@@alext8828 I have a commercially produced heat press that you can't find any more. I clamp it directly to the fingerboard adding shims as needed. My heat press had a dial to control the temperature but has failed and been bypassed. I'm surprised it works so well, it must be 50 years old.
This process was used on one of my guitars. Early eighties Dean V. It was done by Joe Zon (now Zon Guitars in California) when he had a shop in Cheektowaga, NY back in the day. The guitar was in a truck at an outdoor show for hours and developed a twist. Joe completely fixed it. Still have this guitar and no problems since. Of course our guy Dave found out how to do this.
Right when you said it may take more than one try, those famous words echoed through my head, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing over and over and over...”
Cool vid! Another way to do this is use an Erlewine neck jig and a silicone side bending heating strip with thermostat on the fretboard side like you did. I’ve also had a very focal bow at the 5th fret (stupidly didn’t let a freshly milled neck season long enough - a good reason for 3 or 5 ply necks!) on a new build and so I hung a gallon of paint off the headstock with the neck on the edge of the workbench right at the bow, and used a good old regular heating pad. It worked like a charm. The finish and binding was ok too. Of course, it was a lower temp but i left it in for a couple days. I simply had to let off the paint can to check progress. I’ve used wet heat too, but that’s on unfinished guitars and is similar to what bowyer’s sometimes have to do for self-bows. That has limited application because that will loosen anything that glued and put a haze on the finish.
I've done a similar process on three different guitars, but using heat lamps instead of the heated beam for the heat source. Cost me basically nothing as I had the lamps already. So far 100% success.
*I did something similar on a friend's Ibanez 5 string Soundgear bass..., except that I wrapped the neck tightly in a heating blanket..., (as used on beds during Winter), then laid the bass face down between two chairs that were facing each other, with the lower half of the body on one chair, and the upper half of the headstock on the other, and then with a small but stiff couch pillow on the back of the neck, and a single fairly heavy weightlifting dumbell on it... I would let it sit for a while and then check it, and after about three tries and two hours, it was just right... Thankfully, it didn't twist..., but just took out the excessive relief action...*
I did a poor mans neck reset on a cheap acoustic using a similar technique. I melted the glue on the fret board overhang with an clothes iron and forced back the neck until my ruler aligned with the top of the bridge. The guitar still plays great many years later.
In 1990 I took my 1967 Gibson 340 to a violin maker who actually put a torch to the back of the neck! Fortunately, he knew exactly how to do this maneuver. The guitar came out literally perfect and is still the best playing guitar that I own!
It's a really neat technique however most cases if the twist was not caught early enough the twist will come back. I know someone in one of my groups on facebook who's had this done on a bass 5 times.. in a 10 year period. The only true fix is to replace the neck sadly.
Makes me think a thru neck bass not a good investment, a bolt on ! Could be replaced. The Gibson set neck is pretty much a neck thru in this regard eh? Wonder if the carbon or titanium rods prevent this problem.’cause I am looking fo a new bass for my bass “herd”
@@bobr8565 if it's built with quality wood and adjusted every season if needed neck throughs are great. But if the wood is just a little bit sub optimal.
@@Jihadbearzwithgunz My Carvin is thru neck, it see s to need too frequent truss adjustments. But get this the tuners kept snapping, the string post snaps clean off, all four broke, bough a new set from Carvin, some have broke bought a cheap set from Amazon ,so far ok. So quality seems hit and mis, ...these days. My Yamaha and Jazz basses ok.
I have a neck iron like your friends. First I loosen the truss rod. Sometimes I put 1/4” shims at the 1st and last fret . This allows a gentle back bow. After it’s cool and unclamped and strung I use the truss rod to finesse the neck with proper relief. Good tool.
