Posted by: srolfe <srolfe@...>
CAVEAT EMPTOR: The neck is a huge contributor to the feel and sound of any instrument. It's also the most complicated wooden structure in an electric guitar. Expect to pay nearly as much for a neck, as you would for an entire neck-and-body assembly.
Do not, under any circumstances, hire the guy who tried a glue and clamp job on a shattered neck. He may be an OK setup guy, but he sure as heck isn't a luthier, and he obviously doesn't know his own limitations.
When looking for a luthier, don't sign up for ANYTHING until you've seen multiple samples of his work, and have recommendations from other players who are experienced, and know what they're talking about. Even then, don't finalize a deal unless you have a clear mutual understanding of how things will work if you're dissatisfied with the finished product.
Anyway, two answers, pick one:
A. It never hurts to try. Pricing varies a lot in the luthiery business, and you might find a local guy
who undercharges on certain jobs for whatever reason. Job it around the area and get at least a couple of quotes, especially if the guitar has sentimental value.
B. More than it's worth. Guitar necks are very labour-intensive to make. You can't expect a North American craftsman to hand-make you one for anything approaching what it costs Epi to bang them off in Asia. Furthermore, think about what you're asking: Routing out the old neck joint is a very challenging job. It's further complicated on the Epi, because of the catalyzed polyester finish, which cannot be spot-repaired, and is a total bear to strip for a full refinish.
The hardware on an EPI LP isn't worth transplanting onto something else, either. Frankly, the best bet is probably to part it out on eBay, and apply the money you raise towards buying something else. Don't sell anything as an assembly. Parting it out right down to the pots and jacks, will get you far more dough than selling the
pickups and wiring harness as a set, for example.
Since the "new" was already off the Epi, why not do yourself a favour, and look at used instruments? Best bang for the buck. While shopping, other set-neck, dual-humbucker guitars I would look at include:
- PRS SE's
- Parker PM series
Both are finished to a quality level that far exceeds their price range, and offer interesting twists on the Les Paul template.
Douglas Anderson <rxdca@usa.net> wrote:
Welp, I bought the black pearl pickguard for the SG and boy does it
really look spiffy. Still, I thought something was missing. I was at
GC the other day with my son looking at a lot of guitars with uncovered
pickups and noticed that some have bezels, some don't. The ones with
the bezels looked a lot better to me. So, I bought some Gibson bezels.
Boy howdy does it make a difference, the look is now very up town.
In other news... my son dropped the Epi Les Paul I bought him for
Christmas and shattered the neck. He was in tears. We took it to a
guitar tech and had the neck glued and clamped, but it isn't going to
work. Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to have a luthier put
a new neck on it?
Anything new going on anywhere else?
--
Douglas
rxdca@usa.net
Well, there's people been talking
Say they're worried about my soul
But I'm here to tell you I'll keep rocking
'til I'm sure it's my time to roll
-Rich Mullins "Elijah"
Phil 4:13
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: christianguitar-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
CAVEAT EMPTOR: The neck is a huge contributor to the feel and sound of any instrument. It's also the most complicated wooden structure in an electric guitar. Expect to pay nearly as much for a neck, as you would for an entire neck-and-body assembly.
Do not, under any circumstances, hire the guy who tried a glue and clamp job on a shattered neck. He may be an OK setup guy, but he sure as heck isn't a luthier, and he obviously doesn't know his own limitations.
When looking for a luthier, don't sign up for ANYTHING until you've seen multiple samples of his work, and have recommendations from other players who are experienced, and know what they're talking about. Even then, don't finalize a deal unless you have a clear mutual understanding of how things will work if you're dissatisfied with the finished product.
Anyway, two answers, pick one:
A. It never hurts to try. Pricing varies a lot in the luthiery business, and you might find a local guy
who undercharges on certain jobs for whatever reason. Job it around the area and get at least a couple of quotes, especially if the guitar has sentimental value.
B. More than it's worth. Guitar necks are very labour-intensive to make. You can't expect a North American craftsman to hand-make you one for anything approaching what it costs Epi to bang them off in Asia. Furthermore, think about what you're asking: Routing out the old neck joint is a very challenging job. It's further complicated on the Epi, because of the catalyzed polyester finish, which cannot be spot-repaired, and is a total bear to strip for a full refinish.
The hardware on an EPI LP isn't worth transplanting onto something else, either. Frankly, the best bet is probably to part it out on eBay, and apply the money you raise towards buying something else. Don't sell anything as an assembly. Parting it out right down to the pots and jacks, will get you far more dough than selling the
pickups and wiring harness as a set, for example.
Since the "new" was already off the Epi, why not do yourself a favour, and look at used instruments? Best bang for the buck. While shopping, other set-neck, dual-humbucker guitars I would look at include:
- PRS SE's
- Parker PM series
Both are finished to a quality level that far exceeds their price range, and offer interesting twists on the Les Paul template.
Douglas Anderson <rxdca@usa.net> wrote:
Welp, I bought the black pearl pickguard for the SG and boy does it
really look spiffy. Still, I thought something was missing. I was at
GC the other day with my son looking at a lot of guitars with uncovered
pickups and noticed that some have bezels, some don't. The ones with
the bezels looked a lot better to me. So, I bought some Gibson bezels.
Boy howdy does it make a difference, the look is now very up town.
In other news... my son dropped the Epi Les Paul I bought him for
Christmas and shattered the neck. He was in tears. We took it to a
guitar tech and had the neck glued and clamped, but it isn't going to
work. Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to have a luthier put
a new neck on it?
Anything new going on anywhere else?
--
Douglas
rxdca@usa.net
Well, there's people been talking
Say they're worried about my soul
But I'm here to tell you I'll keep rocking
'til I'm sure it's my time to roll
-Rich Mullins "Elijah"
Phil 4:13
--
To unsubscribe, send ANY message to: christianguitar-unsubscribe@welovegod.org
