Neck twist

[320capt]

Repairable? Also, what causes this to happen?

A fear of me messing something up like this is what keeps me from trying to adjust my own truss rods:

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-Rickenbacker-3 ... 1c0e32b812

"OK, first of all, let's begin by telling you this guitar has an issue with neck twist. While is isn't serious enough to render the instrument unplayable it certainly must be covered. The neck is twisted about 2 degrees with the treble side being lower than the bass side as you sight down the neck from the headstock. I have had the guitar set up by one of Jacksonville's best guitar techs and it is correctly intonated up to at least the 17th fret(after fret 17, you will get some fret buzz - but who plays that high on a 12 string?) The set-up tech (who has a rather extensive vintage guitar collection) states the the guitar - in his opinion - plays as well as the actual vintage models from back in the day, but not as well as the current reissues. Please bear in mind that this is an OPINION. For what it's worth, it's an opinion I share with him.

As a result of this twist, the guitar has a fair bit of relief in the neck (especially for a Ric, as these necks are normally set at, or close to, dead straight) This condition also predicates that the guitar be strung with very light strings. So, if you're think of buying it and putting Pyramid Flatwounds on it - forget it - it just won't work.

As for action and relief measurements: the action (with no capo on the first fret) on the bass side at frets 5 and 7 is 4/64" - at frets 12 and 15 it's 5/64" - On the treble side the action is a little higher: fret 5 is 4.5/64" - fret 7 is 5/64" - frets 12 and 15 are 7/64" - Remember though the strings are lighter/thinner on the treble side and most players don't do much in the way of heavy bends on 12 strings anyway."

[doctorwho]

Yep, I saw that one, and it is likely repairable, IMO. Without knowing the full history of the instrument, it's tough to diagnose from afar, but I'm thinking that someone over-tightened the truss rod on one side and the problems spiraled out of control from there.

If you look in the old threads, you'll see that this type of problem has been addressed (at least once, if not more) ... even if it's still 'warped' after letting the neck relax once all the tension on it has been removed, it may still be put back to correctness with a heat clamp treatment.

Depending on the final price, it may be actually a reasonable deal.

[jingle_jangle]

He wasn't thinking when he posted the typical "sight down the fretboard" shot in order to show how minor the neck twist is (and, it certainly is, and I'd venture to say it will adjust out if the neck is de-stressed and allowed to settle...).

By including the upper edge of the slanted headstock in the shot, he's made it look really distorted! If you simply cover that part of the photo so only the nut and bridge show, it can be seen that the twist is minor. Keep in mind, also, that the nut is cut higher on the bass (right) side.

[winston]

My 360v64 was twisted worse than that when I bought it off a fellow on ebay, but after following instructions that I received from a forum member to the letter, it is now almost as good as new. It still has a very slight twist remaining but it is a very playable instrument never the less.

[doctorwho]

My 360v64 was twisted worse than that when I bought it off a fellow on ebay, but after following instructions that I received from a forum member to the letter, it is now almost as good as new. It still has a very slight twist remaining but it is a very playable instrument never the less.

Thanks Brian,that was the point I was trying to make.

[johnallg]

He wasn't thinking when he posted the typical "sight down the fretboard" shot in order to show how minor the neck twist is (and, it certainly is, and I'd venture to say it will adjust out if the neck is de-stressed and allowed to settle...).

By including the upper edge of the slanted headstock in the shot, he's made it look really distorted! If you simply cover that part of the photo so only the nut and bridge show, it can be seen that the twist is minor. Keep in mind, also, that the nut is cut higher on the bass (right) side.

Yup. It looks to me to barely have a twist at all. Mostly an optical illusion.

[beatlefreak]

I agree. It doesn't look like it would be too hard to correct.

[doctorwho]

Reserve not yet met with just under two hours to go.

[jingle_jangle]

Yep, He scared everyone off with that photo. It should easily bring $1600.00, even with that slight twist.

Some photographers are their own worst enemies...

[johnallg]

Some photographers are their own worst enemies...

You rang??

[doctorwho]

... Some photographers are their own worst enemies...

Hey, I resemble that!

[doctorwho]

Dang! The seller reposted it with a BIN of (gulp) $1195 (it's a 12-string, for gosh sakes!):

http://cgi.ebay.com/1996-Rickenbacker-3 ... %26ps%3D63

Somebody grab that sucka!

[doctorwho]

That was fast - somebody snagged it! Collin ... or maybe Craig??