How To make a neck reset of a Yamaha FG-340?

[viento]

I have to ask for a Yamaha in this forum:

One of you might know how a neck reset could be made on a Yamaha FG-340 (1970).
This is my first acoustic guitar I ever had. And it really does sound astonishingly well after the passed lot of years.

The bridge had been shaved down a couple of years ago but now the string´s level is too high and makes playing
not very pleasant.

Thanks for any help!!!!

[PWoolson]

It sounds like you are asking how YOU can do a neck reset. To that I'd have to answer, you likely can't.
This is one of, if not THE, most complex repair that can be done on a guitar. LOTS of things can go wrong if you don't know what you are doing.
If you really want to learn how to do resets, buy a very cheap guitar and try it on that first. Then maybe do that 5 more times until you are comfortable doing them.
I'd hate to see you turn a "difficult to play" guitar into a "completely unplayable" guitar.

[viento]

Yes, Paul, you´re right.
I am thinking of doing the reset eventually by myself...if I can´t find a luthier doing it for a somewhat decent price.But I must admit that I might dare to do that procedure myself. Fact is that there is no difference between an unplayable guitar hanging at the wall and a damaged one hanging there ;-) ...Last year I restored my old 12-string Hoyer. Neck had been broken,strings had gone to some distance from the fingerboard, truss rod had to be renewed. I made both fingerboard and bridge new from ebony and glued them with hideglue on the very spot they belonged to. That wasn´t very easy but worked well. Refretting the fb was easier... The guitar now is sounding astonishingly well and playing is as smooth as never before.
But I really appreciate your warning and am going to think it over!
Btw, your guitars I found on your website are fascinating!!

[Blue in VT]

I'm on the same course as you...looking to learn to do resets and the like...I will be working on a number of cheapo Harmony guitars that I have picked up...these I know are traditional Dovetail neck joints...I'm not sure that is true of Yamaha...you really want to know what type of joint it is before you do anything! I would ask this question over at Frets.com forum and see what kind of responses you get.

Cheers,

Blue

[PWoolson]

Ok, as long as you aren't going to dive into this without knowing exactly what you are doing...
Here are some articles that will help you along.
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/...28reset01.html
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/...045reset1.html
http://frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/...ingsreset.html
Frank Ford is considered THE master repair tech amongst most of us builders. He is highly respected and his tutorials are priceless.

[viento]

Thanks for posting those links!
I already know them by heart...but I know they´re dangerous because everything looks to be not very difficult, but I know better.

I´m gonna leave it until my holidays are over and I´ve got more time. Maybe I´m gonna wait until the temperatures over here are more hostile to windsurfing...

Thanks for your kind help + advice!

[Jeff M]

Originally Posted by PWoolson

...To that I'd have to answer, you likely can't.
This is one of, if not THE, most complex repair that can be done on a guitar. LOTS of things can go wrong if you don't know what you are doing.
If you really want to learn how to do resets, buy a very cheap guitar and try it on that first. Then maybe do that 5 more times until you are comfortable doing them.
I'd hate to see you turn a "difficult to play" guitar into a "completely unplayable" guitar.

Good advice.

[yammieplaya]

viento - I think your FG-340 is from 1980, not 1970.
I've got 2 of them and I like them a lot.
(Actually, like a fool, I just gave them both away.)

I've read that Yamaha used some kind of epoxy on
their neck joints that makes it very difficult to remove
and reset. I know to have a guitar repairman do it
would cost something like $400 in the US, it would
take the guy all day, and he would not be happy about
the difficulties involved.
I wish you luck with this. I hate to think of yet another FG-340
going to the guitar graveyard.

[Kitchen Guitars]

I just came home from the A.S.I.A SYMPOSIUM. I asked specificly the Yamaha delema question during part one and 2 of a Neck reset of a 50's Martin.
1) It's tough to do
2) It must have huge sentemental value because it will cost more to do than the value of the guitar.
A reset on a dovetail made to come apart takes knowlege and 4+ hours of diligent work. One that has been epoxied it comes with a whole new set of luggage. And a few more hours. That said it can be done. And after voicing the question I was aproached a few times to hear of successes. When steaming, the glue holds tight. It's the wood that lets go . If the guitar survives you now have about 10 hours of reflatening the dovetail surfaces and finding your angle......then getting it back together. whew
Idea # 2 Cut the neck at the heal and then make an NT bolt on. Likely the route I will go on my Yamaha frankenstein pile.
If I find an easy way I will be the first to share.

[JLS]

Originally Posted by Yamaha Junkie

I just came home from the A.S.I.A SYMPOSIUM. I asked specificly the Yamaha delema question during part one and 2 of a Neck reset of a 50's Martin.
1) It's tough to do
2) It must have huge sentemental value because it will cost more to do than the value of the guitar.
A reset on a dovetail made to come apart takes knowlege and 4+ hours of diligent work. One that has been epoxied it comes with a whole new set of luggage. And a few more hours. That said it can be done. And after voicing the question I was aproached a few times to hear of successes. When steaming, the glue holds tight. It's the wood that lets go . If the guitar survives you now have about 10 hours of reflatening the dovetail surfaces and finding your angle......then getting it back together. whew
Idea # 2 Cut the neck at the heal and then make an NT bolt on. Likely the route I will go on my Yamaha frankenstein pile.
If I find an easy way I will be the first to share.

Yamahas are no walk in the park, but I've always gotten them apart. They're
not epoxied, as far as I can tell.

The cutoff route makes sense often with the 80s and up Yamahas, where the finish is so thick, a "normal" neck pull turns into finish repair nightmare; it can be much less, sawn off.

[Jeff M]

Bottom line...
you don't.
You take it in to a pro and let them sweat over it.

[jerrywd]

Originally Posted by viento

I have to ask for a Yamaha in this forum:

One of you might know how a neck reset could be made on a Yamaha FG-340 (1970).
This is my first acoustic guitar I ever had. And it really does sound astonishingly well after the passed lot of years.

The bridge had been shaved down a couple of years ago but now the string´s level is too high and makes playing
not very pleasant.

Thanks for any help!!!!

I own an SJ-180 that I purchased in 82-83 and have the same sentimental value for it as you do your Yamaha. While trying to adjust the action, someone suggested I check the neck angle. When I did, I found it slightly off, not much, maybe 1/16 inch. Rather than junk the guitar, which did go through my mind, I searched the internet and found that a lot of the yamahas are not perfect on neck angle, but are strong on everything else, especially where construction is concerned. IMHO, you might want to try to get the best action you can with nut and saddle adjustment then live with it, knowing that you've got the best you can get for that guitar. Enjoy the guitar for what it can give you, which has been 20-30- years of beauitiful music. Just my .002 worth.

[viento]

Thanks for your kind replies!
I will have to postpone the reset because of lack of time.
So I can think it over (..´n over again).
Even if it takes a lot of time I wouldn´t care as nobody is pushing me.
As to cut off and then bolt on the neck, I am a bit shy to do this and
will try that only if heating the joint wouldn´t show any result.

But I´ll tell you when I dare...

keep on pickin´!

[Buck62]

Originally Posted by Kitchen Guitars

Idea # 2 Cut the neck at the heal and then make an NT bolt on.

If I find an easy way I will be the first to share.

Good call, my friend!

I think that's the best idea for saving a lower priced guitar with strong sentimental value.

How to do it??

Here's a step-by-step tutorial with pics....

http://www.frets.com/fretspages/Luth...ichreset1.html

.

[viento]

Thanks, Buck62,
I had almost forgotten that link.
Now I have to get a very thin saw from somewhere...