Goncalo Alves stiff neck

[nikosss.b]

Hello,
I own a goncalo alves neck with a pau ferro fretboard. The neck is dead straight and the truss rod is barely causing any change in the bow. My luthier said that the neck wood is very stiff.
Is it possible to have such a stiff neck that the truss rod would have no effect on the bow?
Does warmoth cover this in the warranty?

Cheers!

 

[stratamania]

Is it a modern construction.

If so I am wondering if the side adjust is being used to make more than minor adjustments. If so the main adjustment is made at the heel and the side adjust is for minor adjustments.

 

[nikosss.b]

It is a modern construction and the main adjustment is being made from the heel.

 

[dmraco]

My GA neck with a bacote fretboard is extremely stiff.  It has never moved through the seasons.  From playing it seems to be the hardest and smoothest neck I have owned.  It also seems very dense and heavy compared to other necks.  It is a modern construction too.  But I see your point, it the truss rod it very loose, the neck is keeping itself stable.

 

[Kostas]

Both necks I have with a PF fretboard are stiffer than the others, that's why I'll never get one again. Both are VM, one maple one goncalo and they don't move a lot. The goncalo especially hasn't moved in years.

 

[JD0x0]

I dont seem to have any issues with my Full Bloodwood and Pau Ferro necks w/ boatneck contour. They're stiff, but the truss rod is still effective. Remember, make big adjustments from the heel. Side adjust is for super fine adjustments

 

[dmraco]

Both necks I have with a PF fretboard are stiffer than the others, that's why I'll never get one again. Both are VM, one maple one goncalo and they don't move a lot. The goncalo especially hasn't moved in years.

Why would you not want a stiff neck?  I am confused. :icon_scratch:

 

[stratamania]

Not sure why having a neck that doesn't move would be a complaint. Even if it shifts a tiny amount as long as the truss rod can make the tiny shift needed to bring it back to battery that is as much as you need.

 

[mayfly]

Not sure why having a neck that doesn't move would be a complaint. Even if it shifts a tiny amount as long as the truss rod can make the tiny shift needed to bring it back to battery that is as much as you need.

I tend to agree.  If the neck is straight and not backbowed, what's the issue?  If it is backbowed, that's a warranty issue.

 

[Kostas]

Why would you not want a stiff neck?  I am confused. :icon_scratch:

It has a stiff feel. I'm not saying the truss rod it doesn't work or it's not playable but the other necks feel better. I'm not one of those guitarists who want to "fight" when they play. I like low action and the guitar to feel right.
On the strat it might be a tremolo/springs or string thing. I have two and I had one more with PF and that's enough for me.

 

[nikosss.b]

Not sure why having a neck that doesn't move would be a complaint. Even if it shifts a tiny amount as long as the truss rod can make the tiny shift needed to bring it back to battery that is as much as you need.

I tend to agree.  If the neck is straight and not backbowed, what's the issue?  If it is backbowed, that's a warranty issue.

My only issue is that it's dead straight and I just need a tiny amout of bow to eliminate fret buzz completely and have a "perfect" action. That's my only concern.

 

[dmraco]

Not sure why having a neck that doesn't move would be a complaint. Even if it shifts a tiny amount as long as the truss rod can make the tiny shift needed to bring it back to battery that is as much as you need.

I tend to agree.  If the neck is straight and not backbowed, what's the issue?  If it is backbowed, that's a warranty issue.

My only issue is that it's dead straight and I just need a tiny amout of bow to eliminate fret buzz completely and have a "perfect" action. That's my only concern.

I see.  What size strings?  I have an acoustic like this.  Neck is perfect with no tension, but it is nice to have some relief at times.  I am afraid to put on lighter strings.

 

[Cagey]

Is it possible to have such a stiff neck that the truss rod would have no effect on the bow? Does warmoth cover this in the warranty?

No. Steel beats wood every time. But, even with Warmoth's dual truss rod, in order to put relief in the neck you're actually relaxing the tension the rod puts on the neck, not adding tension to force it into a position. So, if there was little to no relief to start with, no amount of truss rod adjustment is going to get it for you.

I work on a lot of Warmoth necks, and there seems to have been a trend over the last couple of years to straighter necks. I've had some where I was just barely able to get the thing relieved to a good point. If I hadn't levelled the frets to perfect, a low string action would have resulted in a lotta buzzing or fretting out.

I suspect what's happening is they're milling in some relief, then fretting it pushes it out as the tangs tend to make the fretboard expand longitudinally. The fix would be to mill in a little more relief.

If you can't get any relief, I'd take it up with Warmoth. Otherwise, you'll probably have to bake it in.

 

[ragamuffin]

If you can't get any relief,

I can't get no relief!  :guitarplayer2: