well if finally happened, the neck broke inside the box on my latest build just about 1" forward of the pickup channel, unsure of how it happened as it was out of the box while some fretwork was being cleaned up.
I think it is salvageable by gluing and using two screws underneath and one on top, the question is it worth the effort as this will probably always be the weak point. Too bad as it was a great looking CAO black box with chrome accents.
Replies
Hi Brent, good to hear from you again. Hey this might be a stronger way to join two lengths for a neck, even if the join is outside the box. These are photos of a test piece I did before using it.
When you cut a splice into the timber keep in mind that the area to be glued is now end grain, endgrain drinks glue, so could leave a starved joint. One has to take more care.
No harm in trying tho Brent :)
I would just make another neck & save the broken one for scrap. Chock it up as a learning experience. If it broke once, in that weird spot, it’ll probably always pull in that spot no matter? A few questions, one what strings & how high do you tune your cbg’s? (Excessive tension caused by over tuning can be a culprit?) two, do you flat sand both pieces to be glued with a flat sanding block? (This can lead to failing glue joints?) But really without pics, we’ll just take shots in the dark, not knowing if we’re even close? Good luck on this, hopefully you’ll score some good neck wood for a new improved neck?
Sorry gents, no phone for awhile but I can try to explain the build. Maple neck, two thickness with. notch cutout for pickup 3/4" deep, the neck was spliced together and snapped on the glue line about 1" forward of pickup notch. Never spliced a neck before with like wood and 11/2" thick but that was the obvious weak point.
At present I glued the two together at the overlap and screwed in from top and bottom, also added a 1/4" spacer underneath 5" long to bridge the two and fill the gap at box bottom. Will let that dry overnight and add two wood screws to that on the underside. Worth trying to salvage and found out the hard way splicing doesn't work when short on timber!
If you are looking for suggestions or recommendations you need to provide a LOT more information.
1. What is the neck made of (oak, pine, maple, etc)?
2. Did it actually break (splinter wood) or did it come unglued at the joint between the upper neck piece and a lower (in box) piece?
3. Is it a new build or an existing build?
4. It is a three or four stringer?
5. How thick was the wood where it broke?
6. How wide and thick is the neck where it broke?
And so on.......
Breaking inside the box on a 3~4 stringer is very unusual. Breaking at the head stock scarf joint is more common.
A lot of photos would answer even more questions. Pull out your phone and shoot away.
No pics?