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Neck on Kay Speed Demon
http://luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10123&t=49643
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Author:  Tim Mullin [ Fri Aug 18, 2017 7:55 pm ]
Post subject:  Neck on Kay Speed Demon

Had this on the repair forum for last 3 days, hoping one of the OLF repair gurus would offer an opinion, but so far no response. Maybe I'll have better luck on the electric guitar forum:

I've got an old Kay Speed Demon semi-hollow body that's come in for a service and setup. Judging by the lack of wear on the frets, this thing has spent most of its life hanging on a wall, but is now owned by a pro who wants it for his stage use.

While the neck and (brass?) frets are generally in good shape, the neck takes a sudden curve upwards between the 2nd fret and the nut. The first fret is at least 0.5 mm higher than the fret plane over the rest of the neck.

I thought maybe the neck had been broken and repaired so that the FB wasn't lined up properly, but I can't see any sign of a repair. I thought maybe the truss rod was broken, but I've now verified that's not the case.

I can think of three approaches to make this playable.
1. I could file down that first fret and cut the nut slots deeper. The fret will be pretty low, but at least I could retain the vintage frets.
2. I could pull the first fret, level the FB as best I can between the nut and second fret, and reinstall/level/crown the fret. Not as easy as 1, but might keep the fret closer to the normal height.
3. Do a refret. The FB will be easier to get straight and level across the full length, but we'd lose the vintage brass frets. EVO wire would at least be the right colour.

So, what do I recommend to my client?


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Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck on Kay Speed Demon

Would you mind posting some pix showing the problem?
I'm thinking you need to yank the frets, and plane the fingerboard....
But I need some visuals.

By the way - those are usually good guitars. Big chunky necks. I had one in the 80's, and put a set of humbuckers in it. A pal borrowed it for 4 years to play in jazz band at college, and he said it worked well.

Author:  Tim Mullin [ Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck on Kay Speed Demon

Image


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Author:  Tim Mullin [ Fri Aug 18, 2017 8:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck on Kay Speed Demon

It's not a great pic, but the best I've taken so far. We've all seen a fingerboard with a "ski jump" at the body. This is at the other end, starting between the first and second fret. I've never seen a neck bent like this.

Yes, a refret is an approach, but costly for the client and eliminates the vintage frets (if they're not brass, they sure look like it).
From the second fret up, the fret plane is really quite good and frets hardly worn.


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Author:  Chris Pile [ Fri Aug 18, 2017 9:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck on Kay Speed Demon

Yes, the frets are brass as I remember. The ski jump doesn't seem too extreme....

Try just lowering the nut slots. If you have to skin the first fret that might work. Or just go straight to option 2.

Good luck, I'll bet you can make it usable again.

Author:  david farmer [ Sat Aug 19, 2017 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neck on Kay Speed Demon

I just saw this second thread. It's hard to tell from the photo but it looks strange. Have you removed the nut and seen the board tight to the neck? Is the rod nut plowing up the end?

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