Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on March 13, 2012 at 1:34am

It is most likely held together with hide glue, and heat will break the glue bond pretty easily.   You can use a hair dryer or a heat gun.  Go slowly and heat both the fingerboard and the neck from all directions.  Slide an artist's palette knife between them as soon as you see the glue begin to give way.  Should come off fairly easily.   You can disassemble the rest the same way, if you want to.   If you use a heat gun, be extra careful.  They run hotter and can scorch the wood.

Permalink Reply by Dave Onastik on March 13, 2012 at 3:54am

OK thanks.  I will try the hair dryer first.  I actually want to keep the fingerboard attached to the neck if I can.

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on March 13, 2012 at 7:57am

Oh, sorry!  Missed that part!

The neck is likely attached to the body with a dovetail join.  So you'll need to pop off the top and then slide it out of the joint with heat and pressure.  It is tricky to get in there, so you might end up taking the fingerboard off after all -- easy to put back on later!

Permalink Reply by Dave Onastik on March 13, 2012 at 8:05am

So it is recommended to remove the top first instead of the back, if the back needs to be removed at all?

Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on March 13, 2012 at 11:10am

That's how I'd go at it. 

Here is an article from googling:  http://www.mimf.com/archives/neck_resets.htm

and:  http://www.fiddlehangout.com/topic/19992