Been saving old Stellas for years with home made heat press.. I had read where wood has memory and at 140 degrees F when pressed will retain shape it has been pressed to. The fibers in the wood have softened and when cooled wa la newly formed memory. Pressing new shape with slight back bow works well to counter string tension especially when there is no truss rod as with Stellas
I wonder if, say after a week or two, the wood goes back to the way it was before the heat up. Wood tends to be stuborn sometimes, and the glue under the fingerboard may not be enough for the bow. I wonder Dave if its possible to see the guitar again two weeks from now? Maybe ask the owner (or is that a baaaaad idea?). Thanks for the videos - be safe all.
I got a flying V in my shop now that needs this done. I've done this on bolt on a neck in my home oven and it worked. Never a set neck until now. I need to make me something like this.
Great video. Bought an American Standard 50th Anniversary Tele with a bent neck about a year ago for a super great price . Loosened the truss rod, put it in some clamps to slightly reverse the bend, and wrapped it with an electric heat pad for around for two days. It's been over a year now and the neck has stayed perfectly straight and truss rod works perfectly.
I just love way you find methods of sorting stuff out , your head must be buzzing trying to figure out to solve these problems . This is one of your best !! Take care , stay safe Derek UK
Nice setup! Years ago I did a similar job on a classical guitar by heating it carefully over a burner on my stove top and clamping it with wood blocks to hold the neck where I wanted it. I would never have dared try it that way with a Les Paul though!
I have watched all of your posted videos and love them all, but you have out done your self on this one. No having to remind us you have done this so many times before in previous videos. We got to see it all first hand right along with you. And your thought process making your own version of the heat press was excellent. Please feel free to share any more extensive learning projects like this one. It is by far, "The Best Yet!" Thanks Dave for sharing...
Yes! I remember doing that with my old Victoriaville fibre glass reinforced hockey sticks back in the 1960s. Bobby Hull used a curved stick that he bent that way and it was really controversial at the time. All the old timers thoroughly disapproved but us kids thought it was the coolest thing! Then he went and won the NHL scoring championship and everyone started bending their blades. Ha, ha!
Since I got to know your channel I already learned so much that I was comfortable enough to tweak/setup my own guitar. It handles so much better now that I actually started to enjoy playing again. Thanks Dave!
I had this done to a new Les Paul (luckily under warranty) back in the 90's. it worked fine and I kept the guitar for a couple years afterwords with no issues
i had a friend, an old school gunsmith, that had built a press/rig he used to bend (walnut) rifle/ shotgun stocks to create "cast" ( an offset L/R from the center line of gun, to align the eye better with barrel). Consisted of a set of clamps to hold stock, and a few extra screw/ pressure points to apply pressure. A heat lamp was used to add heat (pointed at area where bend was desired) as heat was allowed to work, tension screw were slowly tightened (over hours/ days). He said it could be a bit nerve racking when working on REALLY expensive, REALLY old guns ;) Sometimes, they broke...
I've done this with a Hondo neck. Bought a used ebay guitar and it had a ton of back bow. Took the rod nut off and wrapped a heat pad around the worst part, made up some clamp blocks and used a long piece of maple to clamp it to. Did this twice in 4 hour blocks. Got it almost there, after installing a set of Slinky 11's it was level and still holds tune.
A Luthier friend of mine has one of those original heat presses you spoke about in this video and has had some really good success in straightening not only bowed necks but also some that were badly twisted.
I was just wondering if heat and clamps would straighten a guitar neck, and I just happened to find your video in my search. I have a 1980 Ibanez Blazer with a back-bowed neck...I’m gonna have to rig something up. 👍🏻
Yep, my first classical guitar was an Aria. I was 15 and new little about guitars so I just went for it. Only months later playing with friends, I realized that the neck was absolute shit. The action was super high and the neck looked like a banana. When I asked a luthier, a friend of my father, how much would it cost, his words were "Get a new guitar and check the neck from now on." And I did! My father did give a piece of his mind to the guitar shop, and although they didn't reimbursed us, they told him, the guitar was on the shop's window for a long time. Loved the upload! Very informative!
