V-neck guitar mod, Part 2 of 2

Part 2 of 2 videos: This is how I mod a guitar neck to a v-shape. It can be done to most necks as long as they're not too thin. You can do a full-v or modified-v (partial v). This was done on a Squier Affinity Telecaster neck. One of the previous owners had improperly filed on some frets making them too low otherwise I'd sell. Instead, I'm gonna refret and refin.

While it's easier to see the center when a neck has a 'skunk stripe' of rosewood on the back, you'll need some type of grain filler to make that skunk stripe look stock. For final finishing, I usually use nitro satin from stewmac, sanded between every 2 coats and then let the final remain unsanded. For people with gloss necks, you'll need sprayable paint thinner (ie "blush eraser") to melt in the overspray. If you want a slight tint, spray a coat or two of common shellac before the satin.

Be very patient when doing this on your neck. In this case, I stopped and checked just in time to realize it was off center, so check more often the closer to the end you get. And use mostly files once the main shape is attained. One thing I didn't do on this neck that I did with the previous ones, is to pick one area of the neck, usually close to the heel where there's lots of wood to remove, and sand/file it down to what you want as the final v (ie, shoulder size, crest shape) and then work the rest of the neck to match that.

My final shape had the lower bout slightly rounded, with the top bout more flat, since your hand cradles the lower bout, and your thumb has better placement on the flatter upper bout.

UPDATED NOTE ON Finishing/re-finishing. Lacquer will darken or discolor slightly over time. You shouldn't mix (spray over) different kinds of finishes, like lacquer and polyurethane. I have an old bass with a re-cut and re-fin headstock in which only the headstock darkened over the years, so I now have to redo that in poly. Poly finishes are harder to remove. The site ReRanch recommends "Aircraft Remover" spray stripper, which is available either at automotive stores, or I saw it at Walmart for $6, large aerosol can.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• squier
• fender
• tele
• telecaster
• mod
• mods
• neck
• maple

[deansinghgill]

@jpjdo1212 the shape of a guitar's neck is purely for comfort. the v shape is usually favoured by players who play with their thumb over the top of the neck as hendrix did

[1pixle]

helpful :)

[jpjdo1212]

what exactly does the V neck do what does it give you..??

[unklebill]

i did a full sharp v an scalloped the neck on my strat pack squier, i prefer rasps to powertools, and I like to final finish with a wood scraper.