Tribute Strat update, and Photos

[jaberwock]

Here is the finished guitar, and some photos of the neck fingerboard removal, and the new one being attached, not Brazilian as it had to be shipped internationally from England.

The luthier enclosed a letter with the neck saying there was some bow back on the neck due to oiling the rosewood, but two weeks under string tension should bring the neck back to normal; the truss rod is fully loosened, and after four days of 11 to 49's tuned at E sharp, the back bow has not changed at all, in fact it's pretty much unplayable at the moment.

It does look really beautiful, and will look more so when the original scratch plate has been repaired, it had two badly cut holes for slider switches, maybe an attempt to make it look like a Jazzmaster.

Anyone have any opinions on the back bow, how long should I wait ?

Regards Jaberwock

[LordOfTheThighs]

Good looking piece.

[RobB]

The truss rod is fully loosened, and after four days of 11 to 49's tuned at E sharp, the back bow has not changed at all, in fact it's pretty much unplayable at the moment.

Anyone have any opinions on the back bow, how long should I wait ?

Congrats on a really nice Strat. I do have a soft spot for rosewood/SB models, yesindeedy.

Looks like the tech knows his stuff from the glue-up photos. If his rep precedes him and he is someone you trust, I would be patient and wait the the entire 14 days and see if the neck settles in. If it stays warped, ship it to murkat and have your Brit luthier refund the difference for Jaye's redo.

The above would be a hassle/disappointment on your end, but at least you'll have a functioning guitar.

I'm intrigued now. Please keep us posted on the progress of this neck issue

[jaberwock]

Thanks you're right, wait the full two weeks, the luthier has twenty five years experience, and 300 plus guitars under his belt; just curious if anybody else had come across oiling a rosewood board causing a back bow, the piece I chose had been in his shop for two years so I'm thinking it was pretty stable.

The body was by Matt Jenny, as recommended here on the HFC, pickups by Don Mare, I put them in another Strat whilst I was waiting for this one, and they sound FABULOUS !!

Thanks for your input Jaberwock

[tomteriffic]

I had a similar experience about 30 years ago. I bought an unfinished neck from Mighty Mite/Paul C's/Chandler. They were busy changing names, buying each other out, etc. at the time so I don't exactly remember.

Anyway, the maple had had a sanding sealer applied, but the ebony fingerboard was untouched and very, very dry. I oiled the fingerboard and it just kept drinking it up like crazy. When I went to put the guitar together it had a serious backbow that resisted even loosening the truss rod all the way. I strung it up with some heavy strings (I forget what gauge) for a while and it straightened up. But still today I have to keep string tension on it, even with the truss rod all the way loose.

[jaberwock]

" But still today I have to keep string tension on it, even with the truss rod all the way loose."

This is worrying me some what, whilst I know I have to remove the neck to make a truss rod adjustment, not being able to adjust the neck relief at all, would mean fret buzz, or high action, depending on the season, and humidity.

Jaberwock