My local luthier who is very good, offers this service.I had a problem neck on a bass that was going to have it done to but luckily he got it straightened before this last resort.
Very informative video, Dave. Thanx. It's not something I could do, but it's a great old world technique that some repairers will take a look at, I'm sure.
Wow! You're my hero! I've realised after watching many of your videos, it's only part technical knowledge! But it's mostly empathy with the guitar, knowing what's wrong & knowing what it needs! Thanks Dave...
Really cool to see you demo this technique, super handy for people looking for a hail mary. Once upon a time I got taken for a ride by a shop who told me they had the equipment to give this a shot on a gooched archtop of mine that was built with a fixed steel rod in a baseball bat of a neck instead of an adjustable truss. Called me back the next morning to tell me everything was done (maybe 3-4 hours of actual working hours had passed) and what I got back was just as bowed, but with a shiny new fret job that had shaved everything basically flat to eliminate the dead zones. Haven't trusted a shop do to work for me ever since.
That neck looked totally f'ed, even on camera.. of course it was a Gibson that required the application. ;) This is an amazingly interesting technique and a very intriguing video, Dave--You were like an ER doc monitoring someone's EKG. Thanks for sharing your insight and educating us. Another beautiful guitar saved!
Yep, before you said who made the neck press, my brain was shouting "Aria, Aria, Aria"... The Aria pro II SB series bass guitars of the 80's where dream machines. Exotic woods, solid, heavy brass hardware, stunning finishes and neck-thru construction. ... Big, notorious, twisty neck-thru construction. I'm looking at one now. Hanging on the wall with it's big, unplayable, twisted neck-thru construction. Anyone in Scotland wanna do a heat press job?
I did a bass neck years ago differently. Might have been a Dan Erlewine tip. Bolt on neck, cheap jazz copy. So bent the truss wouldn't fix it. Took the neck off, loosened the rod, heated in oven at 200 degrees+- for a couple of hours. Clamped it up with a slight reverse bow. The glue-line between the neck and board, softens, slips and sets up again as it cools. It worked. Still have the bass. I use this technique in fine woodworking on curved laminations, cabinet doors, or any glue-up needing straightening or bending. Good way to tweak the curves to perfection. I really like the heater bar though. Better than the oven.
That is pretty awesome Dave. I had heard of these years ago when Aria made them. I do some repair work myself, this def would be handy. I am surprised Rickenbacker didn't include one with their basses hahaha.
i fixed a cheap fretless jazz bass neck with this method, it was so badly back bowed that truss rod wasn't able to straighten. nice video as always Dave!
Dave remember when I told you about applying dry heat to a bent neck years ago. I did that to my 1992 Strat that has a none working truss rod and it allowed me to move (bend) the neck where I needed it to go. I learned about applying dry heat from video's made by people in the middle east who make an instrument like a fretless Lute, it's called an "Oud". They use heat to actually bend strips of wood so they can construct the body which resembles a large old fashioned mandolin, which is kind of shaped like a pair that has been sliced in equal halves from top to bottom. Hey Dave: While I'm on the subject of pair shaped things, and heat...read the little jingle below. It's an Oldie but a Goldie (sure you've heard it). I first heard it around 1968. What's round like an apple Shaped like a pair Split down the middle and surrounded by hair. -Peter age 71
This is interesting. I have an old Aria Pro II bass I saved from a local charity shop. It's neck is twisted worse than any guitar I've seen, but also bent up & down along it's length which gets far worse with the truss rod up to tension. I find it amusing to hear that the company started selling some of the only commercial heated neck straighteners! It's been waiting in the queue to be repaired for probably 8 years now... I keep telling myself I'll find the time ;-)
This where you hit "donate" for Uncle Dave. Many luthiers and guitar repair techs aren't acquainted with this repair. The few that are, will usually not present the fix as an option. It takes skilled application and there is no guarantee of success as Dave mentions. But if you have the instrument that this will work on, and a repair person who is skilled at application, it can turn an unplayable instrument into a real player. I've owned well over 100 basses since I started playing bass in 1967 - please, I'm not bragging, just giving background. In 1980 I was living in Ft. Lauderdale and bought a mint 1966 candy apple red Jazz bass with painted headstock from Sunrise Music for $550. That was inexpensive even in 1980 dollars, and that was because while the bass was a 1966 custom color and near mint, it was absolutely unplayable due to a major warp right around the the 12th to 15th fret. I bought this bass and brought it to Larry Breslin who then had a shop in Hollywood Fl. He was of great reputation being Jaco Pastorious' luthier and repairman. He advised of the risks involved and that there was no outcome guarantee. He heat treated the neck, and it turned out to be one of the best playing basses I've ever owned. Thanks Dave - great video!
Muffler clamps work well too, can be sized to suit neck tapers and dimensions from mandolins to bass and seven or eight string necks. Cheap too. Dave your T handles doubling as stands is great! We love your brain. And all of its endearing oddities.
Just a tip to add to this. Say if you are going to leave the guitar on the work bench for a couple of days, move the neck support to the middle to counter gravity/ string pull and the possible memory of the wood going back to scary. When I work on guitars I am constantly aware of where I am supporting aiding or possibly working against the neck. Every little bit helps. Nice homemade heat press.
I've been using a heat press since the 80's. It has saved many instruments!
Did you put the heater directly on the neck, or like Dave is doing? The reason I ask is that there's no conduction here.
@@alext8828 I have a commercially produced heat press that you can't find any more. I clamp it directly to the fingerboard adding shims as needed. My heat press had a dial to control the temperature but has failed and been bypassed. I'm surprised it works so well, it must be 50 years old.
This process was used on one of my guitars. Early eighties Dean V. It was done by Joe Zon (now Zon Guitars in California) when he had a shop in Cheektowaga, NY back in the day. The guitar was in a truck at an outdoor show for hours and developed a twist. Joe completely fixed it. Still have this guitar and no problems since. Of course our guy Dave found out how to do this.
always was aware..no time to build the rig
i’m going
"Craft is just shitty art." Well spoken, fabri-cobbler.
Love the generous way you share your knowledge and experience
My pleasure!
ditto
Right when you said it may take more than one try, those famous words echoed through my head, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing over and over and over...”
Owners lucky you gave this a shot. I feel a lot of luthiers would've said sorry your screwed. Nice work Dave!
2 repair shops did
Cool vid! Another way to do this is use an Erlewine neck jig and a silicone side bending heating strip with thermostat on the fretboard side like you did. I’ve also had a very focal bow at the 5th fret (stupidly didn’t let a freshly milled neck season long enough - a good reason for 3 or 5 ply necks!) on a new build and so I hung a gallon of paint off the headstock with the neck on the edge of the workbench right at the bow, and used a good old regular heating pad. It worked like a charm. The finish and binding was ok too. Of course, it was a lower temp but i left it in for a couple days. I simply had to let off the paint can to check progress. I’ve used wet heat too, but that’s on unfinished guitars and is similar to what bowyer’s sometimes have to do for self-bows. That has limited application because that will loosen anything that glued and put a haze on the finish.
Keeping the secrets of the gods alive for another generation! Well done that man
Wow I saw that neck bow instantly😲
I've done a similar process on three different guitars, but using heat lamps instead of the heated beam for the heat source. Cost me basically nothing as I had the lamps already. So far 100% success.
And you did it without a helmet. You're a brave man, Dave.
*I did something similar on a friend's Ibanez 5 string Soundgear bass..., except that I wrapped the neck tightly in a heating blanket..., (as used on beds during Winter), then laid the bass face down between two chairs that were facing each other, with the lower half of the body on one chair, and the upper half of the headstock on the other, and then with a small but stiff couch pillow on the back of the neck, and a single fairly heavy weightlifting dumbell on it... I would let it sit for a while and then check it, and after about three tries and two hours, it was just right... Thankfully, it didn't twist..., but just took out the excessive relief action...*
One of the most satisfying videos I have ever seen. A guitar is born again!
