Neck Resets

Many factors that can’t be known until work has begun can contribute to the possible cost of a neck reset. I detail below some of these hidden problems and I can discuss them further with you.

Every steel string guitar eventually needs a neck reset. A set of 12-53 strings has 170LB (77kg) of tension constantly pulling the headstock and bridge towards each other with a 3.75” sound hole right in between them! Over time, usually a few decades, this constant force deforms the guitar in many ways all which contribute to the need for a neck reset. It is inevitable. Even set neck Les Paul electric guitars need neck resets.

I use heat sticks (the modern way) and not steam (the traditional way) to remove necks. This saves the finish from being damaged from the hot/wet steam and stops any wood swelling/deformation and water damage inside and out.

At least a new saddle is needed after a neck reset.

After a neck reset has been done, your guitar may also need a full refret, new nut, new saddle, and even a new bridge all which cost what they individually cost.

A new bridge is needed if the original bridge is broken or, more commonly, was planned thinner in an attempt to keep the action low. The lowest limit on a Martin bridge is 5/16” tall.

Additionally, a tapered shim will be necessary if the fingerboard extension fallaway is more than 0.020”.

All this can be assessed before any work is done.

Some brands and type of guitar are easier to reset than others:

Martin Guitars: Typically a straight forward dovetail, especially vintage Martins.

Gibson Guitars: Gibson’s can sometimes (thankfully rarely) have their top glued over the dovetail which complicates matters. It is impossible to tell if the top is over the dovetail until work has began.

Taylor Guitars: Use numbered shims and are straight forward.

Godin Guitars: If your Godin made acoustic guitar (Seagull, Simon & Patrick, Art & Lutherie, Norman, La Patrie) was made after 2006, a neck reset is extremely troublesome as Godin began to epoxy their necks in early 2006. If a neck has a problem, Godin themselves just rip the neck off and glue a new neck on.
I can reset these post 2006 necks but your guitar might be damaged. See this video for details.

Classical Guitars: If the guitar was built with a Spanish heel, the neck and body are one making a neck reset completely different to a guitar where the neck can be removed. If involves either planing the original fretboard to regain correct neck/body geometry, or replace the fretboard to achieve the same thing. Either way typically requires a full refret, new nut and new saddle.

Electric Guitars:

1. Bolt on necks get full tapered shims to correct neck/body geometry.

2. Set necks like Gibson Les Pauls I don’t work on but I can put you in touch with those that do.