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Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
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Author:  Corky Long [ Thu Dec 16, 2010 11:30 am ]
Post subject:  Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
I've got a 1910 Larson-built Stetson guitar which needs a neck reset. After pricing this with the local expert, I'm going to do it myself, but need some assistance with what to expect. It's ladder - braced, and has a very shallow neck block, with a strange dowel-like cylinder glued in the middle of the neckblock, in the same plane as the neck (dowel pointing towards the tail block.) The neckblock only extends to the 13th fret - so removing the 13th fret and injecting steam into a hole drilled there won't work.

Anyone have any advice on how to remove this neck? Any expertise on doing neck resets on these old guitars? Thanks!

P.S. - Don't worry - old picture - I've removed the strings.
Author:  arie [ Thu Dec 16, 2010 3:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
what's wrong with it/why does it need a reset?
may i speculate that the price from the local expert was a bit high?
imo such a nice and rare guitar as this warrants the greatest care and attention. which often costs a lot for a reason. :D
imo this is advanced level work -no offense but are you comfortable doing the work? :D
i'm just asking with the best possible intentions and no ill will
Author:  Corky Long [ Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
Arie -

No offense taken - you're asking all the right questions.

The reset is necessary because a straightedge placed on the fingerboard is algned with the ..... well. lets put it this way - if it's supposed to be a skosh above the bridge, this is on a plane somewhere below the plane of the soundboard. 100 years of age, and probably some of that in a closet with steel strings on it..... etc.

I knew it before I brought it to the repair pro - and he confirmed.

Yes, the price was astronomical. Out of the question. Oh. and the wait time was ..... long.

Yes, it's a very nice instrument, and I know that repair is a different animal than construction - if you screw up a build, it's into the bin. Screw up a repair, major damage to a 100 year old guitar.

I'm not taking this lightly. And I'm not going to touch this guitar until I've done as much research as I can.

Do you know anything about these guitars? Thanks.
Author:  oval soundhole [ Thu Dec 16, 2010 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
contact either Tony Klassen and/or Frankie Montouro. They know every thing about Larson's and guitars that are similar to larsons. They also build and repair larson and larson style guitars.
Author:  Corky Long [ Fri Dec 17, 2010 11:52 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
Thanks, Brian. Will do.

Regards,


Corky
Author:  Alexandru Marian [ Fri Dec 17, 2010 12:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
Hmm, was this built for steel or gut? For a nylon guitar it is normal for the FB plane to sit below the bridge top...
Is there any visible caving-in anywhere as solid proof the neck moved up?
Author:  Corky Long [ Sat Dec 18, 2010 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Help needed - reset on 1910 Stetson Guitar
Alexandru Marian wrote:
Hmm, was this built for steel or gut? For a nylon guitar it is normal for the FB plane to sit below the bridge top...
Is there any visible caving-in anywhere as solid proof the neck moved up?


Alexandru - you're the first one to mention this - and it's true that it was undoubtedly built for gut strings - very lightly built, ladder braced, and 1910, etc.

If I lay a straightedge on the fretboard, how can I determine whether it's at the right angle for a nylon string guitar??

Thanks
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