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Post by jono1uk on Sept 15, 2017 19:38:41 GMT
Hi
Is a neck stick the same as a truss rod? if so ..never new they were called a neck stick..
Jon
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Post by Ian McWee on Sept 15, 2017 20:20:29 GMT
Hi Jon!
Two different things mate ~ a truss rod lies embedded in a channel underneath the finger-board for straightening the neck if there's a noticeable 'bow'; a neck stick is an extension of the full neck assembly and is usually attached to the end pin on the back of the guitar body.
Hope this helps,
Ian.
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Post by pete1951 on Sept 16, 2017 12:29:06 GMT
Just one slight amendment of Ian otherwise succinct answer. Most neck sticks don't go to the end pin but are screwed to the cone well, with a couple of struts pressing on the back of the guitar for good measure. PT Odd resos I have made almost always have a stick that goes to the end block or are held by the end-pin, as Ian describes.
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Post by Pickers Ditch on Sept 16, 2017 14:29:26 GMT
I have a Republic Wooden Minolian which doesn't have a neck stick. So for this thicko named PD, what does the neck stick and mushrooms /struts (if that's the right word) actually do? Is it worth having them retrofitted to my Republic?
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Post by Michael Messer on Sept 16, 2017 15:47:00 GMT
PD, it would take me a while to write it all out, which I am sure is on here somewhere. But as good as the Minolians sound, they would sound better with a proper neck stick and pit-props (mushrooms).
I remember when Robin at Busker started selling them; I was surprised that the designer, the late Frank at Republic Guitars, hadn't incorporated a neck stick and pit-props. Frank was great man and was certainly a catalyst in the whole Shanghai resonator guitar scene, but judging from the conversations I had with him, he was not particularly knowledgeable about Nationals and Dobros.
Shine On Michael
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Post by bryanbradfield on Sept 16, 2017 15:56:36 GMT
Here are a couple of photos of a 1930s Regal dobro neck with a neck-stick. The fretboard has been removed. This neck is for a spider-type cone instrument. Attachments:
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Post by creolian on Sept 16, 2017 16:00:50 GMT
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Post by Stevie on Sept 16, 2017 16:46:54 GMT
At the risk of repeating myself ad-infinitum, my MMB had a 3/16" gap between the end of the neck stick and the end of the strap peg block. That's why I had no qualms about shortening the neck stick towards the rear mushroom, and dispensing with the strap peg block to accommodate a strap peg socket (as mentioned on another thread at the moment). At the time, (about eight years ago) dire warnings were issued regarding imminent body collapse, but nothing of the sort has come to pass and the MMB (L) is not short in the sound /*tone* department. It is tempting to wonder whether yet higher stratospheric levels of reso-tone might be there for the asking with a full length neck stick, but mine never enjoyed that facility in the first place, and "correcting" that omission would involve some serious surgery.
This is a stark reminder to me regarding how long the current set of Newtones have been on there, because I've only changed them once since then and she still sounds great. Perhaps a discussion regarding the longevity of Newtone strings is in order since we've already covered hearing loss in another thread?
e&oe...
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Post by lexluthier on Sept 17, 2017 0:54:43 GMT
Hi! Just for the sake of clarity and for Jono's further illumination, the photo posted by Brian shows the neck stick on a Dobro(as stated) This is about half the length of a National neck stick and in the vernacular of Reso speak is known as a 'stinger'. The neck stick was imployed by National for numerous reasons, here are three IMO:- 1. Ease and speed of adjustment when the guitar is being built. 2. Excellent transferance of string vibrations to the body and cone giving better tone and sustain. 3. Probably the most important reason, huge strength to the neck/body joint by making it into a see-saw style lever.
Further to Stevies comments and in light of my own experiments and logic, I would just like to put forward the following theory/observation or whatever you like:- A space between the end peg block and the neck stick is highly important in achieving a great National type resonator tone and for the guitars stability. Simpily put, the space allows the neck and the body to compress together with the full force of the tension of the strings, putting the body in tension thus increasing tone, sustain and stabililty. The space also allows for a little creep to occur, either over time or with short term temperature changes.
Just my opinions anyway, I look forward to hearing others.
Chris
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Post by Deleted on Sept 17, 2017 6:56:41 GMT
I have a Republic Wooden Minolian which doesn't have a neck stick. So for this thicko named PD, what does the neck stick and mushrooms /struts (if that's the right word) actually do? Is it worth having them retrofitted to my Republic? You could argue that the (biscuit) neck+stick is a bit like a lapsteel and the guitar body / cone is the detachable noise box. The main purposes are to keep the neck rock solid in place, and for setting the neck angle. It might positively affect the tone (unsure) and does indicate that it might well be a properly built guitar. TT
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Post by bryanbradfield on Sept 17, 2017 19:02:59 GMT
Hopefully my dobro neck stick photos did not misinform anyone. My purpose was to show the simplicity of the open-sided mortise and tenon joint. I built a duplicate neck using a router to cut the mortise in the neck. Of course, the entire neck stick forms the tenon.
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Post by maui_chimes on Oct 2, 2017 3:14:04 GMT
It's a banjo!
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