Ask Roman ?

[Roman Rist]

check your thread.

[captainbraindamage]

O wise one, impart your wisdom on an unworthy noob. I've read it's not good to leave the strings off your guitar for too long. So how long is too long? 2 days, a week, 6 months? I realize temperature and humidity and all that will factor in. But if I've got all the hardware stripped off and electronics removed, when should I be saying, phuque I better get this back together.

[Harpozep]

Originally Posted by captainbraindamage

O wise one, impart your wisdom on an unworthy noob. I've read it's not good to leave the strings off your guitar for too long. So how long is too long? 2 days, a week, 6 months? I realize temperature and humidity and all that will factor in. But if I've got all the hardware stripped off and electronics removed, when should I be saying, phuque I better get this back together.

Hey, that's a good question. I'd worry a lot more if it was acoustic, that's for sure. But let's see what Roman has to say. Good question there.

[Roman Rist]

I think these writers are full of crap.

Leaving the strings off is not what hurts a neck, The biggest factor is humidty.
Lets say for an example you send you guitar to be refinished. It is not uncommon for a lacquer finish to take months.
That means the strings are off for months.........the neck is fine.

Now here is one thing I DO recommend.....loosen the truss rod.
the truss rod being tight when strings are off, can put the neck into a condition of a reverse bow with out the string tension to pull the neck into relief.
This can create a situation where the neck retains that reverse bow in the memory of the wood. lossen the rod and you will be fine!

As to time, well let me say this; I have some guitars that are personal projects that have sat around for years with no strings.............the necks are fine.

[captainbraindamage]

Full of crap? Naw I just got up and I took care of that. Thanks for the reply though, I'll just loosen my truss rod, it's an Epi, its got no nuts. Gonna do some fillin n drillin, and I don't want to have to hurry. Whenever I hurry is when I fuk somethin up.

[captainbraindamage]

Oops need more coffee

[3dmac]

Hiya roman,
Just finished today with the last 2 finish coats. Finish is almost like glass now

Now the wait begins

Flame on !

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by 3dmac

Hiya roman,
Just finished today with the last 2 finish coats. Finish is almost like glass now

Now the wait begins

Flame on !

Looking great, you are almost ready to come work for me, of course there goes your house, your family and your income!

[3dmac]

Good one,
Well the house is almost payed off, I can semi retire in about 3 yrs, and the wife can do sanding !! lol

[Roman Rist]

Hmmmm, how does she feel about this????

[3dmac]

She's already High from the nitro already

would be a break

[FLICKOFLASH]

Have you heard of covering a strat neck with supper glue as the finish ?

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by FLICKOFLASH

Have you heard of covering a strat neck with supper glue as the finish ?

Yes, I have done it too.
What I have found to work the best is this.

Rubber gloves.....so your hands dont get CA on them.

Blue shop towels.........the kind you get at auto parts stores.

Water thin Super glue (CA)

Wet the towel with the super glue and do QUICK swipes on the neck.

Always use a fresh section of the towel, and keep swiping till you get the neck covered to your desired thickness.

Fine sand and steel wool , and you have a thin, rock hard satin finish!!

enjoy
Roman

[LES STORY]

Hey Whats Up--
I Have A V I Want To Refinish .do You Think It Would Be Better To Sand Off The Old Finish Or Use A Paint Stripper ? I Wonder If The Paint Stripper Would Harm The Glue In The Neck Joint OR Fretbord.
Thanks -ljs

[Roman Rist]

Good morning all! I don't know what the hell I am doing, being up at 7:30 !

Anyway.............

Regarding stripping finishes;

I am not fond of chemical strippers. They are messy, stink and toxic.

Because of this I have no Pro advice on using them.

I have used them and you have to tape off what ever you do not want to melt ( such as binding).

If you tape off the fingerboard no srtipper will get in there and I have never seen anyone melt the glue on the neck joint.

My weapons of choice for stripping finishes are a heat gun and razor blades.

That can be tricky because you can set the finish on fire, so practice is needed.

I simply aim the heat gun to a section and as I see it start to melt, scrape off the finish with a razor blade.

I hope this all helps some
Roman

[decoy205]

That must take a looooooooooooong time Roman.

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by decoy205

That must take a looooooooooooong time Roman.

For me it is quicker than stripper with 1/4 the mess

[Ejecto]

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread and the others like it by yourself and Greg etc.
It's like, I'm learning, but i like it?!

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by Ejecto

Just wanted to say thanks for this thread and the others like it by yourself and Greg etc.
It's like, I'm learning, but i like it?!

You are welcome, we do what we can in sharing experience.

Thank Flick, he is the one that started it!

[BCRGreg]

Yeah.

Thank Flick. He just unleashed us on you guys....

[Scooter2112]

Gentleman..... how involved would it be for me to remove a neck humbucker on an Epi LP Standard, and install a p-90??

Would there be any routing/ filling involved and what should I do to prevent from chipping the poly finish beyond where any alterations would be made?

Would you recommend masking off the boundaries or something along those lines, or is there some sort of pickup ring that is made to fit the existing cavity?

Thanks!

[shotgunlew]

If you look at the thread about roman building my les paul, he does a process to my neck pocket that would be simular to how you would do the pickup ( i believe )

chris

Originally Posted by Scooter2112

Gentleman..... how involved would it be for me to remove a neck humbucker on an Epi LP Standard, and install a p-90??

Would there be any routing/ filling involved and what should I do to prevent from chipping the poly finish beyond where any alterations would be made?

Would you recommend masking off the boundaries or something along those lines, or is there some sort of pickup ring that is made to fit the existing cavity?

Thanks!

[Roman Rist]

Originally Posted by Scooter2112

Gentleman..... how involved would it be for me to remove a neck humbucker on an Epi LP Standard, and install a p-90??

Would there be any routing/ filling involved and what should I do to prevent from chipping the poly finish beyond where any alterations would be made?

Would you recommend masking off the boundaries or something along those lines, or is there some sort of pickup ring that is made to fit the existing cavity?

Thanks!

A P-90 is longer than a humbucker but not as wide.

The body would have to be routed slightly to get the p-90 to fit

A better way to go is to install a Duncan p-90 that is the size of a humbucker.




Progressive - Phat Cat™ SPH90-1 - Seymour Duncan/Basslines

[Scooter2112]

Yes... that definitely looks like the way to go. I didn't want to Dr. Frankenstein it if I didn't have to, but would consider all options. I should have done my homework before asking.

Thank you, sir!