Gretsch Streamliner modification project

[oigun]

Great work Sarah! Make sure you sand the neck 100% flat with a relaxed trussrod before you glue on the new board.

[Mr. Bill]

I don't know where you guys get all of the time and energy to do all of these projects. I can barely find the energy to scroll through these pictures!

I can't really tell from the photos, but it looks the truss rod is a double expanding type. Is that right? If it is, then there is no pull or push at the end of the rod that would need a harder wood block.

Sarah, this is gonna be one great guitar when you're finished.

[Sarah93003]

Your white headstock has an effect as well...comes right down to it, I'd say pick the color you like! That heat gun sure toasted the rosewood, but looks like it did a good job of lifting the glue. Interesting detail about the rosewood inserts at the truss-rod ends. I'm building a neck right now, and am about to mill the slot, so will cast about the shop for something to insert!

Your detailed documentation of your work is very helpful to us all...thank you!

Thank you. I'd love to see a detailed account of how to make a neck from scratch. Hint, hint!

[Sarah93003]

Great work Sarah! Make sure you sand the neck 100% flat with a relaxed trussrod before you glue on the new board.

Thank you Oi! I hadn't thought of that. I wll be sure to remember this tip.

[Sarah93003]

....
Sarah, this is gonna be one great guitar when you're finished.

Thank you! I certainly hope so. Regardless, I am learning a lot. I am feeling more and more confident about building my own this winter.

[olrocknroller]

Your white headstock has an effect as well...comes right down to it, I'd say pick the color you like! That heat gun sure toasted the rosewood, but looks like it did a good job of lifting the glue. Interesting detail about the rosewood inserts at the truss-rod ends. I'm building a neck right now, and am about to mill the slot, so will cast about the shop for something to insert!

Your detailed documentation of your work is very helpful to us all...thank you!

Thank you. I'd love to see a detailed account of how to make a neck from scratch. Hint, hint!

Coming up soon...I just want to get far enough into the project so that I can bring it to "finished" in a reasonable length of time for forum members. I'm building two actually, both through-body, one is all maple, and the other has cherry in the center lamination...

[Sarah93003]

I'm looking closely (no pun intended) at the Rosewood insert at the anchor end of the truss rod. A luthier from another forum is suggesting that I replace it. I've asked for clarification on that notion and supplied these closeups. I would be very interested in other opinions as well.

Here is the insert


From the left


The middle


The right


Any ideas?

[Mr. Bill]

OK, now I see that there is a channel for the truss rod to pull against, and the dark wood (mahogany?) is a spline that connects the two sections of the neck. The spline seems to be in reasonable shape. Why should you replace it?

You should replace the strip of wood that levels out the truss rod channel to the gluing surface of the neck. This will keep the glue from the fingerboard from fouling the truss rod and channel.

Just my 2 cents.

[GattonFan]

Good eye, Mr Bill! I didn't consider that piece a spline until these close-up pix. Now one can see the seam in the neck. Didn't know they were constructed that way.

Dennis

[Sarah93003]

OK, now I see that there is a channel for the truss rod to pull against, and the dark wood (mahogany?) is a spline that connects the two sections of the neck. The spline seems to be in reasonable shape. Why should you replace it?

You should replace the strip of wood that levels out the truss rod channel to the gluing surface of the neck. This will keep the glue from the fingerboard from fouling the truss rod and channel.

Just my 2 cents.

Yes, very good eye! I did not notice that. I considered the neck to be one piece maple since there are no seams. But, I did not notice that the little tail section was an add on. The dark material is Rosewood. I don't think I need to replace it. I will ensure that no glue gets in the truss rod channel either with a small piece of veneer or tape.