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Old 02-07-2021, 07:23 PM
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Default Neck Replacement Question

There's nothing wrong with the neck on my Martin guitar. I don't like it but love the guitar otherwise. What kind of money would it take to replace the neck on my Martin? Is it worth it or totally out of the question.
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Old 02-07-2021, 11:26 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly View Post
There's nothing wrong with the neck on my Martin guitar. I don't like it but love the guitar otherwise. What kind of money would it take to replace the neck on my Martin? Is it worth it or totally out of the question.
If you had Martin do it, I would guess, and that’s all it is, is it would be about a grand for the neck plus labor for the swap. So your looking at $1500. Perhaps one can find a builder to do it for less

I swapped out a neck on a Furch guitar and it cost me just shy of $500 including the swap (bolt on neck) But Furch prices have always been more reasonable then most.
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Old 02-08-2021, 05:59 AM
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I charge 650 for a hand made neck all fretted up, an acoustic guitar neck swap needs the same work done as a neck reset, so i charge a neck reset cost on top, 350-500
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Old 02-08-2021, 06:26 AM
soma5 soma5 is offline
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I charge 650 for a hand made neck all fretted up, an acoustic guitar neck swap needs the same work done as a neck reset, so i charge a neck reset cost on top, 350-500
That's quite a reasonable charge. Do you also make necks that do not have an adjustable truss rod for older Martins, say?
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Old 02-08-2021, 06:40 AM
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Yes, no good for you folks as I am in Australia
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Old 02-08-2021, 11:24 AM
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Maybe you can get the existing neck reprofiled, if it's too big? My cost estimate is the same as Mirwa's, $1000 to $1200 for a custom made plainish neck, jewlery and fanciness extra.
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Old 02-08-2021, 12:11 PM
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I charge $750 plus materials for that job. Whether it's worth it or not is up to you. I would say you would have to really really love the guitar and are totally boded with it to get that kind of work done.

What is it about the neck that you don't like?
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Old 02-08-2021, 03:25 PM
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What is it about the neck that you don't like?
Well my statement is a little overdone for simplicity's sake. It's a 1 & 7/8ths nut width and there are some aspects I like about it. I, like others, would prefer a 1 & 13/16ths nut.

The next question I thought of is how about changing the nut out to a closer string spacing? I'll have to think about that.
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Old 02-08-2021, 03:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly View Post
Well my statement is a little overdone for simplicity's sake. It's a 1 & 7/8ths nut width and there are some aspects I like about it. I, like others, would prefer a 1 & 13/16ths nut.

The next question I thought of is how about changing the nut out to a closer string spacing? I'll have to think about that.
In other words, you don't need a new neck; you need a smaller neck, which is definitely doable and for considerably less money.

What model Martin are you talking about?
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Old 02-08-2021, 03:34 PM
runamuck runamuck is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Jelly View Post
Well my statement is a little overdone for simplicity's sake. It's a 1 & 7/8ths nut width and there are some aspects I like about it. I, like others, would prefer a 1 & 13/16ths nut.

The next question I thought of is how about changing the nut out to a closer string spacing? I'll have to think about that.
In other words, you don't need a new neck; you need your existing neck shaped smaller, at the nut at least, which is definitely doable and for considerably less money.

What model Martin are you talking about?
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Old 02-08-2021, 04:28 PM
redir redir is offline
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I would definitely start with a new nut and see what you think of that.
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Old 02-09-2021, 08:16 PM
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Reshaping the neck or adjusting the nut can help but it does nothing about the string spacing at the bridge, if that is a concern?
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