best way to fix twisted neck?

[stratotone]

I have a warmoth strathead neck that has some of the most intense birdseye *and* flame maple in the neck and fingerboard. It freaking looks awesome. Had it for years (bought it back in the 90s with a plain jane warmoth body) and decided I was going to take it and order a new warmoth body for it.

Well, the damned thing is TWISTED. The neck twists a little bit counter clockwise from the first five or so frets. It's always been this way I think - it was one of those necks that never played right but I bought it because at the time the price was right for a original floyd strathead with good pickups. When I bought it in the 90s I didn't know as much about guitars as I know now. Doh.

I know the easiest/best route is to replace the neck, but it's insanely figured - better than Warmoths that are over $600 on their showcase.

Anyone else had a twisted neck fixed, where/how much/was it worth it?

And yes this thread is useless without pics, I'll have some soon.

 

[Ventura]

DUMP it.

Seriously, sell it off and never think about it again.

Sorry if this isn't what you want to hear.

 

[ratter]

If it were mine I would, with very low expectations, try clamping it flat for a few days. Or with a slight twist in the "other" direction.

For a neck that old, that's probably just where it wants to be and trying to change that is a bit like pissing into the wind.

Make a lamp out of it or something...

 

[Anonymous]

Throw it in the garbage, it's done... Seriously, I've been through this with a gorgeous 7 string neck I had made and there is really no way to fix these...

Steve

 

[Jason_86_951]

One option (depending on amount of twist) is to have the frets pulled, the fingerboard re-planed, radius shaped, and then re-fretted/finished.

Look up "Jack Daniels" over on TGP, he builds necks from a small shop and would probably take it on. He built a neck for me once and does nice work.

 

[Heritage Softail]

Guitar tech at Sam Ash says they heat it and press it. It is a process.

Sometimes does not work..

 

[thiswaythatway]

What can be done about a dip in the neck that won't adjust out with the truss rod? For example, say a neck starts out ok then dips at the 3rd through the 6th fret, and any twists of the truss rod seem to only move the neck from the 7th - 11th fret or so? I know a skilled luthier can file frets but I like to have a neck setup mostly straight but with only a very slight dip. I don't like a lot of relief because it makes the guitar always have a feeling of high action no matter how low you set the action.

 

[JTyson]

Pete, I had a 1275 doubleneck Gibson that was one of my favs that the 6 string neck twisted on, I took it to a pro who heat treated it and did in fact fix it, but several months later it came back
I had to let it go for almost nothing......
Just sayin

 

[Anonymous]

Guitar tech at Sam Ash says they heat it and press it. It is a process.

Sometimes does not work..

Yeah, I had the heat it, clamp it, heat it clamp it thing done with the 7 string neck I mentioned... No dice... And it wasn't a HUGE twist. I would never waste my time again...

Steve

 

[PWE Amplification]

As Jason suggested, if the twist is not very bad, an experienced tech can repair it by re-levelling the fretboard. Expect to pay around $400.00 for this. Up to you if it's worth it or not but the neck may not be done twisting. I've done this to some vintage instruments where the twist was very mild and neck replacement was not an option. The heating and clamping thing really doesn't work.

 

[Greazygeo]

What can be done about a dip in the neck that won't adjust out with the truss rod? For example, say a neck starts out ok then dips at the 3rd through the 6th fret, and any twists of the truss rod seem to only move the neck from the 7th - 11th fret or so? I know a skilled luthier can file frets but I like to have a neck setup mostly straight but with only a very slight dip. I don't like a lot of relief because it makes the guitar always have a feeling of high action no matter how low you set the action.

Remove frets....plane finger board and re radius (if needed) then refret. Or if you have tall frets, level and redress the frets....not that big of a deal.

 

[Greazygeo]

I have a warmoth strathead neck that has some of the most intense birdseye *and* flame maple in the neck and fingerboard. It freaking looks awesome. Had it for years (bought it back in the 90s with a plain jane warmoth body) and decided I was going to take it and order a new warmoth body for it.

Well, the damned thing is TWISTED. The neck twists a little bit counter clockwise from the first five or so frets. It's always been this way I think - it was one of those necks that never played right but I bought it because at the time the price was right for a original floyd strathead with good pickups. When I bought it in the 90s I didn't know as much about guitars as I know now. Doh.

I know the easiest/best route is to replace the neck, but it's insanely figured - better than Warmoths that are over $600 on their showcase.

Anyone else had a twisted neck fixed, where/how much/was it worth it?

And yes this thread is useless without pics, I'll have some soon.

remove frets...plane fingerboard and see what you have left to work with...if you still have some fingerboard left and it is straight re fret it and hope for the best.

 

[Mailman1971]

As Jason suggested, if the twist is not very bad, an experienced tech can repair it by re-levelling the fretboard. Expect to pay around $400.00 for this. Up to you if it's worth it or not but the neck may not be done twisting. I've done this to some vintage instruments where the twist was very mild and neck replacement was not an option. The heating and clamping thing really doesn't work.

I had this very thing done to a J FROG guitar I had several years back. Came back and was level playing.
But overall the guitar still played like shit. Had a Cool Bride of Frankenstein Graphic on it though.

 

[glip22]

Unfortunately figured Maple looks great but it'sway too unstable. Never again for me. It does the craziest things. Not good unless it is a multi piece neck.

 

[snowdog]

I wouldn't invest any money in trying to fix it, that money would be better spent buying a new neck.

 

[chadprsman]

I have a cs strat with an awesome flame neck that twisted. Fender replaced the neck under warranty(new neck nice, but not as flamey). I was told the more figured necks are prone to this?

 

[stratotone]

Pics... note that when you move the neck a fraction of an inch, the flame pattern changes - where it looks like there isn't much suddenly comes alive. This is one of the best looking necks I have seen in person. ARGH. Fingerboard pic was washed out so you could see the neck profile/twist, it's just as figured as the back.

ARGH FUCKIN ARGH

 

[Mailman1971]

Forgot how much I paid to get my frets leveled out on that J Frog....but it did the trick. Was less then 200....
Some machine they milled the frets level after hooking it up to a computer. Check into it. Nice looking neck.

 

[stratotone]

Sounds like a plek. I can do fretwork, just don't know if I want to invest the time into it. I'm at a point in my life where my time is worth more than $, especially on something like this.

 

[Mailman1971]

Yeah....Now I think about it....it was a Plek. I just wanted the guitar original and was pissed when I got it with a twisted neck. Still ended up selling it. Just didnt play right. But that is a sweet looking neck for sure.