DV 4 Neck joint question?

[sammyp]

Hi folks, i have a DV 4 made in Tacoma ....had it for 2 years ...i ablolutely love this guitar as it was a relatively cheap replacement for a very expensive Takamine which i despised and finally sold! Recently i noticed slight pull away at the base of the dove tail joint ....i do realize this is a bolt on neck ....just looking for opinions? should i have any concerns?

have a look ... it's hard to see from the pics but i could probably jam a business card in at the base of the joint!

thanks!

http://www.soundclick.com/members/d...Patterson&content=photos&albumid=-1&id=594195

http://www.soundclick.com/members/d...Patterson&content=photos&albumid=-1&id=594196

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

Hi Sammy and Welcome!!

If you've got a Tacoma DV-4, it's a dovetail neck.

If you've got an Ensenada DV-4, it's a bolt-on neck.

Can't offer more than that, as I can't access your image.

There'll be some world class neck joint experts along any minute to help you with that part of your question.

Again, welcome!

Edit: BTW, if you are the original owner, your DV-4 should be under warranty from Guild. This is usually a good thing depending on who you ask, lol.

~nw

 

[sammyp]

thanks mate ...i'm working on the image thing as we speak!

 

[sammyp]

ok ....my pic links work now ...thanks .....

it's definately a Tacoma made ....so it's not a bolt on? i certainly can't see any bolts - the guys at the retailer tryed to tell me the bolts were behind the block!

 

[taabru45]

ok ....my pic links work now ...thanks .....

it's definately a Tacoma made ....so it's not a bolt on? i certainly can't see any bolts - the guys at the retailer tryed to tell me the bolts were behind the block!

There is an old saying...when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail....sounds like you were talking to the blockhead crowd.......Get someone else to look at it... :wink: Steffan

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

ok ....my pic links work now ...thanks .....

it's definately a Tacoma made ....so it's not a bolt on? i certainly can't see any bolts - the guys at the retailer tryed to tell me the bolts were behind the block!

Tacoma DV-4's are definitely a Dovetail neck joint. Has this gap at the heel of the neck always been there? Or has it recently appeared and getting worse? The gap doesn't look too scary for the moment, if it's stable. If that gap is widening over time, that would definitely be a problem.

I'd probably recommend having it checked out by a qualified luthier. If he thinks it needs attention, I'd investigate submitting a warranty claim.

In the meantime, I'd keep playin' it!

~nw

 

[sammyp]

thanks Nigel ....you know, i don't know if the gap was there from the beginning ....i just noticed it ...the neck is definately stable far as i can tell ....there are two builders around here i could take it to if need be ..i will keep an eye on it!

thanks

ps ...does buckethead play guild? LOL

 

[chazmo]

By the way, I'm not sure if Nigel is getting his info about the Ensenada models from my review of them or not, but I wasn't 100% sure about the bolt-on neck. I did believe that was the case, though. I'll have to look more carefully next time I pick one off the rack.

FYI, the latest ones that I've seen from there are a lot more refined than the early batches I tried (but that of course has no bearing on the neck joint).

Sammy, good luck with your Tacoma version. I never spent any time with the DVs from there, but they were unquestionably an awesome value. I agree with Nigel either way; have a luthier look at that neck joint. And, yes, it should be a dovetail from Tacoma.

 

[Nigel Wickwire]

ps ...does buckethead play guild? LOL

:lol: I don't think so. AKAIK he play Gibsons and Ovations (I think)............

By the way, I'm not sure if Nigel is getting his info about the Ensenada models from my review of them or not, but I wasn't 100% sure about the bolt-on neck. I did believe that was the case, though. I'll have to look more carefully next time I pick one off the rack.

I do remember reading your review, Chazmo. I was basing my neck joint comments on that and this info from the Guild site:
http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/view_specs.php?full_partno=3830040&name=DV4

~nw

 

[chazmo]

Ah, yes, it does say it right there. Guess I was right. Thanks, Nigel.