Archtop Neck Reset - Gibson ES-125TC
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 ต.ค. 2024
- A TH-cam First? Archtop electric guitar neck reset from start to finish. Here I reset the neck of a 1964 Gibson ES-125TC using heat and steam.
The primary purpose is to get a taller bridge and lower string action for the best tone, comfort and function. I go into detail about restoring the lacquer since it was part of the job. Whenever you take the neck off of a guitar it is important that the finish is as good if not better than before.
This Guitar was made in 1964 by Gibson - Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA
Say Thanks:
venmo.com/u/Ha...
cash.app/$Harp...
Thanks For Watching!
Scotty D.
This work amazes me. I’m so impressed with your skill and confidence.
I have to thank you for this video. I was trouble shooting a ES 125 for a friend. I was apparent I needed to reset the neck. Your video was exactly what I needed to see. Removing the neck was much harder than I had imagined. But other than that the process has followed almost exactly. Thank you.
Right on Ray!
There’s not a lot of info about Archtop neck joints on TH-cam yet
Must admit yr repairs are v neat
Amazing work as usual Sir!
Geese…talk about “the pucker factor “ whilst pulling it apart…!!!😬
Thanks 👍
Harkens back to my days as a “Whirring Dervisch” .
Thanks for the details.
Watching the struggle that was separating the fretboard extension from the top, it occurred to me that if you used the longest of the palette knives from StewMac, and attached the heat blanket to it, you could let the knife conduct the heat and gently slip the end of it under the fretboard extension. That would put your heat where you want it and be easily monitored while you are working.
Great Tip! Thank You 🙏
Your work is very impressive.
Thanks Gary!
Glad to see you here 👋
I'll agree, Stew Mac has always been great to deal with.
I think it was back in 1978 I placed my 1st order with them!
Really beautiful work. Thank you for this video. A friend of mine has a Gibson ES125 from the late 40s, and all of the back braces are rattling around inside the body, completely unglued. The back's center seam has also come unglued, causing it to flex a bit. The action is so low that the strings just drag the frets. When she gets that back fixed, could it improve the string height problem?
I have an 1962 Epiphone Sorento that is based on this guitar.
Awesome Scott《☆》Man WoW that was very detailed Brother🤓👍🏾When the chunks fell off the dovetail sheew. I've heard Gibson uses durabond. Is that like fish glue ? Cool how StewMac let you keep the tool. I'm loving these neck resets but I don't think I'll ever tackle one :*: Greetings from⛾Florida🤳my friend🤓🎱☮🔊✌👍🏾
Peace ☮️ BDOG
I’m starting to get used to that tool. It’s a “cant file” for crowning frets 🤯
@@harpethguitar 《☆》Even better if it works for you🤓👍🏾☮🔊✌
How to remove a bridge pickup and plug the hole in an arched top guitar.
Why didn’t you just remove the end of the fret board from say fret 13 on down? Then everything is exposed. There is no binding, so easy to reglue. I have done this plenty of times. With the end of the board off, you can heat the riser block off and the dovetail is exposed. You can then refit the neck at the dovetail and then refit the riser block and then the fretboard. At each step, you can adjust for fit. Enjoyed your video.
Thanks for the tip! I have another one in for the same exact thing right now.
✌️🤓✌️ I’ll explore this technique
I’m sure you know this, but others may not. If there is a shift in the neck upwards at the body caused say by glue cold creep, and it’s just a small amount, you can remove the fretboard just a fret or two past the body and sand down the riser block a little and then reglue the section of fret board. The “ski slope” is now gone. In most cases all you have to do is lower the bridge a little and adjust the pickup height. Sometimes you get lucky doing this and avoid the neck removal.
COOL!
exelent skill.. 👍
Thank You!
That Fender style pickup sounds pretty bright, is the guitar still using the original 500K pots?
Yes 500k ohms.
I told the customer about the Strat pickup and he was appalled. He had no idea. Anyways he found a 1963 Gibson dogear through Carter Vintage Guitars and had me install it.
He’s coming to pick up the guitar as we speak 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
How much does a neck reset generally cost?
In Nashville it’s around $500.00 for a Gibson. A little less for Martin. Which model do you have?
Hi Scott!
What brand and model of epoxy do you use for gluing wood?
Thank you so much in advance for your answer.
Best regards.
Hello Frank'n'!
I used StewMac slow setting epoxy for years until recently I tried the Loctite General Purpose 5 minute epoxy. So far, so good. I like the dispenser that it comes in. 5 minutes is plenty of time for me to get my clamps in place.
Cheers from Nashville
@@harpethguitar Thank you so much.
After all that work I would definitely spring for a vintage P90 or Seymour Duncan copy at the very least to give it that beautiful jazz tone and some raunchy tones with a little pedal action. That fender pickup turned my stomach. Lol
The owner did just that! He brought it back a month later with an authentic ‘61Gibson P-90
@@harpethguitar
Dear Harper Guitar Restoration,
I have the same guitar but wanted to modify it to be a dual pickup version (ES125 TDC). Do you have any drawings that show the switch and additional control locations accurately? It is a 1965 and has a metal bridge (not sure if original). Any suggestions? Neck needs reset also. Do they make heated thin blade knives? Thanks for any help.
Paul
Hello Paul, I do not have any drawings for that. It sounds like a very ambitious modification! StewMac.com sells "Guitar Palette Knives" That's what I use.
Cheers
That was really nice work. I would've liked to see more of the finishing details. I know it's tedious to film but it's the Final Frontier too. I'm amazed the face didn't get hacked up during removal. Is that the difference between nitro and poly? 😝 Or just a lot of experience ? I really like that model too.
Thanks Steven,
Nitro is way more forgiving than poly! Both of them will scratch. Keep watching , keep practicing. Lot’s more finish videos coming!
Is this an ES-125 TC?
The ES-125 doesn’t have a cutaway and has a thicker depth body.
Yes! Thanks