CV-1 Contemporary fret board repair

[Rayk]

Got mine for 700 B stock I guess it's called but don't bother me as I'm not worried about resale . Ones that are I guess A stock sell about 1,000 or more from what I've seen . I have the Co-2 on my mind and for some reason I'm drawn to damaged goods lol

 

[JohnW63]

I'm drawn to damaged goods

Freud would have something to say about that.

 

[Neal]

Those are awfully pretty pins, Ray! Yup, Bob Colosi has been doing this stuff a long time.

And, I think you got it, but I suspect Neal's question was more about the walruses (walri?) than the pins. (I have no idea, by the way, Neal)

Long-dead marine mammals are just something you don't trip over every day. And when one is found, how do they end up in the hands of Bob C? Does he have paleontologists on speed dial?

 

[Rayk]

What ? I don't know that ! .... Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh ........ Poof !

 

[chazmo]

Long-dead marine mammals are just something you don't trip over every day. And when one is found, how do they end up in the hands of Bob C? Does he have paleontologists on speed dial?

I think someone needs to ask the man.

 

[Rayk]

From what I'm seeing you get from ivory trade company's some in Alaska .

 

[Rayk]

ok update , first let me say Tom at Jacobs did a great job . he did what I wanted and that is straighten the finger board he dressed the frets they look great as well .

Now for my mental disorder , there is a small gap in the fretboard between the body and underside of the fret board mostly on the low E side it was a necessary evil as shimming was needed but my mental disorder stops me from leaving things be I always have to ask more questions and touch stuff mostly to there doom .

I have removed the neck and I've been staring at it for some time . what I discovered is and I'm sure Tom did to is the the shim between the block system and the guitar top was/is cut wrong and tapered wrong ... so it's a wedged shaped shim actually theres 3 of them one each side of the reinforcement beams and one in the middle . The outside shims are to thick at the back end of the shim forcing the top to bow in those areas the low is side the worse.

Theres no removing them . it seems there was no real control on shims being precisely sized ( my best guess ) neck angle is spot on as is but a tad higher then the bridge if I do what I'm thinking Toms work would be for naught but I believe I can fix it and neck set an angle well be on target as well.

Much to think about before I do anything if I do it at all .

I know I'm nuts and I did buy this as a project guitar but once I get something in my head its hell bent for leather from there on LOL

I mean no disrespect to Tom and Dave's work as I said they did top notch work and I will highly recommend them.

ok so that's where I'm at oh bridge pins are a no go so a custom set seems likely .

Of to ponder and scheme ...

Ok back for a sec to post pics

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You can see the curve in the outside shims the middle is more level but that is understandable as the body tapers down but it's not curved taper heel to toe but there is side ways . Anyway the center shim section is recessed compared to the two sides .

Also the back end of the outside shims are thicker then the middle shim which to me should be the same as the locations line up . Food for thought

 

[adorshki]

Y'know, someone posted a link to a universal beginner's luthier's tool a while back, oh yes, here it is:

 

[davismanLV]

Well, Ray.... I really wish we had some photos of the finished job before you went insane and tore it up..... I don't really know what I'm looking at so..... good luck. So everything was fixed but..... what was wrong?

 

[Rayk]

Fixing it required the finger board to be lifted which left a gap between it and the guitar body . So I'm pondering leveling the body top .

The bridge pin holes were drilled by the same person who drilled my Blueridge bridge they must of been fired from Guild moved to China to be hired on there. I'm hoping he or she is looking again for a new job !

 

[chazmo]

Ray, it's your guitar, but I think you've wandered off the reservation, my friend. Tom and dave shimmed a presumably leveled fretboard which now rides atop a wavy soundboard, if I understand your complaint. Well, you can't re-shape the wavy soundboard, Ray. You can try overhumidifying the body for a while and see if it takes its shape a little better over time, but there's no reason to remove the neck for that process.

Put it back and play the darned thing!

 

[davismanLV]

Your complaint in the beginning was that "hump" or drop off on the fretboard. Once you got the guitar back, how was it? Flat? Play okay? Was this a cosmetic issue that caused you to go over the edge? Did you take a photo of it before you took it apart?

 

[Rayk]

Ok first off just for clarification I don't like the word complaint if I had the balls up front I should dug in right off the bat but I decided that I should have Tom and Dave do it .

I get anal about things ... My prerogative. No one feels worse then me about changing what others have done but I payed for it so dept settled . I seen what they did now it's just my turn ... No big deal if I mess it up its on me no big deal I'll get over it .

My interest in repair work and wood working have been with me all my life as well as mechanics and all kinds of other things I'm just unschooled . Lol

I've already begun and I think by the end of the day I should know if I made the right move fingers crossed and happy feelings to all ... Hugs

 

[Rayk]

1) Well, you can't re-shape the wavy soundboard,

2)Ray. You can try overhumidifying the body for a while and see if it takes

3) Put it back and play the darned thing!

