw the air and put it through the whole house . That wourks well too and I just keep an eye on the gyrometer from time to time to see how the level is . Do some research on the internet or go to Wallmart or the like , they have lots of models in stock as well as gyrometers .
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Post by Shannon on Feb 26, 2007 22:06:00 GMT -7
If none of your other guitars have ever done this, it seems strange to me that this one shrank from lack of humidity. I wonder if the wood the neck was made from didn't dry properly in the kiln? It's just a little strange.
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Post by hdahs143 on Feb 26, 2007 22:27:32 GMT -7
BTW any recommendations for a humidifier? Texas Gulf Coast ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Post by Hohn on Feb 27, 2007 11:55:07 GMT -7
No humidity, Colorado is dry, dry, dry...even with crap loads of snow. Maybe it's time for a humidifier. Bingo! The climate in Cheyenne is the same-- dry dry dry! When I moved to Hawaii, all my guitars started sounding great. A guitar humidifier is a MUST for the Rockies! The case humidifiers aren't nearly as effective as humidifying the house, imo. JMO
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