I did a poor mans neck reset on a cheap acoustic using a similar technique. I melted the glue on the fret board overhang with an clothes iron and forced back the neck until my ruler aligned with the top of the bridge. The guitar still plays great many years later.
In 1990 I took my 1967 Gibson 340 to a violin maker who actually put a torch to the back of the neck! Fortunately, he knew exactly how to do this maneuver. The guitar came out literally perfect and is still the best playing guitar that I own!
I've always enjoyed watching cooking shows. This dish turned out fantastic. *Chef's kiss 👌
"Somebody might stick their tongue on it........", pffffttt, there goes my beer!!! Interesting vid, Dave, thank you.
Really cool to see how this can save a guitar that would otherwise be junked
It's a really neat technique however most cases if the twist was not caught early enough the twist will come back. I know someone in one of my groups on facebook who's had this done on a bass 5 times.. in a 10 year period. The only true fix is to replace the neck sadly.
Makes me think a thru neck bass not a good investment, a bolt on ! Could be replaced. The Gibson set neck is pretty much a neck thru in this regard eh? Wonder if the carbon or titanium rods prevent this problem.’cause I am looking fo a new bass for my bass “herd”
@@bobr8565 if it's built with quality wood and adjusted every season if needed neck throughs are great. But if the wood is just a little bit sub optimal.
@@Jihadbearzwithgunz My Carvin is thru neck, it see s to need too frequent truss adjustments. But get this the tuners kept snapping, the string post snaps clean off, all four broke, bough a new set from Carvin, some have broke bought a cheap set from Amazon ,so far ok.
So quality seems hit and mis, ...these days. My Yamaha and Jazz basses ok.
@@bobr8565 I'd get some hipshot tuners or even some graphtech ratio tuners
Dave the McGyver of strings! Really cool knowledge
Awesome job and vid Dave! You made me chuckle once again! "The patient may live or the patient may die and become a donor "! Lol
I have a neck iron like your friends. First I loosen the truss rod. Sometimes I put 1/4” shims at the 1st and last fret . This allows a gentle back bow. After it’s
cool and unclamped and strung I use the truss rod to finesse the neck with proper relief. Good tool.
As the old adage goes, Necessity is The Mother(s) of Invention. You sir are brilliant!
Interesting stuff Dave. Loving learning things like this
More to come!
Been saving old Stellas for years with home made heat press.. I had read where wood has memory and at 140 degrees F when pressed will retain shape it has been pressed to. The fibers in the wood have softened and when cooled wa la newly formed memory. Pressing new shape with slight back bow works well to counter string tension especially when there is no truss rod as with Stellas
This is better than cable tv. Love this channel. So much knowledge. And he’s local.
I used to do heat press neck repairs routinely in the 1980’s. I used a heating pad wrapped around the neck to get the job done. It worked well.
I wonder if, say after a week or two, the wood goes back to the way it was before the heat up. Wood tends to be stuborn sometimes, and the glue under the fingerboard may not be enough for the bow. I wonder Dave if its possible to see the guitar again two weeks from now? Maybe ask the owner (or is that a baaaaad idea?). Thanks for the videos - be safe all.
I got a flying V in my shop now that needs this done. I've done this on bolt on a neck in my home oven and it worked. Never a set neck until now. I need to make me something like this.
Great video. Bought an American Standard 50th Anniversary Tele with a bent neck about a year ago for a super great price . Loosened the truss rod, put it in some clamps to slightly reverse the bend, and wrapped it with an electric heat pad for around for two days. It's been over a year now and the neck has stayed perfectly straight and truss rod works perfectly.
Nothing venture nothing gained. Hats off to you for taking the chance!
