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I just aquired a 1958 Gibson SJ that requires a neck reset.
I have reset a martin neck with a dovetail joint.
I'm wondering if someone will tell me if Gibson in 1958 used a dovetail joint and if the removal proceedure is the same as the Martins.

Be aware there are a few cases in which the top is glued on after the neck is set in its dove tail, particularly in the 50's, and the one I'm familiar with is an SJ-200. The spruce top covers the dovetail joint. It is a rare case, but it's out there.

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David, that must have been a real nightmare for you.
that's something I hope I don't find, I don't see any logic to doing that

Todd and David thanks for responding

Yeah, good luck.

Funny, I don't remember how I know this, from way back. I saw something online about a year ago, but I think I remember a repair back in the late 70's early 80's.

If you are aware that you may have alzheimers, you probably don't, right?

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The worst part of resetting one of these is dealing with the finish around the neck/body junction. Since they were finished with the necks on, the finish has to be broken, and it will chip and need retouching. Score it with a knife before removing the neck. The heel is wide but shallow on most of these, so you don't get a big surface for pushing the neck out, and breaking the bottom of the heel is a possibility.

As previously mentioned, you may have trouble finding a gap at the end of the tenon for injecting steam, or even hit the jackpot and find the top glued over the joint. When this is the case, you would have been best off removing the fretboard extension, but you won't know that until it's too late.

Considering the near impossibility of doing one of these invisibly, my method was usually to pass the problem on to someone else by trading the guitar. I am also of the belief that the neckblock reset, now usually condemned by those who have never done one as an ancient barbarism, can be an appropriate choice.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

I'm in complete agreement with Howard about this. Broken heels are a common complication of resets on Gibsons and Guilds, finishing over the joint is the work of a sadist, and the more-than-liberal use of glue on any and all surfaces only partially obscures poor fit and generally sloppy workmanship. One might speculate that Gibson more than any other manufacturer hastened the replacement of the dovetail with more workable neck joint. Thanks for that at least!

Rick

Sheeeesh!!! maybe I'll shave the bridge down a bit.

Pii,

One of the big deals about working on guitars, either building or repairing, is that you have the courage to get after it.

So... just get after it!

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