Lookee here what I got! (Project)

Herec · Post by **Herec** » Wed Jul 02, 2008 5:47 pm

I just bought a cheap japanese SG copy from the 70's.

I'll post some pictures when I get it, it was a bargain if the seller was true to his word.

It has a bolt on neck, and I'd like to make it a set neck (for the resonance and sustain, I guess)

I'll be refinishing it, its got this cool design carved into it, some extra switches and stuff, and I need some kind of project for the summer.

Can I sand and glue pretty much?

fillmore nyc · Post by **fillmore nyc** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 11:49 am

You can try that, Herec. Its not gonna hurt anything, except you have to make sure that the neck didnt need any shims in the neck pocket when it is bolted on.
I tried this with an old Jap firebird copy, and it worked pretty well. I think the sustain and tone did improve. Probably the overall resonance improved more than anything else.
I did what you said: glued and sanded the joint. You can make the body a little more streamlined at the neck heel, but just dont make it too thin at that point or you'll encounter some flex and instability there.
One thing that works really well is substituting 1/4" hard maple dowels for the neck screws after the neck is glued in, and sanding them into the body contour. It will strengthen the joint, and since you have to fill the body holes anyway, it makes that operation a little easier, and more efficient.
You can use the neck bolts as "clamps" when initially glueing the neck in place, and after the glue dries, remove the screws, re-drill the holes for the dowels to the correct size, insert and glue the dowels, and flush sand them to the final contour of the neck/body joint. It makes a slick mod to the guitar even slicker!!
Post after you're done and let us know how it turned out.

ericopp · Post by **ericopp** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 12:31 pm

YES! I did this mod on an old Les Paul copy. I couldnt tell any major change in tone, but the overall stability of the guitar really improved. It stayed in tune a little better and needed less truss rod adjusting.
Another benifit is that I filed down the 4 bolt plate to only three so I could then file down the heel where the body + neck joined, giving me easier access to the higher frets. Nice!

Herec · Post by **Herec** » Thu Jul 03, 2008 1:30 pm

Here's a link to the auction.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0238590181

I don't think its a real dog, I've already got a main guitar, this would make a good backup that could be abused....