LesB3
Electromatic
What do you think? None of my other vintage Gretsch's look like this... No issues with playability, but wondering if a neck reset is around the corner?
Thanks!
Thanks!
Time for a neck reset??
- Thread starter LesB3
- Start date
afire
Friend of Fred
I will say I've had a few Gretsches where the joint looked like that but they were fine. Is this a new development or has it always looked that way? If it's been like that for a long time and the angle over the bridge seems adequate, then you might be fine indefinitely. If that gap developed more recently, then a neck reset may be in your future. But I tend to judge a neck joint on a 50-60 year old guitar more by how it functions than how it looks. Wood drying out or plastic shrinking can create the appearance of a gap on the perimeter that may not actually exist.
freddyfingers
Gretschified
I do not know how neck joints should be, but i know that would keep me up at night, even if a luthier told me it was fine and just cosmetic.
Curt
Electromatic
Not even a question, absolutely. That guitar will make sounds you never heard before after the reset. The only thing holding that neck in is the Dan Duffy screw!
Also, when you send it to your neck person they need to know it's a tenon joint and not a dovetail.
Also, when you send it to your neck person they need to know it's a tenon joint and not a dovetail.
LesB3
Electromatic
Honestly, I can't say. The view from the other side is a lot different...
Thanks Curt - I guess you would know!
Unfortunately, I am "tech-less" and the last quote I got for a neck reset on another guitar was well over what this girl is worth.
Curt
Electromatic
Some people are afraid to do Gretsch resets and charge a lot to avoid doing the work.
Remove the strings and then rock the neck, you’ll see movement which is a tone suck. From the top of the guitar to the bottom of the strings it should be about 7/8”.
Remove the strings and then rock the neck, you’ll see movement which is a tone suck. From the top of the guitar to the bottom of the strings it should be about 7/8”.
The value on old Gretschs has been on a steady climb, it might be worth more than you think. What is it, a Tenny?
LesB3
Electromatic
Thanks Curt - I figured it was probably a "go away" price but don't really have another point of reference. The last place I had a reset done (20 years ago, on a Tennessean) is long gone. Back then it cost me $399. The only other guy that I know I would trust told me he has a 2 year waiting list.
Nah, just an old Clipper.
Curt
Electromatic
Reset it yourself, it's not difficult at all.
Baba Joe
Gretschie
My idea of doing it myself was to personally drive my Tennessean to Curt’s, drop it off and pick it up when ready. Money well spent as the guitar both played and sounded better. If a guitar needs a neck reset, it needs a reset. Not getting it done (either professionally or by the owner if confident/capable enough) is to shortchange the owner of the benefits of the guitar imo.
LesB3
Electromatic
Methinks you have over-estimated my wood-working / mechanical abilities...
radd
Friend of Fred
Neck resets……I get my 25 yr old ooo-28 EC Martin back pretty soon from Gryphon, neck reset. I work on my guitars but I was not about to learn how to reset a neck on that guitar. I may buy a beater guitar at some point and learn on that.
My Martin
My Martin
LesB3
Electromatic
Yeah, a neck reset is not on my list of things I'd like to try (and fail at). I still haven't managed to get a truss-rod adjustment right in over 20 years, no way I'm pulling the neck off completely.
And to be fair, this is a guitar I was looking at buying, not one that I own, and was mostly to scratch a particular itch I've had lately. Just bought a Guild (gasp!) instead.
Thanks everyone!
And to be fair, this is a guitar I was looking at buying, not one that I own, and was mostly to scratch a particular itch I've had lately. Just bought a Guild (gasp!) instead.
Thanks everyone!
GreTschocaster
Synchromatic
Curt is a master of guitar repair and knows all things Gretsch. If you haven't checked it out already here is a link to his website.
afire
Friend of Fred
So the wood-to-wood contact looks solid. That's why I say that the appearance of a gap could be caused by shrinkage of the heel cap and binding strip. Take something that's thin enough to fit into that gap and see if it goes any deeper than the heel cap or binding strip. If it doesn't, you might be okay. If it does go deeper, then there's definitely some separation. And follow Curt's advice and see if you can detect any movement with the strings slackened.
afire
Friend of Fred
Ahh. I see it's a moot point now anyway.
ToneM1
Gretschie
Even though I've done Neck Re-set's, I'd rather have Curt do it when It comes to my own guitars. I have the steam jig I got years ago from Stew-Mac and it works great, when it comes to my stuff I would rather have another set of "eyes" do it.
