neck warping + decals for guitars

[Cowripper]

Hi guys... there are two things which i need some help on...

first is about neck warping. After doing some self-checking on my guitar, i noticed abit of neck warp. I went down to guitar workshop to enquire about it recently. I asked the guy if neck warp was possible to rectify. He told me the best way to rectify and also to prevent neck warp was to have a wall mounted guitar rack. This was because when the guitar is hung on the wall by the headstock, the weight of the body pulls the neck straight, thus preventing warping. Is this fact or fiction? any experts care to give their opinions here?

Second is about decals. Is there any guitar shop in singapore which sells decals for guitars. like the ones on this website http://www.gsrguitars.co.uk/decalkits.htm ??? Thanks in advance.

 

[classics]

wow the decals is cool, will be very interested to know where sells it . . .hmm sorry dun really know the answers for both

 

[subversion]

cow, is your guitar an electric/ accoustic?

i'm not moved to believe that gravitational pull will ensure a neck's straightness. if a guitar is hung up like that but left in the hot sun for instance, the neck will still warp.

in any case, slight neck warping is normal as wood is an organic material & reacts with temperature changes/ fluctuations readily. the truss rod is there to ensure that slight neck warpings can be rectified.

 

[ciel21]

The wall mounted guitar stand sounds a bit dodgy. Just keep your guitar back into the case after your done playing. Don't leave it on a stand outside after you play, sure it looks cool and all that bt abient temperatures change and it'll affect your guitar keeping it back in the case can at least minimise that and dun leave it wher the sun can get to it la. At least thats what i do.

 

[theblueark]

the best way to rectify and also to prevent neck warp was to have a wall mounted guitar rack. This was because when the guitar is hung on the wall by the headstock, the weight of the body pulls the neck straight, thus preventing warping.

That's the stupidest thing i've ever heard. Got take Chemistry Lab in secondary school? They put the two different metal together and heat them, then the thing bend?

Neck warping is something like that. Caused by heat and moisture. If it's gonna warp it's gonna warp. Forcing it straight by pulling both ends isn't gonna do anything. That's what the truss rod is for.

 

[Cowripper]

hmmm... icic... luckily i asked here before getting the wall mounted rack and wasting money... Thanks guys~!!! anyway, to subversion:

i have an acoustic and an electric, both hava abit of neck warp.

 

[theblueark]

How warped is it? As in, what's wrong? is the intonation impossible to get? Are the strings buzzing? Is the action high some places but low at others?

No guitar neck is perfectly straight. Its supposed to have a slight concave bow to the neck, dipping in the middle. This is cos your strings vibrate in an elliptical shape.

The amount of gap in the neck is called relief and how much relief to have differs from player to player. Some like more, some like less.

Put your guitar down, fret the string on the first fret with your left hand (or use a capo). Then fret it at the 14th fret with the other hand. Now check the height between the string and the frets at the 7th or 8th fret. This is your relief. As a rough gauge it should be around 0.25mm

Move the capo or your hand to the 7th fret. Your other hand on the last fret. Measure the gap at the 14th fret. If this 2nd gap is much more than the first, then you have a big problem. Send the guitar to a pro.

 

[subversion]

No guitar neck is perfectly straight. Its supposed to have a slight concave bow to the neck, dipping in the middle. This is cos your strings vibrate in an elliptical shape.

when guitars leave the factory for sales, the necks are generally straight. a slight bow is not an obligatory element before they leave the plant. it only happens much later:

1. After strings have been installed- the more meticulous manufacturer would let the guitar rest a while after string installation before sighting the neck again to see if it reacts adversely with the pressure. if it does, there'll be truss rod ajustments before the guitar moves on to the next stage of the set up.

2. Shipping storage- guitars stored in shipping containers are subject to temperature fluctuations markedly. this will definitely affect the neck's straightness, the reason why many new guitars display neck warping once it's unpacked.

it is possible to have a very straight neck; all my Fenders & some Ibanez guitars display this characteristic, but this comes with a trade-off: fret buzzing.

cow: both electric & acoustic guitars would benefit if you invest in hard cases for them. IMO this is the best storage place after you're done playing & would wanna let them rest.

 

[theblueark]

Heh ok guess I didn't cover everything. I was talking about necks on guitars that are being played.

You're right, if you buy necks on their own, or on brand new guitars, they may be perfectly straight. Which is why you'll probably have to have it set up with your choice of string guage before it's actually very playable.

 

[Newbie]

anyone knows abt the decal thing? i will wanna get some too...

 

[ciel21]

i hate fret buzz..... :evil:

 

[Newbie]

anyone knows where to get those decal?

 

[stillwater]

the best way to rectify and also to prevent neck warp was to have a wall mounted guitar rack. This was because when the guitar is hung on the wall by the headstock, the weight of the body pulls the neck straight, thus preventing warping.

That's the stupidest thing i've ever heard. Got take Chemistry Lab in secondary school? They put the two different metal together and heat them, then the thing bend?

Neck warping is something like that. Caused by heat and moisture. If it's gonna warp it's gonna warp. Forcing it straight by pulling both ends isn't gonna do anything. That's what the truss rod is for.

HAHAHA COOL MAN! But seriously, that is the most logical thing, and I totally agree to that. i never follow those stupid rules, and my guitar necks never so call "warp"... the only time they actually "warp" is only when i made them to, so call giving them more relief.

i feel its good to understand what relief is, cos tt wld lead u to understand ur guitar/bass more, leading to understanding action/feel, leading to discovering your own setup, style, feel, i never send my guitars to any tech, cos im the best tech for myself, n i feel this is a basic, essential skills all guitarists need. if u dun even understand ur guitar, how r u gonna "deliver"?

sorry, i blabber too much :lol:

 

[classics]

so anyone know where to get those cool decals? :lol:

 

[blahblah]

somehow i'm worried that when you hang it from the headstock like they do in shops the neck will break :?

 

[tany]

so not advised to put on stands?

 

[bin4christ]

somehow i'm worried that when you hang it from the headstock like they do in shops the neck will break :?

i'm more afraid tt it'll drop or the hanging thing break...
how to install tt wall thingy at home anywei?

 

[Guest]

The safest place for a guitar when it's not being played is in a hard case. It protects it from from being knocked about and keeps the temperature more or less constant (just don't leave it in sunlight!). Too many accidents can happen when it's not in a case.

 

[bin4christ]

yeah but not every1 can afford hardcase...