76 Les Paul Custom neck issue

[Coltranye72]

Hello all,
I have a 76 Les Paul Custom that's developed an issue. There is no relief left in the neck. I can't loosen the truss any more to add relief. When it gets too cold, the guitar just won't stay I tune. Anyone have any exp2with an issue like this

 

[glpg80]

Hello all,
I have a 76 Les Paul Custom that's developed an issue. There is no relief left in the neck. I can't loosen the truss any more to add relief. When it gets too cold, the guitar just won't stay I tune. Anyone have any exp2with an issue like this

What string gauge? What tuning?

Have you oiled the ebony?

Sometimes the lacquer is so thick on the neck that it won’t allow relief. On mine I had to sand down the back of the clearcoat to thin it out and then buff and repolish.

 

[CEG85]

What string gauge? What tuning?

Have you oiled the ebony?

Sometimes the lacquer is so thick on the neck that it won’t allow relief. On mine I had to sand down the back of the clearcoat to thin it out and then buff and repolish.

I’ve never heard of a guitar having neck relief issues due to lacquer being to thin or thick.
Especially on nitro.
Humidity is the main cause in regards to neck relief.

To answer OP’s question…You can add an extra washer if the guitars nut has been maxed out, but not the other way around.
In this case, I don’t think much can be done unless you move to a heavier gauge string while remaining on the same tuning. This will allow you to tighten to truss rod a little more to compensate for the heavier gauge strings.
A more extreme method would be to have a luthier completely remove the fretboard and install a truss rod with more threading.

 

[glpg80]

I’ve never heard of a guitar having neck relief issues due to lacquer being to thin or thick.
Especially on nitro.

Well now you have. I’ve had the issue on an 88 charvel maple neck and my 85 LPC. 10-46 Eb 25.5” scale on the charvel and 10-56 Eb on the Gibson.

Coatings were not consistent when guitars were built back then. Some thick, some thin. It’s also possible someone got their hands on the wrong curing type of lacquer sometime in the guitars history. Regardless, it’s happened twice to me.

OP, What string gauge and tuning is the guitar in question?

 

[CEG85]

Well now you have. I’ve had the issue on an 88 charvel maple neck and my 85 LPC. 10-46 Eb 25.5” scale on the charvel and 10-56 Eb on the Gibson.

Coatings were not consistent when guitars were built back then. Some thick, some thin. It’s also possible someone got their hands on the wrong curing type of lacquer sometime in the guitars history. Regardless, it’s happened twice to me.

OP, What string gauge and tuning is the guitar in question?

How do you know it was the lacquer and not the wood?
I’m sure some coats were put on thinner or thicker but the wood and environmental changes would have the most influence on how the neck behaves.

 

[glpg80]

How do you know it was the lacquer and not the wood?
I’m sure some coats were put on thinner or thicker but the wood and environmental changes would have the most influence on how the neck behaves.

When truss rod is loose in the neck, you’re at the mercy of many additional factors to get the neck to bow as it should. Coating thickness of the neck finish inhibits the neck from any moisture at all and can also prevent the back of the neck from allowing any bow to occur. You can force it with more tension at a fixed tuning or allowing the wood to flex more by removing a coating with too much hardener or thinning it if it was applied too thick.

 

[CEG85]

When truss rod is loose in the neck, you’re at the mercy of many additional factors to get the neck to bow as it should. Coating thickness of the neck finish inhibits the neck from any moisture at all and can also prevent the back of the neck from allowing any bow to occur. You can force it with more tension at a fixed tuning or allowing the wood to flex more by removing a coating with too much hardener or thinning it if it was applied too thick.

Good point.
I can see how the coating would affect the neck in regards to moisture.

 

[155]

it not the lacquer on a 76...the wood is bone f in dry, id go up a guage or 2 on the strings and possbily add to the truss washers to get a little more

 

[Geo]

Was it recently refretted?

 

[panhead]

Ive seen crooked truss rods in Gibson, I know a dentist

 

[Briman24]

Go to heavier gauage strings or have a dual action truss rod installed.