Repairing a Recording King Neck

[slackeymike]

Hi all, new here.  I am installing a new neck and center beam on a RM-998-D (steel body, chicken foot).  Geometry looks right. But after putting first string on, I noticed it was going to be way to high at 12th fret.

I have little experience with resonators.  There is no way to add more neck angle without causing fret board after 14th fret to slope down.  In fact, looking down the neck to the saddle, I cannot imagine that that would be a solution.

I only applied one string before I stopped.  Crazy question: Do resonator cones compress significantly under full tension to drop string height? 

   

Attachments:

[bonzo]

Definitely 🎸🎸 you won't get a real idea until all strings are on and up to tension. Be careful stringing up, either start in the middle and work out or 1st and 6th and work in otherwise you may crush the cone on one side.
Welcome to the forum!

[bonzo]

Looking at the photo down the neck doesn't look like a lot of relief.
Again that will change with strings on and up to tension.👍👍🤞🤞

[slackeymike]

OK, string tension was not it. Measures .25" at 12th fret.

[pete1951]

Many resos have a wedge between the neckstick and the under finger board plate( usually about a 7-8mm square fixed with the screws that are hidden by the lower dots. This wedge distorts the top a little and allows the neck angle to be off of 90%. This is pushed in until the finger board is straight.

The neck angle can be changed by removing material from the neck stick where it touches the well ( and adjusting the props) the heal will need adjusting at this tim as well. Usually done by ‘flossing’ with glass paper
Pete

[slackeymike]

Yes, here is a pic of it when originally attached.  What would help is an idea of where a straight edge along fretboard should contact the saddle.  Right now, not even hitting the saddle.

[slackeymike]

Pete:

"The neck angle can be changed by removing material from the neck stick where it touches the well ( and adjusting the props) the heal will need adjusting at this tim as well. Usually done by ‘flossing’ with glass paper"

Could you please clarify?  It would seem to me that the only way to accomplish is by change angle of neck stick to the neck itself. (did you mean wall? or was "well" what you meant?)

[pete1951]

Going out, more tomorrow
Pete

[pete1951]

I did some work on a couple of Far Eastern resos some years ago.

Hopefully I have remembered correctly......

As the neckstick goes up against the well the action improves. But gaps open up.
Pete

[pete1951]

I notice that the neckstick already has a couple of spacers on it, if they are removed the action would decrease ( might need a very slim one to replace the centre packer and the props- sometimes called mushrooms, will need to be increased in hight a little.
Pete

[slackeymike]

Pete, that is an EXCELLENT description of the issue. Thankyou!!  

[slackeymike]

It is not obvious to me how to extend props (mushrooms).  Do I remove? make bigger ones? It seems I would have to heat them up to remove (or just uses shims underneath?)

[slackeymike]

Did you move one of the mushrooms in your picture?

[pete1951]

The ‘mushrooms ‘ will need to be taller, you could use shims but best to get some hardwood dowel. They may be glued in but if gripped with something and twisted will hopefully come out

The mushrooms position can vary, keep them roughly where they are already fitted
Pete

[slackeymike]

Pete, your ideas helped me solve it. Thank you!