I just love way you find methods of sorting stuff out , your head must be buzzing trying to figure out to solve these problems . This is one of your best !! Take care , stay safe Derek UK
Glad to help
Nice one Dave, the owner of that guitar is going to be a very happy camper.
I think so too!
Nice setup! Years ago I did a similar job on a classical guitar by heating it carefully over a burner on my stove top and clamping it with wood blocks to hold the neck where I wanted it. I would never have dared try it that way with a Les Paul though!
The patient pulls through. I love it. Well done Dave 👌🏻
This is why I love watching guitar/amp tech videos...finding creative ways to solve problems that otherwise are insurmountable. Killer work Dave!
GOOD SAVE DAVE! Glad to see the patient survive to play another day! She's a beaut!
Damn dude! I’m impressed! Fine work brother
Quality video, great information. I always learn something from Daves videos. This was almost like watching a Surgeon perform life saving surgery.
Nice job, Dave. The owner owes you big time and I appreciate your resourcefulness!!! Thanks for sharing.
Tex & Shyboy on Queen did this on my '87 Ric. Made a piece of firewood into an instrument again.
I have watched all of your posted videos and love them all, but you have out done your self on this one. No having to remind us you have done this so many times before in previous videos. We got to see it all first hand right along with you. And your thought process making your own version of the heat press was excellent. Please feel free to share any more extensive learning projects like this one. It is by far, "The Best Yet!" Thanks Dave for sharing...
Another great video. Reminds me of heating up wooden hockey sticks to change the curve when I was a kid.
It's even cooler that you built your own rig.
Yes! I remember doing that with my old Victoriaville fibre glass reinforced hockey sticks back in the 1960s. Bobby Hull used a curved stick that he bent that way and it was really controversial at the time. All the old timers thoroughly disapproved but us kids thought it was the coolest thing! Then he went and won the NHL scoring championship and everyone started bending their blades. Ha, ha!
This was definitely one of the most enjoyable videos. I liked watching the entire process and learning about the neck heat press.
this is beautiful. endless source of valuable knowledge!
Since I got to know your channel I already learned so much that I was comfortable enough to tweak/setup my own guitar.
It handles so much better now that I actually started to enjoy playing again.
Thanks Dave!
I had this done to a new Les Paul (luckily under warranty) back in the 90's. it worked fine and I kept the guitar for a couple years afterwords with no issues
Cheers from Long Beach Ca. Enjoyed your video Dave!🤟🏻🎸🎶☮️
i had a friend, an old school gunsmith, that had built a press/rig he used to bend (walnut) rifle/ shotgun stocks to create "cast" ( an offset L/R from the center line of gun, to align the eye better with barrel). Consisted of a set of clamps to hold stock, and a few extra screw/ pressure points to apply pressure. A heat lamp was used to add heat (pointed at area where bend was desired) as heat was allowed to work, tension screw were slowly tightened (over hours/ days). He said it could be a bit nerve racking when working on REALLY expensive, REALLY old guns ;) Sometimes, they broke...
"The Force is strong in this one ..." Nicely done Dave. Thanks for sharing.
Nice save on a nice axe. Your heat press rig/method is the best I’ve seen on UA-cam.
I've done this with a Hondo neck. Bought a used ebay guitar and it had a ton of back bow. Took the rod nut off and wrapped a heat pad around the worst part, made up some clamp blocks and used a long piece of maple to clamp it to. Did this twice in 4 hour blocks. Got it almost there, after installing a set of Slinky 11's it was level and still holds tune.
Strong work. Good technique to learn. Back in the 70’s my buddy bought a strat that had a neck that twisted and they tried that....no joy.
A Luthier friend of mine has one of those original heat presses you spoke about in this video and has had some really good success in straightening not only bowed necks but also some that were badly twisted.
I was just wondering if heat and clamps would straighten a guitar neck, and I just happened to find your video in my search. I have a 1980 Ibanez Blazer with a back-bowed neck...I’m gonna have to rig something up. 👍🏻
Nice save!
