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If you have a vintage guitar, for this conversation let’s say a guitar older than 20 years, it will eventually need a neck rest. An instrument that doesn’t need a neck reset is the exception not the rule. Here at The Acoustic Shoppe we see lots of vintage instruments, and although a neck reset is a fairly significant job, it’s a common one that can be easily corrected on most guitars.
Years of string tension tends to strain or “reset” the angle of the neck over time. The wood of the guitar changes shape and the neck angle is compromised. Often called wood creep, the classic deformation tends to cave in the top in front of the bridge. You might also develop a hump rising up from behind the bridge.
This movement in the wood of the guitar raises the height of the strings off the fingerboard, eventually resulting in action so high that the instrument is no longer playable.
An experienced luthier/repair tech will ensure that other options such as truss rod adjustment, and nut/saddle/bridge work have been addressed before performing a guitar neck reset. It’s common for people to lower the bridge saddle to compensate for the changing neck angle throughout the life of the instrument. The repair job should also include inspecting the guitar for cracked or missing top braces.
A neck reset is a precise repair that is best left to experienced professionals. Even on instruments that have easily removable necks. Material is removed/altered in the process and the slightest of adjustment is needed. We are talking as little as 1mm of material.
Your guitar may have a bolt on neck, which is a touch easier to remove, or it may have a glued dovetail joint (i.e., Martin Guitars) which requires steaming and patience to remove properly. Some guitars may even have a mortise and tendon joint.
A proper neck reset will “reset” the angle bringing the strings closer to the fingerboard again. The reset operation typically involves removing the neck and then cutting a wedge shaped piece out of the face of the neck heel that contacts the guitar body. The fatter the wedge, the lower the strings will be after the neck is reattached. Make sure whoever is working on your instrument is experienced and knows the “secret sauce” formula to determine the proper angle before removing any material.
Remember, nearly all acoustic guitars (and many other instruments as well), at some point will need a neck reset. It’s an expensive and invasive repair, but in the hands of an experienced luthier the procedure can breathe new life into an old guitar.
For more information on resetting a guitar neck, or general acoustic instrument repair, contact us here at The Acoustic Shoppe. We are dedicated to helping you along your musical journey.