Replies
1) oh yes I can
2) won't work in this case closely look at all the photos then tell me why
3) I will as soon as I can and you'll will be pleased . hugs

1) Your complaint in the beginning was that "hump" or drop off on the fretboard.

2) Once you got the guitar back, how was it? Flat?

3) Did you take a photo of it before you took it apart?

Replies
1) Hump , as it was space bound , not concerned about drop off less buzz with the down hill run some guitars are made with a slight down turn . At Least I seen them .

2) sure was

3) No I told you as much no point just use your imagination and see a gap between the fret board and boby .

You can look back at my "fear of the used " thread I think that's where the pics are originally posted they may help you ... Maybe ?

Cheers

 

[adorshki]

I've already begun and I think by the end of the day I should know if I made the right move fingers crossed and happy feelings to all ... Hugs

I was payin' attention and got everything you said on the first pass, and yep, it's a case of you paid for what was done so far and now you just want to see if you can get it up to your cosmetic standard with your own labor.
I sincerely wish you success on it.
I got confidence in you buddy, just don't get too close to the belt sander unless yer wearin' yer Duluth Trading Company bear-proof pants.
It did just occur to me though, if you are considering planing/sanding the waviness out of the top, is it possible it'll get a bit too thin, affecting tone, or have you just already taken that into account?
If it's another trick up your sleeve I can't wait to see it.....

 

[Rayk]

ok so here we are got back from the hospital had ultra sound on my calf swelling up had it drained blood and all that could not walk blood on the knee , time off from work which stinks but i no longer like my job so catch 22 ? anyway calf was better leg better but they had to poke it at my expense anyway also had to pay for parking ....really ? got lost in the towers of doom this place was huge ! anyways got 10 of subway as a going away gift ......

so made past the massive rain storm on the interstate could see 2 ft in front of ya wife had a death grip made out of that went to east coast wings had lunch and I big beer ! went to lowes for sand paper and aluminum 1/2 x 3/4 angle which i sanded down to 1/4 inch . it was my guide and sanding block ... i cut a 4" peace for that .

alright so here some pics not of the work in progress but last test fit for the night . I'm going to let it sit over night see how it settles. I think it needs a tad more adjustment but will see how it goes as it still has a slight hump but it's much better.

I do have a pic when I got the guitar back I forgot I had it but I do see the point of posting it just think its the wrong thing to do.

K so what I did is sanded down the channel in which the neck sat . I removed the top shims shaped the channel ( thats what I'm calling the area on the top where finger board covers ) had to sand down the shims under the neck as well.

So basically I counter sinked the fret board.

I checked angles using sliding T-bevel, digital calipers , basically the measurements where taking from what was there and what had room for adjustment LOL

I checked neck angle to make sure it was right, it was but luckily it had plenty of room for adjustment so all good .

I'll post the pics to where I'm at now along with before the repair pics to compare .

Before repair pics

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Pics as of now

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[adorshki]

LOOKIN' GOOD!
Love the explanation of the plan, I'm sure we're all pullin' for ya!
So you're saying you have ability to adjust the neck alignment with the shims, the way it was supposed to work?

 

[Rayk]

So you're saying you have ability to adjust the neck alignment with the shims, the way it was supposed to work?

No not really I believe the system was more or less a bolt on and go lol

Not that it can't happen but with the composite block system and spider there's very little chance of neck movement over time as a dove tail could . Buts my take on it .

So if it was messed up from the start that's where the issues start . It's true in any guitar but with this the inturnal bracing would not be tear apart friendly

From what I can see from the blueprints of the block system there's shims but what I can't say is if there meant for exturnal use there is shims between the block system and boby of the guitar which are permanent so mess that up and we're back to issues as I have .

If you need to shim up some as Tom and Dave did but there's more chances of issues with that .

The heal bolt is biggest problem I see as it only has so much play in it , in our case both Tom's and mine there was enough to accommodate the adjustments but I'd say that was the limit otherwise more shade tree mechanic'n would necessary and yes I had a plan in mind lol .

The neck now has close to full body contact just a tad around the heal area on top but just around edges though you can't see it .

I'm gunna check out in few minutes then string it up unless more adjustments are needed .

Let me Edit this in

Ok strings are on plays as expected I put the new pins in they hold the strings like the old ones did but the bridge holes are a big WT_?

I'm not satisfied yet so I'll do more fitting to get more of the hump out though it plays good as is .

Here's a pic of the new bridge pins installed

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[JohnW63]

Pulling for you and the guitar !

 

[Rayk]

Thanks John. I played her a lot last night and all was good . I'll adjust her today and tomorrow.

Next issue to adjust or figure is the bridge pin issue . New pins are the same size as the old ones . They hold the strings but you can wiggle the pins in the holes under tension so I'm not happy with that .