I'm really excited!

[charliechitlins]

I finally piled up some dough to have Marc Schoenberger massage my '36 Duolian.
Straighten and reset the neck, etc.
He shipped it and it should be here in a few days!!

[mississippiblue]

Hey charliechitlins,

I can only imagine your anticipation.
I really hope your beautiful guitar brings you many more years of playing pleasure.
Those Duolians are magnificent.
Take care and all the best.

Kindest Regards,
MississippiBlue

[charliechitlins]

Actually...I'm a little nervous.
He said it's the only guitar in his memory (maybe one of a very few) where he couldn't totally straighten the neck, so it has a little more relief than he'd like.
I really didn't want to plane the fingerboard, but I'm thinking that might have been the way to go for the last little bit.
I'm also thinking that he may be a perfectionist and that little bit of remaining relief will be no problem.
When I sent it to him, I could fit change for a dollar under the strings!

[mississippiblue]

Worry not.
Your guitar is in good hands.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to buy a 1932 Duolian.
It had a neck reset done by a local luthier.
The reset was very well done.
When I went back to buy the guitar it had been sold.
Beautiful guitar. Thankfully, the MM Blues came along and I just LOVE it.
I really hope everything works out for you.
Hey man, it's an awesome guitar you have.
Keep us posted and enjoy your guitar once you get it back.

Kindest Regards,
MississippiBlue

[Deleted]

Nov 20, 2015 2:39:01 GMT mississippiblue said:

...A few years ago I had the opportunity to buy a 1932 Duolian.
....When I went back to buy the guitar it had been sold.
....Thankfully, the MM Blues came along and I just LOVE it.

Now, if that's not the ultimate in praise for the Michael Messer line..!

[gaucho]

Hi Charlie, did you not want to have Mark plane the fingerboard/neck or did Mark not advise doing that? Just curious because I have a '31 Duolian that probably needs for the neck to be planed slightly to make it level.

[charliechitlins]

Marc straightens the neck slowly in a solar oven of his own design.
I don't think he ever planes.
He's done hundreds and I trust him implicitly.
Most only plane, even on very bowed necks...it would take a lot of wood removal on some, and I think it would be obvious that the fingerboard is thinner on the ends...maybe even the markers would be planed right through.

[gaucho]

Are you talking about planing the fretboard, or planing the neck. I've heard of some who remove the fretboard and lightly plane the neck to level it out. Don't know anything about the process tho.

[charliechitlins]

Most seem to plane the fretboard. I made a bunch of inquiries.
More out of curiosity...I pretty much knew I was going with Marc.
It would be a lot more work to remove the fretboard and plane the neck, but then the fretboard would remain the proper thickness.
Sounds like the way to go if one isn't keen on Marc's method...which some aren't.
I think it would be hard to argue with a guy who has done so many, but everybody is entitled to their opinion.
The idea is, if you straighten the neck, it's always going to want to go back where it was...if you plane, it stays where it wants to be, and you correct the bow.
Again...Marc says that when he straightens them, they stay straight; and his clients seem to agree.
It's hard to imagine these necks bow in the first place!
It's as thick as a barn beam!
I'll let y'all in on the results when I get it back.
I'm as sure as I can be that I'll be a happy picker.

[Pickers Ditch]

This is a bit off topic but it does have to do with "funny necks"

Below is a pic. of my Epi 335 Custom in almost brand new nick which I picked up for £50 as the neck was twisted.
On getting it home, I played it and couldn't feel any difference and playability cf my other electric guitars.
I strung it up with a set of 10s., adjusted the action and intonation with no problem and took it down to the local jam night and used it on a couple of numbers.
It was then played, without me saying anything about the neck twist, by 4 other very experienced guitarists.
One of them being a retired pro session man with over 40 years in the game.
Nobody noticed the "problem" of the twisted neck until I pointed it out at the end of the evening.
They were astounded that the could not feel it and that they were able to play all their tricks without noticing a thing.
Strange that. innit?

[Stevie]

It sure is interesting, but I don't notice any real difference with my three guitars that have compound radius necks, and they are kind of like double twisted necks! It seems as though your set up compensated for the twist and once all the strings were singing nicely, there was nothing standing in the way of the music so no one noticed? I don't think I would have noticed if it was playing nicely either. Nice catch for that money! I would have nabbed it too even though I already have a Yamaha SA2000, and that type of guitar is a real all-rounder / keeper.

e&oe...

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2015 11:15:15 GMT Pickers Ditch said:

This is a bit off topic but it does have to do with "funny necks"

Below is a pic. of my Epi 335 Custom in almost brand new nick which I picked up for £50 as the neck was twisted.
On getting it home, I played it and couldn't feel any difference and playability cf my other electric guitars.
I strung it up with a set of 10s., adjusted the action and intonation with no problem and took it down to the local jam night and used it on a couple of numbers.
It was then played, without me saying anything about the neck twist, by 4 other very experienced guitarists.
One of them being a retired pro session man with over 40 years in the game.
Nobody noticed the "problem" of the twisted neck until I pointed it out at the end of the evening.
They were astounded that the could not feel it and that they were able to play all their tricks without noticing a thing.
Strange that. innit?

View Attachment

All the frets look level, except for the nut.
TT

[Pickers Ditch]

Nov 21, 2015 13:11:27 GMT @deuce said:

All the frets look level, except for the nut.
TT[/quote]

Believe me, there is a slight twist and the neck is also skew whiff to the body, too.

The bass side is about 3mm lower than the treble side - had to lift the bridge and the tail piece on the bass side to compensate.

However it's a good player and sings nicely so, yes, I'm keeping it.

[Deleted]

Nov 21, 2015 11:15:15 GMT Pickers Ditch said:

This is a bit off topic but it does have to do with "funny necks"

Below is a pic. of my Epi 335 Custom in almost brand new nick which I picked up for £50 as the neck was twisted.
On getting it home, I played it and couldn't feel any difference and playability cf my other electric guitars.
I strung it up with a set of 10s., adjusted the action and intonation with no problem and took it down to the local jam night and used it on a couple of numbers.
It was then played, without me saying anything about the neck twist, by 4 other very experienced guitarists.
One of them being a retired pro session man with over 40 years in the game.
Nobody noticed the "problem" of the twisted neck until I pointed it out at the end of the evening.
They were astounded that the could not feel it and that they were able to play all their tricks without noticing a thing.
Strange that. innit?

Could be the twist makes the guitar more ergonomic too? I've seen other guitars that deliberately twist and angle the neck in order to achieve a more comfortable position for the wrist and shoulders. Of course, those are custom-made guitars, not 50 pound specials!

[Deleted]

Did Marc suggest installing a graphite bar under fingerboard to straighten neck? Seems that is a commonly used fix...would possibly also replace fing bard if it was n erly pressed board type...though vintage purists may be opposed...