Another nugget of knowledge from Dave. You sir are a wizard with repair. Awesome stuff!
She lives! Rock on, Dave! 🤟🏻🎵🎸
Now this was interesting. Eager to see how it turns out Dave
Congratulations, Dave! I hope the guy who sold this guitar to your customer will watch!
Thank you so much for this Dave. I have been curious about this for many years.
Yep, my first classical guitar was an Aria. I was 15 and new little about guitars so I just went for it. Only months later playing with friends, I realized that the neck was absolute shit. The action was super high and the neck looked like a banana. When I asked a luthier, a friend of my father, how much would it cost, his words were "Get a new guitar and check the neck from now on." And I did! My father did give a piece of his mind to the guitar shop, and although they didn't reimbursed us, they told him, the guitar was on the shop's window for a long time. Loved the upload! Very informative!
My local luthier who is very good, offers this service.I had a problem neck on a bass that was going to have it done to but luckily he got it straightened before this last resort.
Very informative video, Dave. Thanx. It's not something I could do, but it's a great old world technique that some repairers will take a look at, I'm sure.
Congrats Dave for 2021 Video of The Year Award! And it’s only March! Seniors rock! 😂😂😂
Wow! You're my hero! I've realised after watching many of your videos, it's only part technical knowledge! But it's mostly empathy with the guitar, knowing what's wrong & knowing what it needs! Thanks Dave...
Really cool to see you demo this technique, super handy for people looking for a hail mary. Once upon a time I got taken for a ride by a shop who told me they had the equipment to give this a shot on a gooched archtop of mine that was built with a fixed steel rod in a baseball bat of a neck instead of an adjustable truss. Called me back the next morning to tell me everything was done (maybe 3-4 hours of actual working hours had passed) and what I got back was just as bowed, but with a shiny new fret job that had shaved everything basically flat to eliminate the dead zones. Haven't trusted a shop do to work for me ever since.
That neck looked totally f'ed, even on camera.. of course it was a Gibson that required the application. ;)
This is an amazingly interesting technique and a very intriguing video, Dave--You were like an ER doc monitoring someone's EKG.
Thanks for sharing your insight and educating us. Another beautiful guitar saved!
Yep, before you said who made the neck press, my brain was shouting "Aria, Aria, Aria"...
The Aria pro II SB series bass guitars of the 80's where dream machines. Exotic woods, solid, heavy brass hardware, stunning finishes and neck-thru construction. ... Big, notorious, twisty neck-thru construction.
I'm looking at one now. Hanging on the wall with it's big, unplayable, twisted neck-thru construction.
Anyone in Scotland wanna do a heat press job?
I've only used a steam iron , and various beams and clamps to prevent excessive land fill in my area, cool tool from a cool guy.
I love building contraptions from the scrap at work
I did a bass neck years ago differently. Might have been a Dan Erlewine tip. Bolt on neck, cheap jazz copy. So bent the truss wouldn't fix it. Took the neck off, loosened the rod, heated in oven at 200 degrees+- for a couple of hours. Clamped it up with a slight reverse bow. The glue-line between the neck and board, softens, slips and sets up again as it cools. It worked. Still have the bass. I use this technique in fine woodworking on curved laminations, cabinet doors, or any glue-up needing straightening or bending. Good way to tweak the curves to perfection. I really like the heater bar though. Better than the oven.
Reminds me of the first time I took off a fretboard from the neck, didn’t sleep so well, it turned out fine as did yours Dave, well done and thanx 👍🎸
Interesting technique and video. Thanks for sharing it.
All the best to you.
That is pretty awesome Dave. I had heard of these years ago when Aria made them. I do some repair work myself, this def would be handy. I am surprised Rickenbacker didn't include one with their basses hahaha.
A nice solution Dave!
i fixed a cheap fretless jazz bass neck with this method, it was so badly back bowed that truss rod wasn't able to straighten.
nice video as always Dave!
