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Slight Return · 07-21-2006, 12:25 PM

Don't make the truss rod do all the work. If it isn't doing anything, it's possible that there's too much tension on the truss rod.

Here's what you can do:

Take the neck off and back clamp it or forward bow clamp it; if you said that the action is an inch off the neck at the 12th fret, it sounds like you have a wicked forward bow.

If the neck has a forward bow, get some wooden blocks with leather on top and lay them underneath the base of the neck (the wooden blocks should be going against the fretboard, not the back of the neck) and right in front of the nut. Get some leather on the center of the back of the neck, and get a C-clamp. Clamp the neck, trying to get it dead straight. Leave it there for a little more than a day, and then take it out and sight it for relief. If there is any forward bow, clamp it for a while longer until the neck is straight. You want to release all of the tension from the wood so you can adjust the truss rod, which I'm assuming has the ability to work but isn't due to the wood's bowing.

I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself as there is a very small window for fixing this problem, but maybe you could ask someone if they could do it for you. I only know of one luthier who does this, and he does it all the time. He also takes the guitar against his knee and forces the neck back, making a cracking noise. That is the tension being released, and making it easier on the truss rod.

In your case, however, I'd think that that wouldn't be enough. The C-Clamp is the only solution I can think of.

I've seen a horrifically bowed neck on a Squier before, and it was salvageable. Don't give up. Even if the truss rod adjuster is stripped, it can be fixed, although it will probably cost more than a new neck.

There are a lot of luthier stories. Almost anything can be saved. My friend fixed a completely busted up mandolin from the early 1900's; the fretboard was in 11 pieces, almost all of which were warped, and the body I believe was split open in more than one place. I can't remember most of what he said about it's condition, but he said it was an absolute nightmare. It took him 10 months to fix and cost the customer over 1,000 dollars, but it was rescued.

EDIT: Guess I missed parts of what you said. Still, that method can be used to get the neck in any playing position that you want. Keep looking around for luthiers. There has to be one somewhere that can fix it.

07-21-2006, 12:25 PM	#28
Slight Return The Procrastinator Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,435	Don't make the truss rod do all the work. If it isn't doing anything, it's possible that there's too much tension on the truss rod. Here's what you can do: Take the neck off and back clamp it or forward bow clamp it; if you said that the action is an inch off the neck at the 12th fret, it sounds like you have a wicked forward bow. If the neck has a forward bow, get some wooden blocks with leather on top and lay them underneath the base of the neck (the wooden blocks should be going against the fretboard, not the back of the neck) and right in front of the nut. Get some leather on the center of the back of the neck, and get a C-clamp. Clamp the neck, trying to get it dead straight. Leave it there for a little more than a day, and then take it out and sight it for relief. If there is any forward bow, clamp it for a while longer until the neck is straight. You want to release all of the tension from the wood so you can adjust the truss rod, which I'm assuming has the ability to work but isn't due to the wood's bowing. I wouldn't recommend doing this yourself as there is a very small window for fixing this problem, but maybe you could ask someone if they could do it for you. I only know of one luthier who does this, and he does it all the time. He also takes the guitar against his knee and forces the neck back, making a cracking noise. That is the tension being released, and making it easier on the truss rod. In your case, however, I'd think that that wouldn't be enough. The C-Clamp is the only solution I can think of. I've seen a horrifically bowed neck on a Squier before, and it was salvageable. Don't give up. Even if the truss rod adjuster is stripped, it can be fixed, although it will probably cost more than a new neck. There are a lot of luthier stories. Almost anything can be saved. My friend fixed a completely busted up mandolin from the early 1900's; the fretboard was in 11 pieces, almost all of which were warped, and the body I believe was split open in more than one place. I can't remember most of what he said about it's condition, but he said it was an absolute nightmare. It took him 10 months to fix and cost the customer over 1,000 dollars, but it was rescued. EDIT: Guess I missed parts of what you said. Still, that method can be used to get the neck in any playing position that you want. Keep looking around for luthiers. There has to be one somewhere that can fix it.