Looking for a quality neck reset somewhere in the vicinity of Atlanta to Asheville.

[funkymonk#9]

Hi, i am in need of a 12 string neck reset. Currently living in Augusta,GA.
Have traveled to Atlanta and Asheville and have yet to find someone either willing or someone i trust to do a neck reset.
Luttrell in Atlanta is my next visit, but curious for recommendations on a repair specialist you trust impeccably with your best instruments.

[LouieAtienza]

Originally Posted by funkymonk#9

Hi, i am in need of a 12 string neck reset. Currently living in Augusta,GA.
Have traveled to Atlanta and Asheville and have yet to find someone either willing or someone i trust to do a neck reset.
Luttrell in Atlanta is my next visit, but curious for recommendations on a repair specialist you trust impeccably with your best instruments.

DreamGuitars just opened a repair facility in Asheville, that I can think of...

[dhalbert]

How about John Arnold, who posts here regularly in Build & Repair, and is highly regarded? He's in East TN. His email is in his contact info.

[funkymonk#9]

Thanks Louie, tried them, no luck there.

Yes i will contact John, thanks for the redirect.
I think I was spoiled having a local repairmen who worked at the Westerly Guild Factory before doing it on his own who always did considerate work and knew that communication was the key to a mutually satisfying business relationship.
Now i can't believe the number of people who won't do a neck reset or who just want me to hand over my instrument with minimum discussion.

Knoxville is a 4 1/2 hour drive, who among you prefer to drive or ship?

[WaddyT]

NC Guitar Works, Charlotte NC. Craig Landau and Nick Plesz. Outstanding guitar techs and luthiers, both! Look them up at ncguitarworks.com.

[redir]

Gosh I can't believe that you cannot find anyone willing to do such a job. It's really one of those bread and butter jobs in any repair shop. I'd be happy to do it for you but I'm a few more hours drive out of your range.

I could understand perhaps if it's a cheap 12 string that is not worth the repair but as I understand you correctly you are saying they won't even look at the guitar? Strange.

Good luck.

[funkymonk#9]

Originally Posted by redir

Gosh I can't believe that you cannot find anyone willing to do such a job. It's really one of those bread and butter jobs in any repair shop. I'd be happy to do it for you but I'm a few more hours drive out of your range.

I could understand perhaps if it's a cheap 12 string that is not worth the repair but as I understand you correctly you are saying they won't even look at the guitar? Strange.

Good luck.

Thanks i will call NC guitar works as well. I saw them but when i only see electric guitars, i assume they have a specialty towards that, which makes me nervous.

It is a little perplexing, but i have not turned over every stone within 4 hours travel, just the ones that seemed to have a high standard of experience.
But there are so far 2 that have both advertised neck resets and after evaluating the guitar have stated for reasons not apparent to me, They wouldn't be interested.
I realized that what you like for string tension may not be the best for the guitar.
Hence, i used .015-.080 La Bella strings, i did a bunch of string tension calculations, (which using different online ones) seemed to give me slightly different answers but all things in proportion, i guesstimated the errors.
I used standard tuning down to C initially which put a pretty heavy load on the neck but is technically where i liked the feel.
After getting it checked out, it was setup for B and was told, i should just "watch" the heel gap. 2nd time it was brought back was when they held it for a week strung up to pitch and they didn't notice much movement but the gap is there.
I assumed that once a gap is there, eventually it will need a neck reset no matter how little tension i put on it strung up.

[redir]

I have seen guitars who's owners claim the gap has been there for many many years. It could have just been a poorly fitted dovetail that 'adjusted' itself under the right conditions.

Of course it's not easy to make suggestions on a guitar you can't touch and feel but if the action is good enough for you and there is enough string break at the saddle then you could try and ride it out for many years to come... Or not?

[John Arnold]

I assumed that once a gap is there, eventually it will need a neck reset no matter how little tension I put on it strung up.

That is not necessarily true. If it is a dovetail neck that is intact, there should be a limit to the movement. Gap or not, what matters is the action and string height at the bridge.

[funkymonk#9]

Thanks guys, I will post a couple pics when i get the guitar back. I would put it next in line for my own repair but i am in one of those "transition modes".

You could check with Randy Woods or Jim Grainger.

[jrmyrnsm]

Dodson Guitars is south of Atlanta but is supposed to be a top notch repair shop. Thankfully I haven't needed to take anything there but if I have something that needs major repair that's where I would be going...

[Scotso]

Have you tried Randy Hughes in Asheville? I have had a fair amount of work done by him and it has always been great.

[funkymonk#9]

Thanks to all the members for taking time to assist me locating a number of repair specialists.
I have the instrument in some fine hands up in Tennessee, plus it was a gorgeous drive.
Thanks!!