Dave remember when I told you about applying dry heat to a bent neck years ago. I did that to my 1992 Strat that has a none working truss rod and it allowed me to move (bend) the neck where I needed it to go.
I learned about applying dry heat from video's made by people in the middle east who make an instrument like a fretless Lute, it's called an "Oud". They use heat to actually bend strips of wood so they can construct the body which resembles a large old fashioned mandolin, which is kind of shaped like a pair that has been sliced in equal halves from top to bottom.
Hey Dave: While I'm on the subject of pair shaped things, and heat...read the little jingle below. It's an Oldie but a Goldie (sure you've heard it). I first heard it around 1968.
What's round like an apple
Shaped like a pair
Split down the middle
and surrounded by hair.
-Peter age 71
Very cool - thanks Dave!
This is interesting. I have an old Aria Pro II bass I saved from a local charity shop. It's neck is twisted worse than any guitar I've seen, but also bent up & down along it's length which gets far worse with the truss rod up to tension. I find it amusing to hear that the company started selling some of the only commercial heated neck straighteners! It's been waiting in the queue to be repaired for probably 8 years now... I keep telling myself I'll find the time ;-)
Doctor at work! Very interesting video. Happy to see it come out good as I'm sure the owner is too. Cheers
Applause!!!! Gandalf, Gandalf!!!!! Great Share.
Neato. Sneaking up on 150k SUBS too...Double neato. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing, Dave!
This where you hit "donate" for Uncle Dave.
Many luthiers and guitar repair techs aren't acquainted with this repair. The few that are, will usually not present the fix as an option. It takes skilled application and there is no guarantee of success as Dave mentions. But if you have the instrument that this will work on, and a repair person who is skilled at application, it can turn an unplayable instrument into a real player.
I've owned well over 100 basses since I started playing bass in 1967 - please, I'm not bragging, just giving background.
In 1980 I was living in Ft. Lauderdale and bought a mint 1966 candy apple red Jazz bass with painted headstock from Sunrise Music for $550. That was inexpensive even in 1980 dollars, and that was because while the bass was a 1966 custom color and near mint, it was absolutely unplayable due to a major warp right around the the 12th to 15th fret. I bought this bass and brought it to Larry Breslin who then had a shop in Hollywood Fl. He was of great reputation being Jaco Pastorious' luthier and repairman. He advised of the risks involved and that there was no outcome guarantee. He heat treated the neck, and it turned out to be one of the best playing basses I've ever owned.
Thanks Dave - great video!
Brilliant Dave. Thank you.
It's a Christmas Miracle, Dave. Really well done, mate.
Wow cool! 9/10 I'd take my chances.
Great Video. I am always amazed at the techniques out there that we aren't privy too, and you Mr. Davidip make them happen!!
Very cool Video.
I'm glad you were able to save that beautiful guitar.
Rock on, Dave!!
Interesting, thanks for the video
I’ve heard and thought about this process. Fantastic that it worked! Thanks!✌️🌞😎🎸
That was fantastic.
Good McGyvering Dave,nice save,Cheers!
What a great idea.
Awesome job Dave!
Muffler clamps work well too, can be sized to suit neck tapers and dimensions from mandolins to bass and seven or eight string necks. Cheap too.
Dave your T handles doubling as stands is great! We love your brain. And all of its endearing oddities.
Just a tip to add to this. Say if you are going to leave the guitar on the work bench for a couple of days, move the neck support to the middle to counter gravity/ string pull and the possible memory of the wood going back to scary. When I work on guitars I am constantly aware of where I am supporting aiding or possibly working against the neck. Every little bit helps. Nice homemade heat press.
Cool, Heat Press. Well done Dave.
Great job , I think years back you did some thing like this before . Its great you could make her a player again brother !
Had to rewatch this a couple of times. Has to be one of the best tutorials on the use of a DIY neck heater! 👍🏼👍🏼