picker Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 Here's a question for you repair oriented types. I found a problem with my new fish, a Dean Playmate acoustic bass guitar I got for $40. The glue joint where the nck joins the body is not tight. The finish is cracked all the way up to the fingerboard, znd there is about a business card's width between the bottom of the neck and the body. Will a wood screw through the neck and into the block snug it up to the body and hold it there? I'd hate to sink more money into my cheapo campfire bass. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Geoff Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 I'd try injecting glue into the crack(s) and clamping it down tight overnight, before I start drilling screws through the fretboard. G. "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the World will know Peace": Jimi Hendrix http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=738517&content=music The Geoff - blame Caevan!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky McDougall Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 What McGeoff said. Rocky "Democracy is two wolves and a lamb, voting on what to eat for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb, contesting the vote." Benjamin Franklin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdepelteau Posted April 3, 2007 Share Posted April 3, 2007 The chair doctor.... That's a glue specifically designed for hard working joints like chair dowels i.e. It comes witha seringe. Probably available at Home Depot. Veritas tools inc. http://www.veritastools.com/ http://www.veritastools.com/Products/ProductList.aspx?cat=53 ;^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 Guitar builders are supposed to use something called Hide Glue. It's made from animal hides, I suppose. Or maybe it's just hidden and you can't find it anywhere. This kind of glue holds very securely, but also can be removed by heating it. I'd be vary wary of using any kind of glue that was permanent. The next time the next shifts, the wood will tear. I wouldn't drill or screw into the neck unless it was as a last resort. (That's one step short of performing the Last Rites.) Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted April 4, 2007 Share Posted April 4, 2007 There is a marine 2 part wood epoxy also that'll adhere anything that it touches also. I like the syringe idea.. ya wanna get the glue as far up into the opening as possible so it is not just on the outer edges. Brocko Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted April 7, 2007 Author Share Posted April 7, 2007 I guess I didn't explain the problem right. The part that isn't sticking to the body as it should is the heel of the neck, the part that sticks out at a right angle under fretboard. The dovetail joint that holds the neck to the body is right behind it. Any suggestions on how to clamp the neck after glueing it? I thought about wrapping bungee cords peripherally around the body, or getting one of those nylon strap thingies that you can crank down tight and loosen up. A bar clamp big enough to work would cost more than the bass itself did. Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdepelteau Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 How about standing the guitar on the neck and laying some heavy stuff on top of the guitar...? Or maybe standing the guitar up and putting heavy stuff on the neck to push it down, either way. ;^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 $40 beater bass... use the nylon strap... gentle tighten it... watch the glue goosh out of the cavity area and then stop! Wipe away excess and see if the joint is closed and then hope for the best. Might want to put something between where the ratchet section of the strap touches to help protect the sides of the bass. If it is really bad maybe drill through the back and put a dowel in it first then follow through with the gluing. Fill the rest of the drilled area with sawdust n glue... sand down a bit. Get your favorite marker set and try to match up the color to hide it best you can. Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 40 cheapo campfire bass. Play it until it falls apart. Then set it on fire on stage at one of your shows! :grin: Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave251 Posted April 8, 2007 Share Posted April 8, 2007 GIve me a call tomorrow and I'll walk you through it. Basically, you'll be using a combination of techniques. I HIGHLY doubt it's a dovetail joint...most likely a simple mortise/tenon. You'll need....slow cure epoxy; an ANIMAL syringe available from your local feed supply store; a Drill bit/drill to match the size of the LARGEST needle you can get for the syringe. A big table or surface you can clamp the body/neck down on. If you want to use the screw method, use it in addition to the glue and I certainly recommend that. The trick is drilling the hole FROM THE INSIDE OUT. That is, from the neck block out to the heel of the neck. This way it's "hidden". Most small drills will fit into the body of the instrument. A DREMEL works great in this regard. An appropriate screw...say a 1 1/4" #6 0r 8 drywall screw.... The trick in doing this is PATIENCE...not getting rushed....you have to think it through, and visuallize the geometry of the instrument BEFORE you start drilling holes. As I said, call me...my toll free is on the website. Dave Wendler Instruments Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 Dave, I know a guy who has a dremel tool, and I'll see if I can get him to drill the hole for me, and when I get the rest of the stuff together, I'll call. Where do I drill holes for the glue? Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Use the phone in the morning, Picker. Dave is in Kansas too, probably 40 miles from you! Maybe you could even go to his shop! Don't pass up an opportunity to get free instruction from a pro instrument builder! Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brocko777 Posted April 9, 2007 Share Posted April 9, 2007 Very cool Dave... see this forum RAWKS!! From Gaffers tape to Glue, ya got it all right here! Don't have a job you don't enjoy. If you're happy in what you're doing, you'll like yourself, you'll have inner peace. ~ Johnny Carson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted April 9, 2007 Author Share Posted April 9, 2007 Good idea. Are you free to lenda helping hand next weekend, Dave, saturday or sunday after 2 or 3pm? Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Capasso Posted April 10, 2007 Share Posted April 10, 2007 Dave - that's generous of you. Thanks! Tom www.stoneflyrocks.com Acoustic Color Be practical as well as generous in your ideals. Keep your eyes on the stars and keep your feet on the ground. - Theodore Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdepelteau Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 Picker, do yourself a favor, go to Home Depot and get yourself a Dremel. You'll be amazed how often you use it... ;^) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Red 67 Posted April 11, 2007 Share Posted April 11, 2007 If it were mine I would pull the neck and reglue. Not for the faint of heart. Big Red's Ride Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
picker Posted April 17, 2007 Author Share Posted April 17, 2007 So, I went ahead and did the glue thing. I drilled a smll hole at the heel of the neck and injected Titebond III(I couldn't find any slow-cure epoxy thin enough to inject) into the joint, worked the neck back and forth to get the glue into the joint, and repeated. Then, I got one of those racheting tie-down straps and put it around the guitar with some padding between it and the body, cranked it down till glue started coming out of the joint and the neck was flush up against the body, and put it on a stand for 24 hours. When I took the strap off and tuned it up the next day, the neck was solidly in place, no give. The joint isn't pretty; when it came loose the first time, it took some of the finish off. But it is solid and the bass feels and sounds pretty good, certainly better than a $40 dollar bass ought to. Repair costs; $12. Now if I can just get the preamp/pickup issues solved without going nuts financially, priceless... Always remember that you are unique. Just like everyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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